Voice in English: Active & Passive (Bilingual English–Hindi)
For Classes 8–10 (CBSE) • Core explanation in English with Hindi support • Carefully curated rules, edge-cases, and exam-ready examples
Contents
1) Concept & Definition
Active Voice: The subject performs the action.
Active Riya solved the sum.
रिया ने सवाल हल किया।
रिया ने सवाल हल किया।
Passive Voice: The receiver of the action becomes subject. The doer (agent) is optional and usually introduced by by.
Passive The sum was solved by Riya.
सवाल रिया द्वारा हल किया गया।
सवाल रिया द्वारा हल किया गया।
Hindi help: Active में कर्ता (doer) मुख्य होता है; Passive में कर्म/प्रभावित वस्तु को विषय बना दिया जाता है।
2) Why & When to Use Passive
- Agent is unknown or unimportant: My bag was stolen. (किसने चुराया, पता नहीं)
- Focus on result or object: A new bridge was inaugurated.
- Formal/official tone: The rules were revised.
- Scientific/academic writing: Data were analysed.
Exam insight: Overuse of passive can make writing heavy. Prefer active when clarity and energy are needed.
3) Identifying Voice
- Find the main verb and ask: Who/what is doing it?
- If the subject is the doer → Active; if the subject is receiver → Passive.
- Presence of be-forms + past participle (V3) often signals passive: is/was/were/been + V3.
Test The window was broken last night. → Passive (be + V3)
4) The Core Transformation Algorithm
- Locate subject (S), verb (V), and object (O) in Active:
S + V + O. - Move O → Subject position.
- Choose correct be-form (is/am/are/was/were/been/being) to match new subject and tense.
- Change main verb to past participle (V3).
- Optionally add agent with by + S if needed.
Example Active: The teacher explains the rule.
Passive: The rule is explained (by the teacher).
Passive: The rule is explained (by the teacher).
Hindi help: Active: कर्ता + क्रिया + कर्म → Passive: कर्म + be-क्रिया + V3 (+ by + कर्ता)
5) Tense-wise Conversion Map (Active → Passive)
| Tense/Aspect | Active Pattern | Passive Pattern | Example (A → P) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | S + V1/Vs + O | O + is/am/are + V3 (+ by S) | They make cakes → Cakes are made (by them). |
| Present Continuous | S + is/am/are + Ving + O | O + is/am/are + being + V3 | She is writing a letter → A letter is being written (by her). |
| Present Perfect | S + has/have + V3 + O | O + has/have + been + V3 | The team has won the match → The match has been won (by the team). |
| Simple Past | S + V2 + O | O + was/were + V3 | Ria solved the sum → The sum was solved (by Ria). |
| Past Continuous | S + was/were + Ving + O | O + was/were + being + V3 | They were repairing the road → The road was being repaired. |
| Past Perfect | S + had + V3 + O | O + had + been + V3 | She had submitted the file → The file had been submitted. |
| Simple Future (will) | S + will + V1 + O | O + will + be + V3 | The school will conduct the test → The test will be conducted. |
| Be going to | S + is/am/are going to + V1 | O + is/am/are going to + be + V3 | They are going to launch a course → A course is going to be launched. |
| Modals (can/may/must/should, etc.) | S + modal + V1 + O | O + modal + be + V3 | You must follow rules → Rules must be followed. |
| Modal Perfect | S + modal + have + V3 + O | O + modal + have + been + V3 | They should have informed us → We should have been informed. |
| Present/Past Perfect Continuous | — (rare/awkward) | Usually avoided in passive | She has been teaching the class → Prefer active; passive sounds unnatural. |
| Future Continuous | — | Not used in passive | — |
Hindi help: हर passive रूप में be का सही रूप + V3 आवश्यक है: is/am/are/was/were/been/being + V3.
6) Special Constructions & Edge Cases
6.1 Intransitive Verbs (no object) – No Passive
Active: The baby slept. → No passive possible (no object).
बच्चा सोया। → Passive नहीं बन सकता, क्योंकि कर्म नहीं है।
बच्चा सोया। → Passive नहीं बन सकता, क्योंकि कर्म नहीं है।
6.2 Verbs with Two Objects
Many verbs (give, send, tell, offer, show, lend) allow two passives: with indirect object or direct object.
Active: The teacher gave Ravi a prize.
Passive 1: Ravi was given a prize (by the teacher).
Passive 2: A prize was given to Ravi (by the teacher).
