do your homework passive voice

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

How to Use the English Passive Voice

When saying or writing English sentences , you can use the active voice or passive voice. Most of the time it’s recommended that people use the active voice, however the passive voice is also very useful and should be used for certain contexts.

Here is a very easy guide about how the English passive voice works. Before you read this post, it is recommended that you know the tenses in English .

What is the Passive Voice in English?

Passive voice vs. active voice, how to form the passive voice, passive voice with the infinitive, passive voice with the gerund, when to use the passive voice, the person or object receiving the action is important, it is not clear who did or would do the action, you do not want to point out the action-doer, you are making a general statement or fact, you are writing a scientific or research paper, when not to use the passive voice, it is important to know who did the action, you want to be honest and direct, you want to say or write shorter sentences, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

In English sentences, the subject is what does an action. It is the performer.

The object is the person or thing that receives the action.

Usually, you see the subject taking the first position in the sentence, followed by the main verb, and then the object.

When you use the passive voice, you are making the object (the person or thing that receives an action) become the subject of the sentence.

Here are a few examples of sentences that use the passive voice:

• The food was eaten by the dog.
• The flowers were given by Mrs. Smith.
• The door will be fixed by my dad.
• A cake was made by the cook.

When something is “passive,” it means that it lets things happen to it. When something is “active,” it means that it does things, usually to something else.

So, in English, the active voice is when the sentence brings attention to the subject doing the action. The passive voice brings attention to the object instead. Passive voice sentences can still include a reference to the subject, but the subject loses some importance compared to the object.

Many times, what this means is that in passive voice sentences, it is the object that is mentioned first, while the subject is mentioned later (or not at all).

Here are some examples of how you can change sentences between active voice and passive voice.

Active: David ate the sandwich. Passive: The sandwich was eaten by David.

Active: Is Mom cooking dinner tonight? Passive: Will dinner be cooked by Mom tonight?

Active: Please take off your hat when coming into the building. Passive: Hats should be taken off when coming into the building.

If you want to learn more about the different between the active voice and passive voice in English, check out this video from the FluentU English YouTube channel:

There are two basic ways to use the passive voice in sentences.

The infinitive form of a verb is its basic form. It is a verb when it is not conjugated, or how you would find it if you looked it up in the dictionary. In English, that usually means the word “to” comes before the verb.

In the passive voice using the infinitive, the structure may look like this:

• Present simple tense: to + be + past participle of verb
• Past simple tense: was + past participle
• Present perfect tense: to + has/have + been + past participle
• Future simple tense: to/will + be + past participle

The forms of the “to” and “be” depend on if you are talking about the past, present or future tenses . Sometimes, you may not need a “to” or you can replace it with another verb instead, such as a modal verb .

Passive voice with the infinitive suggests that the action has not yet happened to the object.

• That is a gift to be given .
• She wants to be told the truth .
• There is fish to be caught .
• Lunch will be cooked soon.
• The paper should be completed by midnight.
• The ball was caught by the boy.

A gerund is a verb in its present participle form, also known as the “–ing” form.

When sentences use the passive voice with the gerund, they include:

           Simple/present tense: being + past participle of verb            Perfect/past tense: having + been + past participle

Passive voice with the gerund suggests that an action, and its reaction, is consistent (typical, unchanging).

• The cat loves being spoiled .
• She hates being treated like a baby
• The message, having been written by a doctor, is hard to read.
• Being shown the artwork is important for the critics.
• Are you mad about having been yelled at?
• He remembered being given a baseball bat for his birthday.

You may have heard from some people that it is better to use the active voice more than the passive voice. They might have said that the passive voice sounds “weak,” “uncertain” or even “messy.”

However, there are plenty of good reasons why you may want to use the passive voice instead, depending on the situation.

You should consider using the passive voice when:

Sometimes, it matters more to know the object than a subject. You may want to bring more attention to it because you would like to talk about it more or because someone wants to know more about it.

• The cookies for the party will be made soon.

The subject, or action-doer, is not always known. When that happens, then the passive voice may be the better choice.

• The money has been stolen.

Maybe you have an idea about who the action-doer is, but for some reason, you do not want to mention them. If that is the case, you want to be more vague (unclear) and use the passive voice.

This is usually a way to be more polite, safe and nonjudgmental. It can help take away blame and make the conversation more open.

• The vase was broken by someone.

When you talk about general truths or opinions, you are not talking about something that needs more detail or specifics. They are things that most people understand. That is why the passive voice might be a good choice.

• Garbage should be thrown out carefully.

The passive voice is commonly used in scientific papers when describing processes or systems. It helps you sound more objective (fair, unbiased) and formal.

• The water was absorbed at a rate of 10 milliliters per minute.

Of course, there are also times when the passive voice may not be the best choice. In most cases, people prefer it when you use the active voice when talking or writing.

You may not want to use the passive voice when:

If it is clear who the subject or action-doer is, then most people will want to know. It makes things easier to understand and people can better connect information about who did what.

When you use the passive voice, it might sometimes sound like you are purposely being confusing, sarcastic or hiding information. This can be especially true when whoever you are talking to already has an idea of who the subject or action-doer is. The active voice is a better way to sound more truthful and open.

Sentences that use the passive voice tend to be longer than those that use the active voice. You may want to say things quickly and shortly, especially when you have to share important information.

That is a basic summary of what the English passive voice looks like and is used for.

You can become more used to the passive voice by doing a lot of English reading and writing. Soon, it will be very easy for you to switch between active voice and passive voice.

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

The Passive Voice: A Comprehensive Guide with Definitions, Examples, and Practical Exercises

Marcus Froland

March 28, 2024

Getting to grips with the passive voice in English might seem like a chore. You see it everywhere – in books, on the news, and even in your favorite songs. But what exactly is it? And more importantly, why does it matter? It’s all about who’s doing what to whom. Sounds simple, right?

But here’s the kicker: mastering the passive voice can transform your English . It’s not just about sounding smarter or writing better essays (though it certainly helps with those). It’s about understanding how language shapes our world. And guess what? We’re about to make sense of it all without making you yawn.

So, where do we start on this journey? Hang tight, because by the end of this, you’ll be wielding the passive voice like a pro.

The passive voice is a way of writing or speaking where the object of an action becomes the subject of the sentence. For example, instead of saying “The cat chased the mouse,” in passive voice, you would say “The mouse was chased by the cat.” This style often makes sentences longer and can make it unclear who is performing the action. However, it’s useful in formal writing or when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant. To form a passive sentence, you need the correct form of the verb “to be” and the past participle of the main verb.

Remember, using the passive voice can make your writing harder to understand if overused. It’s best to use it carefully and mix it with active voice sentences for clearer communication.

Understanding the Passive Voice in English Grammar

The passive voice is when the subject of a sentence is the recipient of the action, as opposed to performing the action itself, which is known as the active voice. Often perceived as formal or complex, the passive voice serves specific functions in English Grammar that prioritize the action or the object of the sentence over the actor.

To form a passive sentence, the verb “to be” is combined with the past participle of the main verb. The following table demonstrates this formation by contrasting active and passive sentences across different verb tenses :

As seen in the table, the subject and object positions are reversed in passive sentences when compared to their active counterparts. The passive sentence includes the verb “to be” and the past participle of the main verb, such as “is written” or “was painted”. Furthermore, the passive voice emphasizes the action, whereas the active voice emphasizes the subject performing the action.

