Active and Passive voice

 

English Grammar Rules: Active & Passive voice

Voice is the term used to describe whether a verb is active or passive.

Active & Passive Voice is one of the important topics in the English Language section. Active & Passive voice is a must-know topic for English language. It is important that you know all the rules regarding change of active and passive voice to deal with the questions. Questions from the topic “active / passive voice” has been asked in many government exams like SSC, Railways, SBI, IBPS etc. So, it is very important from the examination point of view to know about List of rules of Active and Passive Voice. Here we are providing you with all the important rules of Active and passive voice.

♦Voice

Voice of a verb tells us whether the subject is acting or being acted upon.

In other words, Voice is the form of verb that shows whether the Subject does some work or some work is done on the Subject itself.

e.g.-

1. Nikhil writes a poem.

This sentence shows that the subject “Nikhil” does some work.

2. A poem is written by Nikhil.

This sentence shows that some work is done on the subject “A poem”.

♦Types of Voice

There are two types of voice:

1. Active Voice

2. Passive Voice

Active Voice: When the subject of the verb is doing the action of the verb (e.g., “Nikhil writes a poem.”), the verb is said to be in the active voice.

In other words, Active voice is the form of the verb that reflects the importance of the subject.

e.g. He Helped me.

Mumbai won the match.

Passive Voice: When the subject of the verb is being acted upon (e.g., ” A poem is written by Nikhil.”), the verb is said to be in the passive voice.

In other words, Passive voice is the form of the verb that reflects the importance of the object (which is the subject of passive).

e.g.  The letter was written.

The ball was kicked.

♦Structure (simple present tense)

Active Voice	Passive Voice
Subject + V1+s/es+ object	Object+ is/am/are+ V3+ by + subject
Subject + Do/does+ not + V1 + Object	Object + is/am/are+ not + V3+ by Subject
Does+ Subject+ V1+Object+?	Is/am/are + Object+ V3+ by subject?

♦Some Important Rules

·        Make the “Object” of Active voice the “Subject” of Passive voice.

·        Use the Helping verb according to the “Subject” of Passive voice.

·        3rd form of the verb (V3) is used after “to be”.

·        Before the Object in Passive voice, the preposition ‘by’ is used.

·        Make the “Subject” of Active voice the “Object” of Passive voice.

E.g.: The Bowler threw the ball out of the park. (Active Voice)

The ball was thrown out of the park by the bowler. (Passive Voice)

Steps:

(A) Object of active voice- ‘Ball’ is made the subject in passive voice.

(B) ‘Threw’ is past tense in active voice, so Helping Verb used in passive voice is ‘was’.

(C) ‘Thrown’ the 3rd form of ‘throw’ is used after helping verb.

(D) Preposition ‘by’ is used.

(E) Subject of the active voice ’The bowler’ is made the object in passive voice.

Rules for Changes of Pronouns:

Conversion of Active to Passive Voice:

(a) Simple Present:

Active	Passive
Subject + V1+s/es+ object	Object+ is/am/are (to be) +V3+by+Subject
The shopkeeper sells rice.	Rice is sold by the shopkeeper.
Does the shopkeeper sell rice?	Is rice sold by the shopkeeper?

(b) Present Continuous:

Active	Passive
Subject+ to be(is/am/are) +Verb(ing)+Object	Object+ is/am/are (to be) +being+V3+by+Subject
The teacher is scolding the student.	The student is being scolded by the teacher.
Is the teacher scolding the student?	Is the student being scolded by the teacher?

 (c) Present Perfect:

Active	Passive
My sister has written this letter.	This letter has been written by my sister.
Has my sister written this letter?	Has this letter been written by my sister?

 (d) Simple Past:

Active	Passive
Subject+V3+Object	Object+was/were+V3+by+Subject
My sister ate a mango.	A mango was eaten by my sister.
Did my sister eat a mango?	Was a mango eaten by my sister?

 (e) Past Continuous:

Active	Passive
Subject+ was/were + V(ing) + Object	Object+ was/were+ being +V3+by+Subject
His mother was distributing Sweets.	Sweets were being distributed by his mother.
Was his mother distributing the Sweets?	Were the sweets being distributed by his mother?

 (f) Past Perfect:

Active	Passive
Subject + had + V3 + Object	Object + had been + V3 + by + Subject
The potter had made the pots before summer started.	The potter had been made by the potter before summer started.
Had the florist sold all the flowers before sunset?	Had the flowers been sold by the florist before sunset?

(g) Simple Future:

Active	Passive
Subject+ will/shall+V1+Object	Object+ will/shall+be+V3+by+Subject
I shall finish the homework by 5 O’clock.	The homework will be finished by me by 5 O’clock.
Shall I finish the homework by 5 O’clock?	Will the homework be finished by me by 5 O’clock?