शिक्षक ने रवि को पुरस्कार दिया → रवि को पुरस्कार दिया गया / पुरस्कार रवि को दिया गया।
Passive 1: Ravi was given a prize (by the teacher).
Passive 2: A prize was given to Ravi (by the teacher).
शिक्षक ने रवि को पुरस्कार दिया → रवि को पुरस्कार दिया गया / पुरस्कार रवि को दिया गया।
6.3 Prepositional (Long) Passive
Active: People laughed at the idea. → Passive: The idea was laughed at (by people).
Keep the preposition with the verb.
Keep the preposition with the verb.
6.4 Get-Passive (Informal/Result Focus)
He got selected for the team. = He was selected. Informal tone; avoid in formal answers.
6.5 Causatives: have/get something done
I had my car repaired. (I arranged for it, I didn’t repair.)
मैंने अपनी कार मरम्मत करवाई।
मैंने अपनी कार मरम्मत करवाई।
6.6 Reporting/Impersonal Passives
Active: People say that he is honest.
Passive (impersonal): It is said that he is honest.
Passive (personal): He is said to be honest.
Passive (impersonal): It is said that he is honest.
Passive (personal): He is said to be honest.
6.7 Fixed Passive: be born
She was born in 2009. Do not write: She is born in 2009 for past events.
6.8 Passive of Infinitives & Gerunds
Infinitive: to be finished, to have been chosen.
Gerund: being praised motivates students.
Gerund: being praised motivates students.
6.9 Passive with Adverbs & Complements
Active: They elected Ria captain.
Passive: Ria was elected captain.
Passive: Ria was elected captain.
6.10 Stative vs Dynamic Verbs
Dynamic verbs (make, write) → passive ok. Statives (know, believe, belong) → passive used with care: He is known, It is believed are fine; but *is belonged is wrong.
6.11 Omission of Agent
Agent is often dropped when obvious/irrelevant/unwanted: Taxes were increased.
6.12 Passive in Instructions
Active: Close the door. → Passive/impersonal: The door should be closed.
7) Pronouns, Prepositions & Articles in Passive
7.1 Pronoun Changes
| Active Subject | as Agent in Passive (after by) |
|---|---|
| I | by me |
| We | by us |
| He/She | by him/her |
| They | by them |
| You | by you |
Active: I wrote the email. → Passive: The email was written by me.
7.2 Prepositions
- by introduces the agent (doer). with introduces instrument/material: The door was broken with a hammer (not by a hammer).
- Keep verb-preposition units intact: interested in, laugh at.
7.3 Articles & Agreement
Match the new subject in number and person for be-forms: The rules are…, The rule is…
8) Interrogatives, Negatives & Emphasis
8.1 Yes/No Questions
Active: Did they complete the task?
Passive: Was the task completed (by them)?
Passive: Was the task completed (by them)?
8.2 Wh-Questions
Active: Who wrote the poem?
Passive: By whom was the poem written?
In modern usage, “Who was the poem written by?” is acceptable in speech.
Passive: By whom was the poem written?
In modern usage, “Who was the poem written by?” is acceptable in speech.
8.3 Negatives
Active: They did not invite me.
Passive: I was not invited (by them).
Passive: I was not invited (by them).
8.4 Emphasis / Cleft
It was Ria who solved the problem. / The problem was solved by Ria.
9) Common Errors & How to Avoid Them
- Using V2 instead of V3: ✗ was wrote → ✓ was written
- Wrong be-form: ✗ The rules is followed → ✓ are followed
- Dropping necessary object: Intransitives have no passive: ✗ was arrived
- Misusing by/with: ✗ cut by a knife (instrument) → ✓ cut with a knife
- Unnatural tenses: Avoid perfect continuous passive in exams.
- Dangling agent: Use by + person/thing, not adverbs: ✗ by quickly
10) Exam Tips & Quick Checks
- Ensure there is a clear object before making passive.
- Match tense and agreement after conversion.
- Keep prepositions with their verbs.
- Drop agent when obvious; add only if required by sense.
- Prefer active for lively writing; use passive for focus on result/object or formal tone.
11) Practice Pairs (Bilingual)
A. Simple Present
Active The committee approves the plan.
समिति योजना को मंज़ूरी देती है।
Passive The plan is approved (by the committee).
योजना को मंज़ूरी दी जाती है।
समिति योजना को मंज़ूरी देती है।
Passive The plan is approved (by the committee).
योजना को मंज़ूरी दी जाती है।
Active They follow the rules.
वे नियमों का पालन करते हैं।
Passive The rules are followed (by them).