“In passive sentences, the focus is on the receiver of the action, not the performer of the action. This allows for flexibility in our communication and lends itself to various writing styles and purposes.”

Passive voice can be found in a variety of writing genres, including academic papers, news reports, and official documents. Its usage differs from the active voice, as it shifts the emphasis from the doer of an action to the action being performed or the object being acted upon. In the next section of this article, we will discuss when and why to use the passive voice for effective communication.

Take note of the following key points when considering the use of passive voice in your writing:

• The passive voice presents the subject of a sentence as the recipient of the action.
• It is formed by combining the verb “to be” with the past participle of the main verb.
• Passive sentences may prioritize the action or the object of the sentence over the actor.
• The choice between active and passive voice depends on the desired emphasis and communication style.

Now that you have a better understanding of the passive voice in English grammar , continue reading to explore its various applications and functions in different writing contexts.

When and Why to Use the Passive Voice

Considering the significance of passive voice in English sentence construction , it becomes crucial to understand when and why this particular voice should be applied. The following scenarios demonstrate the utility and effectiveness of employing the passive voice in context:

The Subject is Unknown or Unimportant

The passive voice is most suitable when the subject performing the action is unknown or irrelevant. In such cases, emphasis is placed on the action itself or the recipient. This is common in situations where the perpetrator is unidentified, such as the theft of a bag or a break-in at a house.

Emphasizing the Action over the Actor

When the outcome of the action is more significant than who performed it, the passive voice serves to highlight the action. This can be seen in contexts like delay announcements or the reporting of events caused by natural disasters, where the result of such events is the focus, rather than the actor responsible for the action.

When the Subject is Obvious or Known to All

If the actor is apparent and requires no explicit mention, the passive voice can be appropriately used. Examples include routine actions carried out by recognized figures or entities, such as arrests made by police or services performed by specific personnel. In these cases, the passive sentence emphasizes the action without redundant identification of the subject.

Conveying a General Truth or Widely Accepted Idea

Passive voice effectively communicates general truths or widely accepted ideas, where the actor is the general public or the consensus, thereby eliminating the need to specify the subject. This usage underlines the action or idea itself, focusing on the main message without redundantly mentioning the commonly understood subject.

Forming the Passive Voice: A Step-by-Step Explanation

The process of forming passive voice in English sentences is inherently linked to the use of the verb “to be” and the past participle of the main verb. Understanding how to combine these elements is crucial for mastering passive voice sentence constructions. Let’s take a comprehensive look at the key steps involved in forming passive voice sentences.

• Identify the main verb : Determine the action verb in your sentence.
• Conjugate the verb “to be” : Choose the appropriate form of the verb “to be” depending on the tense required.
• Form the past participle : Create the past participle of the main verb.
• Reorder the sentence components : Organize the sentence with the subject receiving the action, followed by the conjugated “to be” and the past participle.

Now, it’s essential to explore how verb tense affects the formation of passive voice sentences. As the required tense changes, so does the form of the verb “to be” and, consequently, the passive sentence construction.

Aside from the standard verb tenses , passive voice constructions can also accommodate structures using infinitives and gerunds.

Examples : To be given (infinitive) Being told (gerund)

With these English grammar rules and the step-by-step explanation provided, you can now form passive voice sentences in various situations confidently. Practice is essential to develop fluency, so don’t hesitate to play with different verb tenses and sentence structures to hone your skills.

The Impact of Verb Tenses on the Passive Voice

The tense of the verb “to be” plays a crucial role in forming the passive voice, as it must align with the temporal context of the action. From the simple present to past perfect tenses, each verb tense modifies the structure of the passive sentence, reflecting the time-frame in which the action occurred, is occurring, or will occur.

Understanding how verb tenses influence the structure and meaning of passive voice sentences helps to improve clarity and conciseness in your writing. Here’s a breakdown of how verb conjugation impacts passive voice sentences across different English tenses:

As demonstrated in the table above, the verb tense greatly affects the construction of passive voice sentences. By mastering the use of appropriate verb conjugations, you can ensure your writing is not only grammatically accurate but also effectively conveys the intended information.

Passive Voice in Action: Real-World Examples

In this section, we will dive into the real-life application of passive voice constructions, shedding light on their widespread usage in academic writing , scientific reports , and news reporting. Engaging with these practical examples will allow you to grasp the importance of passive voice in professional writing more effectively.

Passive Voice in Academic and Scientific Writing

Academic and scientific writing adheres to a formal style that often favors the use of passive constructions . The passive voice is preferred because it establishes objectivity and emphasizes the process, results, or evidence, rather than the individual researchers. This allows the reader to focus solely on the informational content and methodology of a study or experiment. Below are some passive voice examples commonly encountered in academic and scientific writing:

• The samples were analyzed using a mass spectrometer.
• The temperature was maintained at 37°C throughout the experiment.
• Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Utilization of Passive Voice in News Reporting

News reporting frequently employs passive voice constructions to prioritize the delivery of information. Reports often need to detail events or incidents where the full facts are not yet available, or the agent is intentionally omitted. By using passive constructions , the pertinent details can be conveyed effectively without engaging in unnecessary speculation about who carried out the action. The following examples demonstrate how the passive voice is utilized in news reporting:

• Major road closures were announced due to heavy snowfall in the area.
• A rare painting was stolen from a prestigious art gallery last night.
• Several homes were evacuated after a gas leak was detected in the neighborhood.

Passive voice in professional writing lends an air of objectivity, stylistic formality, and informational emphasis, making it an essential aspect of practical grammar .

Understanding and mastering the use of passive voice constructions is a crucial element of professional writing and practical grammar . Whether it’s for academic papers, scientific reports , or news articles, the passive voice allows writers to focus on the information and outcomes, while maintaining a formal and objective tone. Through the examples provided in this section, you can better comprehend the real-world application of passive voice in various contexts.

Exercises to Master the Passive Voice in Your Writing

Improving your grasp on passive voice requires consistent practice and a variety of exercises to fine-tune your grammar skills. In this section, we’ll focus on effective activities that will help you understand when and how to use the passive voice in your writing. By regularly engaging in these exercises, you can reinforce your knowledge and adapt it to various writing contexts.

To begin, experiment with converting active sentences to passive ones and vice versa. This will help you identify the differences between the two constructions and understand the situations in which they are most appropriate. Additionally, pay special attention to verb tenses, as this will aid in the accurate formation of passive sentences based on the action’s time-frame.

Next, put your passive voice skills to the test by engaging in exercises that mimic real-world scenarios. This can involve academic writing , news reporting, or other contexts where the passive voice plays a crucial role. Lastly, take advantage of resources like quizzes and online tools that provide further practice and support your ongoing development of passive voice mastery in different writing styles.

By actively participating in these grammar exercises and applying the passive voice knowledge acquired in this guide, you’ll effectively improve your writing skills and better understand how to deliver clear, concise, and impactful messages in various contexts.

Share this:

Two minute english.

English Made Simple: Two-Minute Lessons for Busy Learners

Copyright © 2024 • TwoMinEnglish.com

The Passive Voice

Perfect english grammar.