 (h) Future Perfect:

Active	Passive
I shall have completed the syllabus before February.	The syllabus will have been completed by me before February.
Shall I have completed the syllabus before February?	Will the syllabus have been completed by me before February?

 (i) When verb take 2 Objects: In changing to passive voice, one of the Object becomes the subject and the other is retained as Object.

Active	Passive
I taught them Maths.	Maths was taught to them by me.
Who taught you Maths?	Maths was taught to you by whom?

Some of the verbs that take two objects are: teach, give, tell, send, show, bring, write, offer, pay, etc.

(j) Imperative Sentences: For Orders and Command: Let + Object + be V-3

Active	Passive
Close the gates.	Let the gates be closed.
Do not close the gates?	Let not the gates be closed.

(k) For Advice or Request: ‘please’ or ’kindly’ are changed to “You are requested”

Active	Passive
Please come on time.	You are requested to come on time.
Kindly help the poor.	You are requested to help the poor.

 (l) If Sentence Starts with ‘Let’:

Active	Passive
Let him bring some vegetables.	Let some vegetables be brought by him.
Let her do the homework.	Let the homework be done by her.

 

♦Preposition

 In prepositions, the words and group of words are positioned before a noun or a pronoun to describe its relation with some other word in the sentence.

सम्बन्ध सूचक अव्यय वे शब्द या शब्दों का समूह है जो आम तौर पर किसी संज्ञा या सर्वनाम के पहले स्थित किया जाता है और वह सम्बन्ध सूचक अव्यय उस संज्ञा या सर्वनाम का सम्बन्ध किसी दूसरे शब्द से प्रदर्शित करता है

Rule 1- Across

a) From one side to another (इस पर से उस पार तक)

Ex: A bridge is laid across the river.

b)On the opposite side of (उस  पार)

Ex: My friend lives across the river.

c) Both side (दोनों तरफ)

Ex: He threw the luggage across his shoulders.

Rule 2- Come Across (संयोग/ अचानक से मिल जाना)

a) Never use “With”

b) Never use “Suddenly”

Ex: While/ shopping in/ market, she come across/ with her old fiend/ no error.

Note- With not use.

Rule 3- With

a) To show a sources or tool.

Ex: She was cutting vegetable with a knife.

We are writing with a pen.

b) के साथ

Ex: She is going with her parents.

He is going to Goa with family.

c) To Show a manner (Courage, Bearry, Patience)

Ex: A true soldier always fights with courage.

We should face the difficult with the patience.

d)) In spite of (के बावजूद)

Ex: With all his affords, he could not win the race.

e) Parallel of With

Ex: Cured with, Sympathy with, Satisfied with, Contended with, Charge with, Differ with, Deal with, Acquainted with, Disgusted with.

Rule 4- AT

a)To show a position at a place

Ex: Many people are standing at the railway station.

He was waiting at the mall.

b) To show a time

Ex: The class start at 3 Pm.

The train will move at 5 Am.

c) To live at village, town, subpart a city

Ex: She live at south ex.

I live at sector-12.

d) But We use to big city when we stay there for a short period of time.

Ex: During my visit to England, I stay a London for two days.

When I went to Goa, I stay at Mumbai for three days.

e) To show Price/ Rate

Ex: She is saving apple at rupees 150 per kg.

In Delhi petrol is sold at rupees 74 per litres.

f) To show a temporary action

Ex: On the road a few men are at work.

When her mother called, she was at play.

g) Good + at + Subject

Hubby / Skill (Using V+ing)

Ex: She is good at mathematics

I am good at English.

He is good at driving.

My father is very good at swimming.

Rule 5 –

a) Angry at – गुस्सा होना (कार्य /हालत / परिस्थिति)

Ex: The boss is very angry at this wrong report.

b) Angry with- गुस्सा होना (किसी व्यक्ति पर)

Ex: The boss is very angry with clerk.

Rule 6-

a) Smile at (किसी पर हंसना)

Ex: The boys were smiling at the poor beggar.

1.    b) Smile on (किस्मत का मेहरबान होना)

Ex: At last, his luck, smiled on? He becomes an IAS.

Rule 7-

a)At night (General sense)

Ex: The whole of world sleep at night.

The moon shines at night.

b) In the night (In specific sense)

Ex: She had a nightmare in the night.

He saw a UFO in the night.

Rule 8-

Phrases of “At”

Shout at, Shoot at, Laugh at, Smile at, Aim at, Kick at, Look at, byte at.

At whom, at the top, at the bottom, at this movement, at noon, at night, at bed time, at festival (at Holi, at Diwali)

Rule 9- “In”

a) To show an already in side position.

Ex: He is swimming in the pool.

She is taking rest in the room.

b) City, State, Country, Continent, use “In”

Ex: I live in Delhi.

My Uncle lives in Europe.

