Page 2 - LN #011109040411.docx

 Is
 Was
 Were
 Will be

COMPARE THE FOLLOWING TWO SENTENCES:

i. The hunter killed the deer.
ii. The deer was killed by the hunter.

In the first sentence, the subject ‘hunter’ is the receiver of the action i.e. the subject is active. The
verb ‘killed ’is therefore said to be in the Active Voice. In second sentence, the subject ‘hunter’ is
the receiver of the action i.e. the subject is not active, but passive. The verb ‘was killed’ is
therefore said to be in the passive Voice.

RULES TO CHANGE ACTIVE INTO PASSIVE

 Make Object the Subject.
 Bring the Helping verb.
 Put 3rd from of the verb.
 Add ‘by’ if necessary.
 Make the Subject into the Objective.

E.g.: The child threw the ball out of the house. (Active Voice)

The ball was thrown out of the house by the child. (Passive Voice)

(A) Object ……. ‘Ball’; (B) ‘Threw’ is past tense, so H.V is ‘was’; (C) ‘Thrown’ …….3rd form of
‘throw’: (D) Add ‘by’; E) In the place of subject….’The child’

(a) Simple Present:

1. The grocer sells rice (Active)

Rice is sold by the grocer. (Passive)
2. Does the grocer sell rice? (Active)

Is rice sold by the grocer? (Passive)

(b) Present Continuous:

1. The teacher is punishing the student. (Active)

The student is being punished by the teacher. (Passive)
2. Is the teacher punishing the student? (Active)

Is the student being punishing by the student? (Passive)

(c) Present Perfects:

1. My brother has written this letter. (Active)

This letter has been written by my brother. (Passive)
2. Has my brother written this letter? (Active)

Has this letter been written by my brother? (Passive)

(d) Simple Past:

1. My brother ate his mango. (Active)

His mango was eaten by my brother. (Passive)