• Download this explanation in PDF here.
• See all my exercises about the passive here.

So, in this example, the subject is 'I', the verb is 'drank' and the object is 'two cups of coffee'.

• Two cups of coffee were drunk (we can add 'by me' if we want, but it isn't necessary).

How to make the Passive in English

We make the passive by putting the verb 'to be' into whatever tense we need and then adding the past participle . For regular verbs, we make the past participle by adding 'ed' to the infinitive. So play becomes played . Click here to learn about irregular verbs .

Verbs with two objects

• Active: He gave me the book / He gave the book to me.
• Passive: I was given the book (by him)/ The book was given to me (by him).

The passive in subordinate clauses

• Active: I thought that Mary had kissed John.
• Passive: I thought that John had been kissed by Mary.
• Active: He knew that people had built the church in 1915.
• Passive: He knew that the church had been built in 1915.
• The child loves being cuddled.
• She would like to be promoted.

When should we use the Passive?

• The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. (We are more interested in the painting than the artist in this sentence)
• He was arrested (obvious agent, the police).
• My bike has been stolen (unknown agent).
• The road is being repaired (unimportant agent).
• The form can be obtained from the post office (people in general).
• The chemical is placed in a test tube and the data entered into the computer.
• The brochure will be finished next month.
• Three books are used regularly in the class. The books were written by Dr. Bell. ('Dr. Bell wrote the books' sound clumsy)
• I was surprised by how well the students did in the test. (More natural than: 'how well the students did in the test surprised me')

Hello! I'm Seonaid! I'm here to help you understand grammar and speak correct, fluent English.

Read more about our learning method

Passive Voice: Important Rules and Useful Examples

Posted on Last updated: December 21, 2023

Sharing is caring!

Understanding how to construct sentences in the passive voice is an essential skill that can enhance the variety and sophistication of your communication. Throughout this lesson, we will delve into the key rules that govern the formation of passive constructions and explore their appropriate usage in various contexts.

Table of Contents

Understanding Passive Voice

Definition of Passive Voice

Passive voice  occurs when the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. The focus is not on who is performing the action, but rather on the action itself or the recipient of that action. Sentences in passive voice typically follow this structure: the object + be + past participle + by + the subject. For example, “ The cake was eaten by us ,” puts emphasis on the cake and the action of it being eaten.

Active vs. Passive Voice

Active Voice

The active voice illustrates a sentence where the subject performs the action that stated by the verb.

Form: SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT.

• I do my home work.
• My mom cooks the dinner.
• Our teacher gives us a lot of homework.
• She receives a letter from her father.

Passive Voice

In contrast, passive voice is describe a sentence in which the subject receives an action.

Form: SUBJECT + VERB + “TO BE” + PAST PARTICIPLE.

• My homework is done (by me).
• The dinner is cooked (by my mom).
• We are given a lot of homework (by our teacher).
• A letter from her father is received (by her).

Note: “By+…” can be taken out in passive voice.

When to Use Passive Voice?

 1. In formal texts

• Active: They invite him to the party.
• Passive: He is invited to the party. (sounds more formal)

2. To show interest in the person or object that receive an action rather than the person or object that performs the action.

• The party was held in a luxury hotel. (we’re interest in the party rather than who held it.)
• All tickets were sold out! (we’re interest in the ticket rather than who sold it.)

3. When we don’t know (or do not want to express) who performed the action.

• My purse was stolen!
• A whole pot of jam was eaten!

Passive Voice For All Tenses

Passive voice for all tenses in English.

• V1 : Base Form of Verb
• V2 : Past Simple
• V3 : Past Participle

Present Simple Tense

Learn passive voice for present simple tense in English.

• Active : S + V1 + O.
• Passive : S + is/am/are +V3.
• Active : He receives a letter.
• Passive : A letter is received by him.

Present Continuous Tense

• Active : S + am/are/is +V-ing + O.
• Passive : S + am/are/is +being + V3.
• Active : She is cooking the dinner.
• Passive : The dinner is being cooked by her.

Past Simple Tense

• Active : S + V2+O.
• Passive : S+was/were+V3.
• Active : I did my homework last night.
• Passive : Homework was done by me last night.

Past Continuous Tense

• Active : S + was/were + V-ing + O.
• Passive : S+was/were + being +V3.
• Active : He was playing the volleyball yesterday afternoon.
• Passive : The volleyball was being played by him yesterday afternoon.

Present Perfect Tense

• Active : S + have/has + V3 + O.
• Passive : S+have/has been +V3.
• Active : I have studied English for 10 years.
• Passive : English has been studied for 10 year.

Past Perfect Tense

• Active : S + had + V3 + O.
• Passive : S + had been +V3.
• Active : I had bought a new car.
• Passive : A new car had been bought by me.

Future Simple Tense

• Active : S + will + V1 + O.
• Passive : S + will be +V3.
• Active : I will make a cake on my Mom’s birthday.
• Passive : A cake will be made on my Mom’s birthday.

Future Tense with Going to

• Active : S + am/are/is going to + V1 + O.
• Passive : S + am/are/is going to be +V3.
• Active : She is going to do housework.
• Passive : Housework is going to be done by her.

Modals Verb

• Active : S + can/could/may/might… + V1 + O.
• Passive : S + can/could/may/might…be +V3.
• Active : She could lift this box.
• Passive : This box could be lifted by her.

Modal Perfect

• Active : S + should/could/may/might…have + V3+ O.
• Passive : S + should/could/may/might…have been + V3.
• Active : You should have finished the task on time.
• Passive : The task should have been finished on time.

Interactive Exercises

Exercise 1: change from active to passive voice.

Rewrite the following active sentences in the passive voice. Be sure to keep the same tense.

• The team is preparing the report.
• The chef cooked a delicious meal.
• The students will present the project next week.
• The company has shipped your order.
• The mechanic fixed the car.
• The teacher is grading the exams.
• The artist painted a beautiful portrait.
• The gardener has planted new flowers.
• The committee will announce the results tomorrow.
• The kids are making a mess in the living room.
• The report is being prepared by the team.
• A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.
• The project will be presented by the students next week.
• Your order has been shipped by the company.
• The car was fixed by the mechanic.
• The exams are being graded by the teacher.
• A beautiful portrait was painted by the artist.
• New flowers have been planted by the gardener.
• The results will be announced by the committee tomorrow.
• A mess is being made in the living room by the kids.

Exercise 2: Identify the Correct Passive Voice Sentence

Choose the correct passive voice sentence from the options provided.

• The novel (was written/was wrote) by the author last year.
• The windows (are cleaned/were cleaned) every Saturday.
• The song (has been sung/was been sung) by the choir beautifully.
• The homework (must be finished/must finished) before the deadline.
• The instructions (will be given/are given) by the instructor shortly.
• The trophy (is being awarded/was being awarded) to the winner as we speak.
• The agreement (has been signed/had been signed) by both parties.
• The message (was being delivered/is being delivered) when the system crashed.
• The new policy (is being implemented/was being implemented) starting next month.
• The cake (was being baked/is being baked) when the power went out.
• was written 
• are cleaned 
• has been sung
• must be finished 
• will be given 
• is being awarded 
• has been signed 
• was being delivered 
• is being implemented 
• was being baked 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I convert a sentence from active to passive voice?