He lives in Jaipur.

c) Before Months/Years

Ex: In January, In August, In 2009, In 1947

d) Phrases of “In”

Ex: In the world, In a newspaper

In a cube, In a city, In the sky, In the house, In the letter, In the root, In the bag

Rule 10- “Into”

a) Showing movement to inside.

Ex: She is going into the room.

He is jumping into the pool.

b) Change the from

Ex: Milk changing into curd.

I will translate this book into Hindi.

c) phrases “Into”

Break “Into”

Do “Into”

Eat “Into”

Let “Into”

Look “Into”

See “Into”

Turn “Into”

English Prepositions	Hindi Prepositions
about	ke baare men – के बारे में
above	oopar – ऊपर
across	ke paar – के पार
after	ke baad – के बाद
against	ke khilaf – के खिलाफ
among	ke bich men – के बीच में
around	charon or – चारों ओर
as	jaisa – जैसा
at	par – पर
before	se pahle – से पहले
behind	ke peechhe – के पीछे
below	neeche – नीचे
beneath	neeche – नीचे
beside	bagal men – बगल में
between	ke bich – के बीच
beyond	pare – परे
but	lekin – लेकिन
by	dvara – द्वारा
despite	ke baavajood – के बावजूद
down	neeche – नीचे
during	dauraan  – दौरान
except	sivaay – सिवाय
for	ke liye – के लिए
from	se – से
in	men – में
inside	andar – अंदर
into	men – में
near	nikat – निकट
next	agla – अगला
of	ki or ka  – की or का
on	par – पर
opposite	saamane – सामने
out	baahar – बाहर
outside	baahar – बाहर
over	ke oopar – के ऊपर
per	prati – प्रति
plus	jod  – जोड़
round	daur or gol  – दौर or गोल
since	ke baad se – के बाद से
than	se – से
through	ke madhyam se – के माध्यम से
till	jab tak – जब तक
to	se – से
toward	ki or – की ओर
under	adheen or neeche  – अधीन or नीचे
unlike	vipareet – विपरीत
until	jab tak – जब तक
up	oopar – ऊपर
via	ke madhyam se – के माध्यम से
with	saath – साथ
within	andar – अंदर
without	bina – बिना
two words	do shabdon  – दो शब्दों
according to	ke anusaar – के अनुसार
because of	ki vajah se – की वजह से
close to	band karne ke liye – बंद करने के लिए
due to	ke kaaran – के कारण
except for	ke alava – के अलावा
far from	door se – दूर से
inside of	ke andar – के अंदर
instead of	ke bajaay – के बजाय
near to	ke paas – के पास
next to	ke paas or ke nikat or ke nazadeek – के पास or के निकट or के नज़दीक
outside of	ke baahar – के बाहर
prior to	pahle se – पहले से
three words	teen shabd – तीन शब्द
as far as	jahan tak – जहाँ तक
as well as	tatha – तथा
in addition to	ke atirikt – के अतिरिक्त
in front of	ke saamane – के सामने
in spite of	ke baavajood – के बावजूद
on behalf of	ki or se – की ओर से
on top of	ke sheersh par – के शीर्ष पर
demonstratives	upapaadak sambandhabodhak – उपपादक सम्बन्धबोधक
this	yah – यह
that	ki or vah – कि or वह
these	ye – ये
those	un – उन

♦Some important points about prepositions

1.    The words “superior”, “inferior”, “senior”, “junior” etc. take the preposition “to” with them.

Incorrect: Ram is senior than Mohan.

Correct: Ram is senior to Mohan.

2.    The words “prefer”, “preferrable”, “preferred” also take the preposition “to” with them.

Incorrect: I prefer tea than coffee.

Correct: I prefer tea to coffee.

3.    The words “inspite of” and “despite” share the same meaning. The only difference is that inspite takes the preposition “of” whereas despite does not take any preposition.

Incorrect: Despite of bad weather, he went to school.

Correct: Despite bad weather, he went to school.

In the same way, the word “consist” takes the preposition “of” whereas “comprise” does not take any preposition.

Incorrect: The classroom comprises of twenty students.

Correct: The classroom comprises twenty students.

 

Quiz based on Preposition

1.    The invitation card a)/says that Satish b)/ marries with c)/ Sunita next month.d)/  No error e)

2.    She looked very a)/ different from the b)/ photograph I c)/ had of her. d)/No error e)

3.    The bride said a)/that she would not b)/ marry the man c)/ over thirty five.d)/  No error e)

4.    The reason a)/ of his failure b)/ is due to c)/ his negligence.d)/No error e)

5.    The captain and his a)/wife were invited b)/ for the cultural c)/ function at my home.d)/ No error e)

 Answer

1.    c; Replace “with” with “to”

2.    e; No error.

3.    d; Replace “over” with “above”

4.    b; Replace “of” with “for”

5.    c; Replace “for” with “at”