How to Change Active to Passive Voice (with Examples)
Active and passive voice exercises help students understand how actions are described from different viewpoints. This is important for exams, clear writing, and real-life communication. Practising these exercises helps you use correct grammar in your schoolwork, tests, and daily English.
| Tense | Active Voice Example | Passive Voice Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | The teacher explains the lesson. | The lesson is explained by the teacher. |
| Present Continuous | The chef is baking a cake. | A cake is being baked by the chef. |
| Simple Past | The students finished the project. | The project was finished by the students. |
| Present Perfect | She has written a letter. | A letter has been written by her. |
| Future Simple | The team will win the match. | The match will be won by the team. |
Active and Passive Voice Rules for All Tenses
Changing a sentence from active to passive voice requires using the correct structure for each tense. Always begin with the object, select the appropriate form of “be,” and use the past participle of the main verb. Add “by” only if the doer matters.
- Simple Present: am/is/are + past participle
- Present Continuous: am/is/are + being + past participle
- Simple Past: was/were + past participle
- Present Perfect: has/have been + past participle
- Future Simple: will be + past participle
Active and Passive Voice Exercises
Practise changing sentences between active and passive voice to build confidence. Use these short exercises to test your skills for class and competitive exams.
- Active: The manager approves the application.
Passive: The application is approved by the manager. - Active: The children are flying kites.
Passive: Kites are being flown by the children. - Passive: The song was sung by the choir.
Active: The choir sang the song. - Active: The company has started a new project.
Passive: A new project has been started by the company. - Passive: The homework will be completed by the students.
Active: The students will complete the homework.
Common Mistakes in Active and Passive Voice
Be careful with auxiliary verbs and tense consistency. The subject and object must switch places. Always use the right past participle. Double-check the meaning to avoid confusion.
- Omitting “by” when the agent is needed
- Using wrong tense forms (e.g., is sung instead of was sung for past events)
- Forgetting to change the subject/object order
Why Practise Active and Passive Voice Exercises?
These grammar exercises help you score better in school and entrance exams. Understanding both voices improves your writing and speaking. At Vedantu, we offer active and passive voice worksheets and solved examples to help you study easily on any device.
In summary, active and passive voice exercises train you to write with clarity and correctness. Learning the rules for tense, trying many examples, and avoiding common mistakes will boost your confidence for all types of English exams and daily life. Practise often and use Vedantu’s resources to improve faster.
FAQs on Active and Passive Voice Exercises: Rules, Examples & Practice
1. What is the difference between active and passive voice?
In active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., The dog chased the cat). In passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g., The cat was chased by the dog). The passive voice uses a form of the verb "to be" + past participle.
2. How do I convert an active sentence to passive voice?
To change from active to passive voice:
- Identify the object of the active sentence.
- Make the object the new subject.
- Use the correct form of the verb "to be" (depending on the tense) + the past participle of the main verb.
- Optionally, add the original subject using "by" (e.g., "by the dog").
3. How do I convert a passive sentence to active voice?
To change from passive to active voice:
- Identify the subject (often the noun phrase after "by").
- Make the subject the new subject of the active sentence.
- Use the appropriate tense of the main verb.
- The original subject becomes the object.
4. Can all active voice sentences be converted to passive voice?
No. Sentences without a direct object, or those with intransitive verbs (verbs that don't take an object), cannot be easily converted to passive voice.
5. When should I use passive voice?
Use passive voice when:
- The action is more important than the doer.
- The doer is unknown or unimportant.
- You want to be more formal or objective.
6. When should I use active voice?
Use active voice when:
- You want to write clearly and concisely.
- The subject performing the action is important.
- You want to be more direct and engaging.
7. How does tense affect active and passive voice conversion?
The tense of the verb determines the form of "to be" used in the passive voice. You must maintain consistent tense throughout the sentence.
8. What are some common mistakes to avoid when using passive voice?
Avoid overusing passive voice, as it can make your writing unclear or wordy. Ensure the meaning remains clear and direct. Watch out for awkwardly long passive constructions.
9. How can I practice active and passive voice effectively?
Practice by converting sentences between active and passive voice, identifying the voice in given sentences, and creating your own sentences in both voices. Use online resources and worksheets for additional practice.
10. What are the rules for changing voice in different tenses (present simple, past simple, future simple, etc.)?
The basic structure changes slightly depending on the tense. For example, in the present simple, the passive uses "is/am/are + past participle." In the past simple, it's "was/were + past participle." The future simple uses "will be + past participle." Each tense requires you to use the correct form of "to be" with the past participle of the main verb.
11. How does the passive voice affect sentence clarity and style?
Overuse of passive voice can lead to wordiness and ambiguity, making writing less engaging. However, using it strategically can create a more formal or objective tone, or emphasize an action over its performer.
12. Are there specific contexts where passive voice is more appropriate than active voice?
Yes. Passive voice is often preferred in scientific writing, formal reports, or when the actor is unknown or irrelevant (e.g., "Mistakes were made."). It's also useful when the emphasis is on the process or outcome rather than the agent.