To convert from active to passive, you first identify the object of the active sentence. Make this object the subject of the passive sentence. Then, add the appropriate form of the verb “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb. If necessary, you may include “by” followed by the original subject to indicate who performed the action.

Can you provide some examples of passive voice in different tenses?

Sure, here are some examples:

• Present simple: “The mail is delivered daily.”
• Past simple: “The window was broken by the storm.”
• Future simple: “The project will be completed by next week.”
• Present perfect: “The agreement has been signed.”

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using passive voice?

Common mistakes include overusing passive voice, which can make writing seem dull or evasive. Make sure the subject of your sentence is clear, as sentences with obscured subjects can be confusing. Also, watch out for the correct form of ‘to be’ to match the tense of your sentence.

In what situations is using passive voice considered inappropriate?

Passive voice is typically avoided in writing that requires action and clarity, such as in most forms of academic writing, journalism, and calls to action. It’s also less appropriate when it’s important to know who performed the action.

How does passive voice affect the clarity of writing?

While passive voice can reduce the clarity of writing by shifting the focus away from the subject performing the action, it can also be used intentionally to emphasize the action itself or when the performer is unknown or irrelevant.

What tools can help me check if I’ve used passive voice correctly?

Grammar checking tools like Grammarly can help identify passive constructions. Additionally, word processing software often has built-in grammar checks that can highlight passive voice, allowing you to reconsider its usage.

Ali md shapon

Thursday 11th of January 2024

I think it’s good memory.

Mustapha mohammed lawan

Tuesday 24th of October 2023

It's educating and so Interesting!

Tuesday 6th of December 2022

i am not going to school is it passive?

Friday 8th of July 2022

So confused with this.. difficult to get!

Friday 16th of July 2021

I AM SOOO CONFUSED

hehheheheeheh

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, active vs passive voice: understanding the difference.

General Education

Though fun, writing can also get pretty darn confusing, especially when you’re trying to figure out whether to use the active or passive voice. What is the difference between active and passive voice? When and how should you use them?

In this complete active voice vs passive voice guide, we'll go over how each voice works in English grammar, when to use the two voices, and how to change a sentence from passive to active (and vice versa). We’ll also give you an active vs passive voice quiz to test your skills. Let's get started!

What Is Active Voice?

The active voice is when the subject of a sentence performs an action on an object. In other words, the subject does the action, and the object receives the action .

The active voice is easy to identify in writing because it follows a simple form, which is the basis of English grammar:

Subject ( doer ) → Verb → Object ( recipient )

Here’s an example of a sentence using the active voice:

The dog ate my homework.

In this example, "the dog" is the subject, "ate" is the verb, and "my homework" is the object. Here’s a diagram to better show this connection:

Here, "the dog" is doing (or, in this case, has already done) the action: it is the one that "ate." Meanwhile, "homework" is the object that is receiving this action of eating.

Here’s another example of the active voice at play:

She is writing an essay.

In this example, "she" is the subject, "is writing" is the verb (in the present progressive tense), and "an essay" is the object.

Once again, the subject ("she") is the one performing the action: "she" is "writing." And what is she writing? An "essay," i.e., the noun that’s receiving the action.

Finally, here's an example of the active voice being used without an object:

In this sentence, we have a subject ("he") and a verb ("sings") but no object. Regardless, because the subject is performing the act of singing, we can identify this as the active voice .

What Is Passive Voice?

The passive voice is basically the opposite of the active voice: it’s when the subject is acted upon by the object. In other words, the subject receives the action, and the object does the action .

The passive voice is a little trickier to identify, as it uses more words than the active voice. The basic structure is as follows:

Subject ( recipient ) → Verb ( past participle of "to be" form ) → Object ( doer )

Note that the object here is always preceded by the word "by."

Additionally, the verb takes its "to be" form (meaning it’s preceded by "is/are" for the present tense and "was/were" for the past tense) and is put in the past participle (e.g., "eaten" for the verb "eat" or "given" for the verb "give").

Here’s an example of a sentence using the passive voice:

The ice cream was bought by the little girl.

In this example, "the ice cream" is the subject, "bought" is the verb, and "the little girl" is the object. Here’s a diagram to help you understand this grammar pattern better:

As you can see, "the ice cream" (as the subject) is the one receiving the action, while "the little girl" (as the object) is the one performing the action.

Here's another passive voice example:

Our tests were graded by the teacher.

Here, the subject is "our tests," the verb is "were graded," and the object is "the teacher." Again, the subject ("our tests") is receiving the action from the object ("the teacher") , which is, in turn, performing it (i.e., the one who is grading).

Sometimes you’ll see the passive voice being used without an object (i.e., without identifying the doer of the action—only the recipient). Here’s an example:

The tea was poured.

In this sentence, "the tea" is the subject and "was poured" is the verb; however, there’s no object performing the action of pouring . Simply put, we don’t know who poured the tea! Nevertheless, we can identify this sentence as passive based on its setup: a subject followed by a verb in its past participle "to be" form.

If we wanted to insert an object here, we'd simply add the word "by" followed by a noun:

The tea was poured by my grandmother.

Now, we have an object, or doer, of this act of pouring tea: "my grandmother."

Active vs Passive Voice: When Do You Use Them?

The active and passive voice express the same ideas, just in different ways. In terms of when we actually use them, though, what is the difference between active and passive voice?

In general, you should always aim to use the active voice whenever you write. This is because the active voice is clearer and more direct, while the passive voice is wordier and more confusing.

That being said, this doesn’t mean that the passive voice is inherently wrong. There are many cases in which you might opt for the passive voice over the active voice.

Here are some scenarios in which you might want (or need) to use the passive voice:

• When you want to emphasize the recipient of the action
• When you want to emphasize the action itself
• When you don’t know who or what is performing the action
• When the doer of the action is irrelevant or unimportant

For example, say you’re writing an essay about the Declaration of Independence and you come up with the following sentence:

Most people believe that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, but this is not actually the case.

Let’s parse this out a bit. 

While part of the sentence is clearly in the active voice (the "most people believe" section), the crux of it ("the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4") is in the passive voice. Doing this lets you keep the emphasis on the document, i.e., the topic of your essay .

In addition, there were many people who signed the Declaration of Independence, but listing them all here would only make the sentence longer and more convoluted; this is why the passive voice is a better fit.

Changing From Passive to Active Voice (and Vice Versa)

There are many times you might want to change a sentence from passive to active, or even from active to passive. To do this, you’ll need to understand exactly how the two types of voices work.

First, recall that the primary difference between active and passive voice lies in the roles of the subject and object : whereas in active voice the subject is the doer and the object is the recipient of the action, in passive voice the subject is the recipient of the action and the object is the doer.

Here’s an example of a sentence in the active voice vs passive voice:

Active: She created a travel blog. Passive: A travel blog was created by her.

Below is another way of looking at the difference between active and passive voice:

As you can see here, in the active voice, "she" is the subject and doer, whereas "a travel blog" is the object and recipient of the verb "created."

But in the passive voice, these designations swap : as the original subject, "she" becomes the object (but is still the doer of the action), whereas "a travel blog," which was originally the object, becomes the subject (but is still the recipient of the action).

