The verb form which indicates whether the subject (person or object) of a sentence does something or something has been done to the subject is called voice.

Active Voice: A verb is said to be in the Active Voice when its subject acts or when the emphasis is on the doer or the subject.
Example:

• Mohan sang a song.
• Here, the subject Mohan is acting.

Passive Voice: A verb is in the Passive Voice when the subject is being acted upon or when the emphasis is on the object or the work done.
Example:

• A song was sung by Mohan.
• Here, the subject is being acted upon.

The sentence must-have objects. If there is no object then there must be a question word who asks the object. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of passive sentences. The word ‘by’ is used before the subject in sentences in the passive voice. 3rd form of Verb is always used as the main verb in sentences of passive voice for all tenses.

The places of subject and object are interchanged i.e. the object shifts to the place of subject and subject shifts to the place of the object in the passive voice.

Auxiliary verbs are used in passive voice according to the tenses.

Change of pronouns:
Active and Passive voice in the simple present tense.

Active and Passive voice in simple past tense.
Active and Passive voice in the simple future tense.

Active and Passive voice in simple future tense.

Active and Passive voice in the present continuous tense.
Active and Passive voice in the past progressive tense.

Active and Passive voice in present perfect tense.
Active and Passive voice in past perfect tense.
Active and Passive voice in future perfect tense.

Exercise 1

Put the verb into the correct form, present simple or past simple, active or passive:

1. It’s a big company. Four hundred people …………………. (employ) there.
2. Water …………………. (cover) most of the Earth’s surface.
3. Most of the Earth’s surface …………………. (cover) by water.
4. The park gates …………………. (lock) at 7 p.m. daily.
5. The letter …………………. (post) a week ago and it …………………. (arrive) yesterday.
6. The boat …………………. (sink) quickly but fortunately everybody …………………. (rescue).
7. Raman’s parents …………………. (die) when he was very young. He and his sister …………………. (bring) up by their grandparents.
8. I was born in Mumbai but I …………………. (grow) up in Delhi.
9. While I was on holiday, my camera …………………. (steal) from my hotel room.
10. While I was on holiday, my camera …………………. (disappear) from my hotel room.
11. Why …………………. (Sita / resign) from her job?
12. Why …………………. (Sohan / sack) from his job?

Аnswers:

1. are employed.
2. covers.
3. is covered.
4. are locked.
5. was posted, arrived.
6. sank, was rescued.
7. died, were brought.
8. grew.
9. was stolen.
10. disappeared.
11. did Sita resign.
12. was Sohan sacked.

Exercise 2

Complete the sentences using one of these verbs in the correct form:

cause,        damage,        hold,        include,        invite,        make,        overtake,        show,       translate,      write

1. Many accidents …………………. by dangerous driving.
2. Cheese …………………. from milk.
3. The roof of the building …………………. in a storm a few days ago.
4. There is no need to leave a tip. Service …………………. in the bill.
5. You …………………. to the wedding. Why didn’t you go?
6. A cinema is a place where films ………………….
7. In the United States, elections for President …………………. every four years.
8. Originally the book …………………. in Spanish and a few years ago it …………………. into
   English.
9. We were driving along quite fast but we …………………. by lots of other cars.

Аnswers:

1. are caused.
2. is made.
3. was damaged.
4. is included.
5. were invited.
6. are shown.
7. are held.
8. was written, was translated.
9. were overtaken.

Exercise 3

Complete these sentences with one of the following verbs (in the correct form):

carry        cause        do        make        repair        send        spend        wake        up

1. The situation is serious. Something must …………………. before it’s too late.
2. I have not received the letter. It might …………………. to the wrong address.
3. A decision will not …………………. until the next meeting.
4. I told the hotel receptionist that I wanted to …………………. at 8 a.m. the next morning.
5. Do you think that less money should …………………. on ornaments.
6. This road is in very bad condition. It should …………………. a long time ago.
7. The injured man couldn’t walk and had to ………………….
8. It is not certain how the fire started but it might …………………. by an electrical fault.

Аnswers:

1. be done.
2. have been sent.
3. be made.
4. be woken up.
5. be spent
6. have been repaired.
7. be carried.
8. have been caused.

Exercise 4

Change the following sentences from the active voice to the passive voice:

1. The man cut down the tree.
2. Columbus discovered America.
3. His teacher praised him.
4. The boy teased the dog.
5. The police arrested him.
6. Rama was making a kite.
7. The boy caught the ball.
8. My father will write a letter.
9. I will defeat him.
10. He kept me waiting.
11. He scored twenty runs.
12. Manners reveal character.
13. Everyone loves him.
14. We expect good news.
15. I have sold my bicycle.
16. We must write to him.
17. They are doing the work.
18. The car hit the man.
19. Shyam eats an apple.
20. I had posted the letter before I met him.
21. How do they make coffee?
22. Rachna had made tea.
23. Abdul was watering the plants.
24. Surabhi will write a letter.
25. Mala has broken the window.

Аnswers:

1. The tree was cut down by the man.
2. America was discovered by Columbus.
3. He was praised by his teacher.
4. The dog was teased by the boy.
5. He was arrested.
6. A kite was being made by Rama.
7. The ball was caught by the boy.
8. A letter will be written by my father.
9. He will be defeated by me.
10. I was kept waiting.
11. Twenty runs were scored by him.
12. Character is revealed by manners.
13. He is loved by everyone.
14. Good news is expected.
15. My bicycle has been sold.
16. He must be written to by us.
17. The work is being done by them.
18. The man was hit by the car.
19. An apple is eaten by Shyam.
20. The letter had been posted (by me) before I met him
21. How is coffee made?
22. Tea had been made by Rachna.
23. Plants were being watered by Abdul.
24. A letter will be written by Surabhi.
25. The window has been broken by Mala.