नियमों का पालन किया जाता है।
वे नियमों का पालन करते हैं।
Passive The rules are followed (by them).
नियमों का पालन किया जाता है।
B. Present Continuous
Active The workers are repairing the road.
मज़दूर सड़क की मरम्मत कर रहे हैं।
Passive The road is being repaired (by the workers).
सड़क की मरम्मत की जा रही है।
मज़दूर सड़क की मरम्मत कर रहे हैं।
Passive The road is being repaired (by the workers).
सड़क की मरम्मत की जा रही है।
C. Present Perfect
Active She has completed the project.
उसने परियोजना पूरी कर ली है।
Passive The project has been completed (by her).
परियोजना पूरी कर दी गई है।
उसने परियोजना पूरी कर ली है।
Passive The project has been completed (by her).
परियोजना पूरी कर दी गई है।
D. Simple Past
Active The school organised a programme.
स्कूल ने एक कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया।
Passive A programme was organised (by the school).
एक कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया गया।
स्कूल ने एक कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया।
Passive A programme was organised (by the school).
एक कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया गया।
E. Past Continuous
Active They were discussing the issue.
वे मुद्दे पर चर्चा कर रहे थे।
Passive The issue was being discussed (by them).
मुद्दे पर चर्चा की जा रही थी।
वे मुद्दे पर चर्चा कर रहे थे।
Passive The issue was being discussed (by them).
मुद्दे पर चर्चा की जा रही थी।
F. Past Perfect
Active The police had arrested the thief.
पुलिस ने चोर को गिरफ्तार कर लिया था।
Passive The thief had been arrested (by the police).
चोर को गिरफ्तार कर लिया गया था।
पुलिस ने चोर को गिरफ्तार कर लिया था।
Passive The thief had been arrested (by the police).
चोर को गिरफ्तार कर लिया गया था।
G. Simple Future
Active The board will declare the result tomorrow.
बोर्ड कल परिणाम घोषित करेगा।
Passive The result will be declared tomorrow (by the board).
परिणाम कल घोषित किया जाएगा।
बोर्ड कल परिणाम घोषित करेगा।
Passive The result will be declared tomorrow (by the board).
परिणाम कल घोषित किया जाएगा।
H. Modals
Active Students must submit the forms.
विद्यार्थियों को फॉर्म जमा करने चाहिए।
Passive The forms must be submitted (by students).
फॉर्म जमा किए जाने चाहिए।
विद्यार्थियों को फॉर्म जमा करने चाहिए।
Passive The forms must be submitted (by students).
फॉर्म जमा किए जाने चाहिए।
I. Imperatives
Active Clean the lab.
प्रयोगशाला साफ करो।
Passive The lab should be cleaned / Let the lab be cleaned.
प्रयोगशाला साफ की जानी चाहिए / प्रयोगशाला साफ कराई जाए।
प्रयोगशाला साफ करो।
Passive The lab should be cleaned / Let the lab be cleaned.
प्रयोगशाला साफ की जानी चाहिए / प्रयोगशाला साफ कराई जाए।
J. Wh-Questions
Active Who solved the puzzle?
पहेली किसने हल की?
Passive By whom was the puzzle solved?
पहेली किसके द्वारा हल की गई?
पहेली किसने हल की?
Passive By whom was the puzzle solved?
पहेली किसके द्वारा हल की गई?
K. Prepositional Passive
Active Everyone laughed at the mistake.
सबने गलती पर हंसी उड़ाई।
Passive The mistake was laughed at by everyone.
गलती पर सबके द्वारा हंसी उड़ाई गई।
सबने गलती पर हंसी उड़ाई।
Passive The mistake was laughed at by everyone.
गलती पर सबके द्वारा हंसी उड़ाई गई।
L. Double Object
Active The NGO offered the children free meals.
एनजीओ ने बच्चों को मुफ्त भोजन दिया।
Passive The children were offered free meals / Free meals were offered to the children.
बच्चों को मुफ्त भोजन दिया गया / मुफ्त भोजन बच्चों को दिया गया।
एनजीओ ने बच्चों को मुफ्त भोजन दिया।
Passive The children were offered free meals / Free meals were offered to the children.
बच्चों को मुफ्त भोजन दिया गया / मुफ्त भोजन बच्चों को दिया गया।
Quick Drill (Convert Active → Passive)
- The curator displays rare coins every Friday.
- They will announce the results in the assembly.
- The volunteers have distributed the blankets.
- Did the storm damage the crops?