In addition, the verb, which began in the simple past, has been converted into its past participle "to be" form .

To sum up, to convert from active to passive voice, here’s what you must do:

• Switch the positions of the subject and object so the original object is now the subject and the original subject is now the object
• Add the word "by" before the new object
• Convert the verb into its "to be" past participle form  based on the original tense used
• Switch the positions of the subject and object so the original subject is now the object and the original object is now the subject
• Delete the word "by" used before the original object (now subject)
• Convert the "to be" past participle form of the verb into the appropriate tense as indicated by the verb and overall sentence

The verb is arguably the trickiest part of converting from passive to active. You want to make sure you’re keeping the same tense as indicated by the original verb and sentence.

As an example, here's how you'd change various tenses of the word "do" from passive to active:

• is done → do/does
• is/are being done → is/are doing
• was/were done → did
• was/were being done → was/were doing
• will be done → will do

Finally, know that you cannot convert from active to passive or passive to active if you do not have an object . You can see why this doesn’t work in these active vs passive voice examples:

Active (Without Object): I drank. Passive: ??? was drunk by me.

Without an object, we have no idea what "I" actually "drank."

Passive (Without Object): The project will be completed by tomorrow. Active: ??? will complete the project by tomorrow.

Without an object, we cannot explain who "will complete the project."

Active vs Passive Voice Quiz

It’s time to test out what you learned in an active vs passive voice quiz. 

Before you start, make sure you know what the three types of questions expect you to do:

• Questions 1-3: Identify whether the sentence is active or passive
• Questions 4-5: Fill in the blanks to create a grammatically correct sentence
• Questions 6-8: Convert the sentence from active to passive, or vice versa

Answers and explanations will be provided at the end of the quiz. Good luck!

#1: Active or Passive?

This novel was not written by Charlotte Brontë but rather her sister Emily.

#2: Active or Passive?

The mail arrived on time yesterday.

#3: Active or Passive?

A study on the gender wage gap was conducted in 2018.

#4: Fill in the Blank

This gift was given to me _____ my sister.

#5: Fill in the Blank

The toy will soon be _____ by him. (past participle of "fix")

#6: Convert to Passive

Jessica is teaching me how to speak Italian.

#7: Convert to Active

He was advised by his dentist to floss more.

#8: Convert to Active

The valuable painting is finally going to be sold this year.

Active vs Passive Voice Quiz: Answers + Explanations

In this sample sentence, the subject is "the novel," the action is "was not written," and the object is "Charlotte Brontë" — we can leave out that last part since it’s not really important to understanding the voice here.

Because the object ("Charlotte Brontë") is the doer of the action — that is, she’s the one who did not write "the novel" —you should be able to tell right away that  this sentence is in the passive voice . (You might also be able to tell it’s passive due to the use of the word "by" before the object.)

Here, "the mail" is the subject and "arrived" is the verb — there is no object. Because "the mail" is the one doing the action of "arriving," this sentence uses the active voice .

In this example, "a study" is the subject and "was conducted" is the verb; there’s no object. Since "a study" is receiving the action instead of performing it, this sentence is in the passive voice .

(Just in case you’re wondering, the reason we don’t see "by" is that the object, or doer, of the action is either unknown or irrelevant.)

Right away you should recognize this as the passive voice. "This gift" is the subject, "was given" is the verb, and "my sister" is the object who is performing the action of giving.

As you know, the word "by" must come before the object in a passive sentence , so this is the missing word. The sentence should therefore read, "This gift was given to me by my sister."

Again, you should recognize this example as a passive sentence since it calls for the past participle of the verb and has the word "by" before the object. The past participle of the verb "fix" is the same as its simple past: "fixed" ; t herefore, the sentence should read, "The toy will soon be fixed by him."

To convert this sentence from active to passive, you must switch the positions of the subject and object and then convert the verb (in present progressive) to its past participle "to be" form. Don't forget that "me" must transform into its subject form ("I") when going from an object to a subject. ("Jessica" is a name and proper noun and therefore does not change form.)

Finally, place the word "by" before the new object ("Jessica"). This should give you the following passive sentence: "I am being taught how to speak Italian by Jessica."

To convert this example from passive to active, you’ll need to switch the subject and object, change the verb form from "to be" past participle to simple past, and eliminate the "by." Note that "he" will turn into "him" when converted from a subject into an object.

Doing all this correctly should give you this: "His dentist advised him to floss more."

If you didn’t know it already, this question is actually a trick! But how? Because there is no object in this passive sentence, there’s no way to convert it into the active voice. In other words, we have no idea who is going to sell the painting.

If we tried to convert it, we’d get this nonsensical statement: "??? is finally going to sell the valuable painting this year." As such, we cannot create a sentence in the active voice without a subject .

What’s Next?

Now that you understand active voice vs passive voice examples, want to brush up on your English grammar? Then check out our detailed guides on semicolons , verbs , prepositions , proper nouns , and parts of speech .

To ace the SAT/ACT, you'll need to have an excellent grasp of the English language.  Learn the most important SAT grammar rules and ACT grammar rules so you can earn an amazing score.

Need help with using and identifying literary devices? Our expert guide explains more than 30 key literary devices and how they work to help you become a pro at reading and writing.

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

• Student Login:

#240: How & Why to Use the Passive Voice | English Grammar Practice

May 18, 2022 | Grammar

How, when, and why should you use the passive voice in English?

You may recall studying the passive voice in English grammar lessons but still feel unsure about how to use it. 

Today we’re going to solve that frustration.

In this Confident English lesson today, you’re going to learn 6 specific uses of the passive voice in English.

Along the way, you’ll get English grammar practice with the examples I share and the practice questions I have for you. 

To get ready, I recommend grabbing a pen and paper so you’re ready to practice with me.

6 Uses of the Passive Voice in English

Use #1: when the actor is unknown or insignificant.

English speakers use the passive voice when the actor (person/thing performing the action) is unknown or insignificant. 

This is especially true when reporting crimes or incidents when the perpetrator is unknown.

• The store was robbed in broad daylight.
• My wallet was stolen last year.

Practice : Think for a moment about your experiences. Have you ever had something stolen? Or maybe a car window was broken? 

But you don’t know who did it?

Using the passive voice, write down a sentence you might use if you were reporting the crime or telling a friend about it. You can follow my examples.

Before we move on, a second way to think about an unknown actor — or when the person who completed the action is unimportant — is when talking about architecture. Such as design, construction, or renovation. 

Recently members of my Confident Women Community practiced using the passive voice to describe specific places or buildings in their city. I’d love to challenge you in the same way.

For example:

• Our home was renovated in 2019 . → We do not know or don’t care who did it.
• This building was completed in 1813 and was designed in the Federal style .

Practice : What about where you live? Is there a famous building you could describe without stating who did it?

Use #2: The Actor Is Obvious

We use the passive voice when there’s an obvious and common understanding of who or what performed an action. So we don’t need to waste time stating the obvious

For instance, it’s common knowledge that your salary is paid by your employer. 

When describing your payment cycle, you could simply say, “ I’m paid biweekly.”

Pop Quiz: How would you rephrase this sentence to use the passive voice? The police arrested the robber last night. Answer: The robber was arrested last night. Since it’s obvious that the police are making the arrest, we can easily use the passive voice. 

*Tip: When you use the passive voice and want to specify who did the action, end the sentence with by and the actor. 

I’m paid biweekly by my employer .

Use #3: To Emphasize the Recipient

Remember that the object receives the action, in the passive voice. For this reason, English speakers use the passive voice to draw attention to the recipient.

For instance, rather than say: “The local government spent millions of dollars to restore the building.” The passive voice could be used to say: “Millions of dollars were spent to restore the building.” Moving the recipient to the front of the sentence and eliminating the actor, puts emphasis on the large sum of money that was spent instead of who spent the money. 

Practice : Can you think of a time when too much money was spent on something? An item? A project budget?

Rather than focus on WHO spent the money, think about how to focus on what was spent. 

Here’s a recommended way to start, “Too much money was spent on ______.”

Use #4: To Emphasize A Result

While the passive voice allows us to highlight that something or someone receives an action, it can also be used to shift the focus on the result of an action. 

English speakers achieve this by using the passive voice in addition to the stress on the verb.

• For example, to place emphasis on the result of a budget cut, I could say, “Students were demotivated when they heard there would be no art program next year.”  

Now, you might be wondering: couldn’t use the active voice and say “The news of no art program demotivated the students” — still emphasizing the verb demotivated?

And the answer is yes, we certainly could. But doing so shifts the focus in the sentence. Now it’s the news of no art program that we pay attention to most.

Using the passive voice allows the speaker or writer to decide what is most important in the sentence — the fact that there is no art program? Or the fact that students were demotivated.

Use #5: To Protect and Avoid Blame

The passive voice is useful when the actor needs or wants to be protected. 

Imagine you’re the host of a party and someone accidentally broke a valuable object. To shield the person from further embarrassment, you might say “ It was accidentally knocked off the table .” In this case, the passive voice enables you to avoid naming the person.

In contrast, the actor can protect themself by using the passive voice to avoid responsibility. We often hear this in statements made by people of power.

For example, if a politician is making a speech to acknowledge a mistake and soften their role in the mistake, they might say “ Mistakes were made and we’re working towards a solution .”

Practice : Can you remember a situation when someone you care about at work accidentally broke something? Or missed an important deadline? Or forgot to complete an important task? 

In talking about it, you want to protect the person who did it. How would you describe what happened?

Use #6: To Describe Actions in Scientific and Academic Contexts

The passive voice is traditionally used in scientific literature or contexts. This is especially true in lab reports and research papers. 

• “ The subject’s cognitive state was assessed at the end of each trial .”
• “ Over 100 responses were collected in the survey. ”

Now you have 6 clear uses for the passive voice and your own examples to help you determine how you might use the passive voice in your own Egnlish communication. 

Feel free to share your examples with me below.

Or tell me how today’s lesson helped you. Share a quick comment in the comment section below to let me know.

~ Annemarie

P.S. Are you looking for a community to provide support, help you stay motivated, and guarantee that you grow? Check out our Confident Women Community .

Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English

Follow my 3-step solution to speak English with clarity, fluency, and freedom so you can say what you want with confidence.

You'll also get my Confident English lessons delivered by email every Wednesday and occasional information about available courses. You can unsubscribe any time.

More Like This

5 Smart Questions to Ask in an English Job Interview

It’s the last question in your job interview in English and you hear: Do you have any questions for me? What should you say? Is it okay to ask a question in a job interview? Find out exactly what you should do plus 5 smart questions to ask.

How to Disagree in English Politely

Want to say “I disagree” without creating tension in the conversation? Master the art of disagreement in this lesson on, “How to Disagree in English Politely.”

#310: The Right Grammar for English Introductions

Get your English introductions just right with this step-by-step video on Grammar for English Introductions when you’re meeting someone new.

#309: How to Go Off Topic in English | English Conversation Skills

Learn how to gracefully go off topic in English without losing your audience. Whether you’re in a meeting or chatting with friends, in this lesson we dive deep into the art of smoothly navigating tangents while enhancing your English conversation skills.

#308: How to Use ‘Though’ in English [+ FREE Worksheet]

Learn and practice how to correctly use though, although, even though, and as thought in your English conversations.

#307: How to Use English Abbreviations in Emails, Texts, and Conversations

Follow this comprehensive guide to learn how to use English abbreviations for emails, texts, and conversations.

© Copyright 2014-2024 Speak Confident English  |   Privacy Policy  |   Terms & Disclaimer  | Online Class Policies

Hey there. Thanks for sharing this wonderful blog. The passive voice can be used to create a sense of detachment or remove the speaker from the action, which is sometimes desired. For example, if you are writing about a crime that was committed, you may want to use the passive voice to maintain impartiality. Additionally, the passive voice can make your writing sound more academic or formal.

Hi Annie! I was always trying to figure out the uses of Passive Voice, as I was only a fluent English speaker, learnt by listening and reading. Grammar was Greek to me! I have begun teaching English. Thanks a lot for this lesson for the students to know the objectives of the topic.

I’m so glad it was helpful to you, Imtiaz!

Ok, Let me read. I’ll let you know

Thanks Annemarie! well actually I’m preparing a scientific paper, so this lesson is definitely helpful for me.

Oh, this will be perfect for you!

Hi Anne Marie! This lesson was very interesting for me, thank you.

Let me share with you my homework:

Use #1 My PC was stolen last year from my car last night. The last house of the ghetto, was demolished in 1947

Use # 3 Too much money was spent to built the new soccer stadium in Cagliari.

Use #5 An important file was inadvertently moved to a wrong folder. The good news is that we find it.

To the next lesson!

Great job, Cinzia!

I have one question about the first example: “My PC was stolen last year from my car last night. ”

I see ‘last year’ which means 2021 and I see ‘last night’ which means yesterday. Which one of these did you want to use in the sentence?

And in example 3, we can simplify this sentence by removing “to build” and instead use a preposition: “Too much money was spent _______ the new soccer stadium in Cagliari.” — Do you know which preposition we might use?

Pin It on Pinterest

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Changing Passive to Active Voice

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

If you want to change a passive-voice sentence to active voice, find the agent in a "by the..." phrase, or consider carefully who or what is performing the action expressed in the verb. Make that agent the subject of the sentence, and change the verb accordingly. Sometimes you will need to infer the agent from the surrounding sentences which provide context.

If you want to change an active-voice sentence to passive voice, consider carefully who or what is performing the action expressed in the verb, and then make that agent the object of a by the... phrase. Make what is acted upon the subject of the sentence, and change the verb to a form of be + past participle. Including an explicit by the... phrase is optional.

This passive voice contains a by the... phrase. Removing the by the... phrase and reworking the sentence will give it the active voice.

Image Caption: Making "most of the class" the subject of the sentence moves the action of the sentence onto the class, and shifts the sentence from passive into active voice.

The agent is not explicitly stated, but it is most likely researchers. Making the agent the subject of the sentence will allow you to use the active voice.

This sentence now uses the active voice because the agent (the researchers) are now performing the action as the sentence subject.

The CIA director and his close advisors are the agent of change in this sentence, but they are not the subject. Making the agent the subject will transform the sentence into a more concise, active voice phrase.

This sentence now uses the active voice because the agent (the CIA director and his close advisors) is performing the action as the sentence subject.

The agent is not specified in this sentence.

This sentence now uses the active voice because the agent (we) is the subject of the sentence.

This active voice sentence's agent is the presiding officer, which is the subject.

Changing the sentence subject from the agent (the presiding officer) to the object of the verb (the committee's recommendation) and adding a by the...phrase transforms the sentence into the passive voice.

This sentence includes the agent (the leaders) as the subject performing the action of the verb.

This sentence now uses the passive voice because the subject has been changed from the agent (the leaders) to the object of the verb (a fair resolution).

The scientists are the agent performing the verb's action in this active voice sentence.

This passive voice sentence no longer specifies the agent (scientists) and now uses the passive voice because the verb's object (traces of ice) is now the subject.

Passive Voice - Exercises on Form

>mixed exercise on passive voice.

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

• John collects money. -
• Anna opened the window. -
• We have done our homework. -
• I will ask a question. -
• He can cut out the picture. -
• The sheep ate a lot. -
• We do not clean our rooms. -
• William will not repair the car. -
• Did Sue draw this circle? -
• Could you feed the dog? -

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• English Grammar

How to Change a Sentence from Active Voice to Passive Voice

Last Updated: March 31, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Richard Perkins . Richard Perkins is a Writing Coach, Academic English Coordinator, and the Founder of PLC Learning Center. With over 24 years of education experience, he gives teachers tools to teach writing to students and works with elementary to university level students to become proficient, confident writers. Richard is a fellow at the National Writing Project. As a teacher leader and consultant at California State University Long Beach's Global Education Project, Mr. Perkins creates and presents teacher workshops that integrate the U.N.'s 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the K-12 curriculum. He holds a BA in Communications and TV from The University of Southern California and an MEd from California State University Dominguez Hills. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 510,943 times.

Switching voice is an important skill to possess when writing in any context, including academically, professionally, or personally. Changing a sentence from active to passive voice does not change the meaning of the statement, but it does switch the emphasis from the subject (the person doing the action) to the direct object (the thing that receives the action). To change a sentence to passive voice, you’ll first need to identify the tense that the sentence is written in, as it’s necessary to keep the correct tense when switching from active to passive voice. Second, identify the sentence’s subject, verb, and direct object. Finally, change the format so that the sentence begins with the direct object and ends with the subject.

Identifying the Tense of the Sentence

• Simple present tense combines a subject + verb. For example: “He writes.”
• Present continues tense combines a subject + being verb (am, is , are) + verb1 + ing. For Example: “He is writing.”
• Present perfect tense combines a subject + have/has + verb. For example: “He has written.”
• Present perfect continuous tense combines subject + has/have + been + verb + ing. Example: “He has been writing.”

• Simple past tense combines a subject + verb in the sentence. For example: “He wrote.”
• Past perfect tense combines the subject + had + verb. For example: “He had written.”
• Past continuous tense combines a subject + being verb (was, were) + verb + ing. For example: “He was writing.”
• Past perfect continuous tense combines subject + had + been + verb + ing. For example: “He had been writing.”

• Simple future tense combines a subject + “will” + verb. For example, “He will write.”
• Future perfect tense combines the subject + “will have” + verb. For example, “He will have written.”
• Future continuous tense combines a subject + “will” + being verb + verb. For example, “He will be writing.”
• Future perfect continuous tense combines the subject + “have been” + verb + “ing.” For example, “He will have been writing.”

Converting the Sentence

• For example, the sentence “He will write a letter” is in the future tense and active voice.
• To change this to passive voice, move the direct object to the beginning of the sentence, while keeping the future tense: “A letter will be written by him.”

• Depending on the tense of the sentence, being verbs include: “is,” “was,” “will be,” “has been,” etc.

• In cases where the subject (one who does the action) is unknown, you may not be able to add the word “by.”
• For example, if you have received a letter but do not know who sent it, you would write, “The letter was sent to me on November 1st,” but you would not say by whom it was sent.

• Active voice, present tense: The cat kills the mice.
• Passive voice, present tense: The mice are killed by the cat.
• Active voice, past continuous tense: Some boys were helping the wounded men.
• Passive voice, past continuous tense: Wounded men were being helped by some boys.
• Active voice, future perfect tense: Someone will have stolen my purse.
• Active voice, future perfect tense: My purse will have been stolen by someone.

Knowing When to Use the Passive Voice

• Be careful when removing emphasis from the subject of a sentence, as in some cases it can be seen as confusing to the reader. Passive voice can also remove the subject of a sentence altogether.
• For example, a politician who says, “I have lied to the American people” may be seen as repentant and forthcoming. If the individual were to say “The American people have been lied to,” they politician would be removing any blame from themselves by phrasing the sentence in the passive voice and removing the subject.

• For example, the sentence “American nuclear devices were first tested in July 1945” places the emphasis on the nuclear testing and leaves the specific researchers anonymous.

• For example, instead of writing “My team placed seven stream gages in the river,” you would write, “Seven stream gages were placed in the river.”
• Here the passive voice lends anonymity to the action: anyone can replicate the experiment by repeating the same procedures. By using the passive voice, you’re arguing that the results can be replicated regardless of which scientists perform the actions.

Practice Sentenes and Answers

Expert Q&A

• Passive voice is also commonly used in sayings or maxims that are supposedly applicable to everyone. A saying like “rules are made to be broken” must be in the passive voice, since there is no specific subject breaking a rule in the sentence. Thanks Helpful 25 Not Helpful 6

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/english-grammar-reference/present-tense
• ↑ https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/english-grammar-reference/past-tense
• ↑ https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/future-tense-verbs/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/active_and_passive_voice/active_versus_passive_voice.html
• ↑ Richard Perkins. Writing Coach & Academic English Coordinator. Expert Interview. 1 September 2021.
• ↑ https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/activepass.htm
• ↑ http://www.lingolex.com/tensexp.htm
• ↑ http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-active-and-passive-voice.html
• ↑ https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/rwc/repository/files/grammar-and-mechanics/verb-system/Active-and-Passive-Voice.pdf
• ↑ http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/style-and-editing/passive-voice

About This Article

To change a sentence from active to passive voice, start by moving the object to the beginning of the sentence. Then, add the auxiliary verb “be” prior to the main verb, which will emphasize how the object is acted on. For example, if the original sentence is “He will write the letter,” you should make it “A letter will be written by him.” Take care to keep the same tense when you switch a sentence from active to passive voice. If the original sentence is “The cat kills the mice,” the correct passive voice would be “The mice are killed by the cat,” not “The mice were being killed by the cat.” For tips on when it’s OK to use the passive voice and when to avoid it, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Juanna reese Peterson

Jun 24, 2020

Did this article help you?

Khizer Salam

Jul 2, 2017

Feb 16, 2017

Sandeep Singh

Jun 4, 2020

Uvini Manchanayake

Jul 17, 2017

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

PA016 - Passive Voice Sentences

Gap-fill exercise.

Complete the sentences using the correct form of the passive voice in the correct tense!

• The war next week (DECLARE) .
• Your homework by tomorrow afternoon. (MUST FINISH)
• That house since I was a child. (NOT PAINT)
• Smoking in this hotel (NOT ALLOW)
• After all the flights the tourists checked in at the airport hotel. (CANCEL)
• The car for over a week (NOT WASH) .
• He a new contract last year (GIVE)
• This song by the Beatles in 1967. (WRITE)
• The earth if we try hard enough to do something (CAN SAVE)
• The new bridge at the moment. (BUILD)

Passive Voice – Free Exercise

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the passive.

• I don’t have to buy the paper because it (deliver)     to our house every day. simple present (signal: every day )|3 rd person singular: is + past participle
• When Kylie went to school, she (pick up)     by her parents every day. simple past (signal: went )|3 rd person singular: was + past participle
• You don’t have to clean the bathroom. It (clean/already)     by someone else. present perfect (signal: already, first clause in simple present)|3 rd person singular: has + adverb + been + past participle
• Relax! From now on, I promise that everything (do)     for you. will future (signal: from now on, I promise )| will be + past participle|irregular verb: do-did-done
• When I came home, dinner (cook/not)     yet. past perfect (signal: yet, first clause in simple past)| had been + past participle

Rewrite the sentences in the passive voice. Use the same tense as in the active sentence. Only use by if necessary.

• They offer free trials twice a year. simple present|3 rd person plural: are + past participle|Do not include the agent when it is unknown/unimportant/obvious.   twice a year.
• Someone is cutting the grass next door. present progressive|3 rd person singular: is being + past participle|irregular verb: cut-cut-cut |Do not include the agent when it is unknown/unimportant/obvious.   next door.
• All parties have signed the contract. present perfect|3 rd person singular: has been + past participle|Use by to introduce the agent.   .
• A car hit the traffic light. simple past|3 rd person singular: was + past participle|irregular verb: hit-hit-hit |Use by to introduce the agent.   .

Rewrite the sentences in two ways: once in the impersonal passive and once in the personal passive.

• Visitors say that these museums have wonderful exhibits. It   these museums have wonderful exhibits. it is + participle of reporting verb + that |irregular verb: say-said-said These museums   wonderful exhibits. reporting verb: say (simple present) →|subject (3 rd person plural) + are + participle of reporting verb + main verb infinitive: to have |irregular verb: say-said-said
• Everybody agrees that this sculpture is the artist’s greatest work. It   this sculpture is the artist’s greatest work. it is + participle of reporting verb + that This sculpture   the artist’s greatest work. reporting verb: agrees (simple present)|subject (3 rd person singular) + is + participle of reporting verb + main verb infinitive: to be
• Experts assume that the diamond is priceless. It   the diamond is priceless. it is + participle of reporting verb + that The diamond   priceless. reporting verb: assume →|subject (3 rd person singular) + is + participle of reporting verb + main verb infinitive: to be
• Experts believe that this jewellery belonged to Cleopatra. It   this jewellery belonged to Cleopatra. it is + participle of reporting verb + that This jewellery   to Cleopatra. reporting verb: believe (simple present) →|subject (3 rd person singular) + is + participle of reporting verb + main verb perfect infinitive: to have belonged |Use the perfect infinitive when the active main verb is in the past.

How good is your English?

Find out with Lingolia’s free grammar test

Take the test!

Maybe later

Active and Passive Voice Exercise With Answers

We use passive voice when we do not know who the subject is, or it is not important who the subject is or when it is obvious to the listener or reader who the subject is because it is the person who usually does it.  When we give more importance to the object of the sentences rather than the subject, we use passive voice. Below we have prepared active and passive voice exercises for ESL students. Attempt the following exercise, then compare your answers with the correct answers given below.

Active and Passive Voice Complete Grammar Rules

Active and passive voice exercise.

Change the active sentences below into passive sentences. Write “No change” if you think sentences cannot be changed.

• She writes a letter.
• They go to school every day.
• He doesn`t paint the wall.
• Why are you crying?
• Did the mechanic fix your car?
• You should do your homework.
• Don`t talk so loudly.
• They are painting their house.
• We have drunk milk tea.
• Will you watch TV tonight?
• I am not going to work today.
• He has been teaching English for ten years.
• When are you going to buy a car?
• Who taught you the active and passive sentences?
• She had cleaned the kitchen.
• We will have eaten dinner by the time you get there.
• People speak English in the USA.
• Would you rather learn English or French?
• You must not come late to class.
• She has to pass the test.
• He bought his son a book.
• Bismo teaches us every day.
• Who is your teacher?
• Who fights the coalition forces?
• Who have you invited to the party?
• I`ll build a hospital if I have a million dollars.
• If I had had a million dollars, I would have built a big mosque.
• We will be playing cricket at this time tomorrow.
• Aren’t they going to be building a house?
• It has been raining since yesterday.
• The explosion had killed many people.
• I have never been to Egypt.
• Have you been digging out the ground since morning?
• I will have written a poem by the time you call me.
• The heavy storm damaged a lot of crops in Mumbai.
• I was playing football yesterday.
• Could you help me, please?
• Who can answer my question?
• Will she have been watering the garden?
• Milad is helping me solving the active and passive voice exercise.
• A letter is written by her.
• Not Change.
• The wall isn’t painted by him.
• Intransitive verb (Crying)
• Was your car fixed by the mechanic?
• Your homework should be done by you.
• Intransitive verb (talk)
• Their house is being painted.
• Milk tea has been drunk.
• Will TV be watched by you?
• Not change.
• English has been taught by him for ten years.
• When is a car going to be bought by you?
• By whom were you taught the active and passive sentences?
• The kitchen had been cleaned.
• Dinner will have been eaten by the time you get there.
• English is spoken in the USA.
• Would English or French rather be learned by you?
• You are ordered not to come late to class.
• The test has to be passed by her.
• His son was bought a book by him.
• We are taught every day by Bismo.
• By whom were the coalition forces fought?
• Who has been invited to the party?
• A hospital will be built if I have a million dollars.
• If I had had a million dollars, a big mosque would have been built.
• Cricket will be played at this time tomorrow by us.
• Isn’t a house be going to be built by them?
• Many people had been killed by the explosion.
• A poem will have been written by me by the time you call me.
• A lot of crops were damaged by the heavy rain in Mumbai.
• Football was being played yesterday by me.
• Could I be helped, please?
• By whom my answer can be answered?
• I am being helped by Milad to solve the active and passive voice exercises.

Exercise 02:

Change the following sentences from Active Voice into Passive Voice and write your answers in the comment section below.

• The chef prepares a delicious meal every evening.
• People speak English in many countries around the world.
• The company will launch a new product next month.
• The teacher assigned homework to the students yesterday.
• We are planting flowers in the garden this weekend.
• The mechanic fixed my car last week.
• The storm damaged several houses in the neighborhood.
• The students are studying for their exams in the library.
• The police arrested the suspect yesterday.
• Someone will deliver the package to your house tomorrow.

New Article:

Active and Passive Voice Quiz with Answers

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related posts

Included question in question/ embedded questions, future perfect or future perfect continuous exercises, uses of adverbs in a sentence.

Thanks, it helped me a lot.

You are welcome!

exercise is good to practice

33 and 39 can be passive if not can anyone explain why?

I don’t understand the question types. Could you explain me a little bit? Do I need to leave (you) in question type? Can (you) be used in its behind (by)?

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.