Grammar : Voice Change

VOICE CHANGE RULE #1

(Simple Present, Simple Past & Simple Future Tense)

·       SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

ASSERTIVE:

ACTIVE:  Sub----V₁----Obj

PASSIVE: Sub----am/is/are----V₃----Obj

Example: Rahim writes a story.

                  S         V₁         O

Passive: A story is written by Rahim.

..........................................................................................

INTERROGATIVE:

ACTIVE:  Do/Does-----Sub----V₁----Obj

PASSIVE: Am/Is/Are----S----V₃----Obj

Example: Does Rahim write a story?

Passive: Is a story written by Rahim?

..........................................................................................

NEGATIVE:

ACTIVE:  Sub----do not/does not----V₁----Obj

PASSIVE: S---am not/is not/are not---V₃---Obj

Example: Rahim does not write a story.

Passive: A story is not written by Rahim.

·       SIMPLE PAST TENSE

ASSERTIVE:

ACTIVE:  Sub----V₂ ----Obj

PASSIVE: Sub----was/were----V₃----Obj

Example: Rahim wrote a story.

                  S         V₂        O

Passive: A story was written by Rahim.

.........................................................................................................................

INTERROGATIVE:

ACTIVE:  Did----Sub----V₁----Obj ?

PASSIVE: Was/Were----S----V₃----Obj ?

Example: Did Rahim write a story?

Passive: Was a story written by Rahim?

...........................................................................................

NEGATIVE:

ACTIVE:  Sub----did not----V₁----Obj

PASSIVE: Sub----was not/were not----V₃----Obj

Example: Rahim did not write a story.

Passive: A story was not written by Rahim.

·       SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

ASSERTIVE:

ACTIVE:  Sub----Shall/Will----V₁ ----Obj

PASSIVE: Sub----Shall be/Will be----V₃----Obj

Example: Rahim will write a story.                                  

Passive: A story will be written by Rahim.

.........................................................................................

INTERROGATIVE:

ACTIVE:  Shall/Will----S----V₁ ----Obj

PASSIVE: Sub----Shall be/Will be----V₃----Obj

Example: Will Rahim write a story?                                

Passive: Will a story be written by Rahim?

........................................................................................

NEGATIVE:

ACTIVE:  Sub----Shall not/Will not----V₁ ----Obj

PASSIVE: Sub----Shall not be/Will not be----V₃----Obj

Example: Rahim will not write a story.                                 

Passive: A story will not be written by Rahim.

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EXERCISE :

Change the voice from Active to Passive and vice versa:

1. The master punished the servant.

2. He teaches English.

3. He wore a blue shirt.

4. I sent the report yesterday.

5. Everyone understands English.

6. The professor told him not to talk in class.

7. They greet me cheerfully every morning.

8. Darjeeling grows tea.

9. Do you imitate others?

10. The doctor advised the patient not to eat rice.

11. She spoke to the official on duty.

12. She makes cakes every Sunday.

13. James Watt discovered the energy of steam.

14. Who wrote this letter?

15. Her manners pleased us very much.

16. The thief was caught by the police.

17. The hunter shot the tiger.

18. They drew a circle in the morning.

19. The shopkeeper lowered the prices.

20. All trust an honest person.

21. In winter people do not take a bath.

22. Sugar is grown in Cuba.

23. Was the question answered?

24. Why did he deprive you of the membership?

25. Aditya saw Dinesh shopping at the mall.

26. Did he show you what to do?

27. They will inform the police.

28. Will they give you a reward?

29. Do you know how to swim?

30. He does not like ice-cream.

31. They elected him Chairman.

32.  He made the child drink the milk.

33. The children laughed at the beggar.

34. Will those happy days ever be forgotten by you?

35. The dog was hit with a stick.

36. The enemy barracks were attacked by the soldiers.

37. Circumstances will oblige me to go.

38. He hurt his leg in an accident.

39. Her uncle will look after her.

40. He was considered a genius by Queen Victoria.

VOICE CHANGE #2

(Present Continuous & Past Continuous Tense)

·        PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

ASSERTIVE:

ACTIVE:  Sub--am/is/are--V+ing--Obj

PASSIVE: Sub--am/is/are--being----V₃--Obj

Example: Rahim is writing a story.

Passive: A story is being written by Rahim.

.................................................................

INTERROGATIVE:

ACTIVE:  Am/Is/Are---Sub---V+ing---Obj

PASSIVE: Am/Is/Are--S--being----V₃--Obj

Example: Is Rahim writing a story?

Passive: Is a story being written by Rahim?

................................................................

NEGATIVE:

ACTIVE:  Sub--am not/is not/are not--V+ing--Obj

PASSIVE: S--am not/is not/are not--being--V₃--Obj

Example: Rahim is not writing a story.

Passive: A story is not being written by Rahim.

·         PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

ASSERTIVE:

ACTIVE:  Sub---was/were---V+ing ---Obj

PASSIVE: Sub--was/were--being--V₃--Obj

Example: Rahim was writing a story.

Passive: A story was being written by Rahim.

..................................................................................

INTERROGATIVE:

ACTIVE:  Was/Were----Sub----V+ing----Obj ?

PASSIVE: Was/Were----S----being----V₃----Obj ?

Example: Was Rahim writing a story?

Passive: Was a story being written by Rahim?

...............................................................

NEGATIVE:

ACTIVE:  Sub----was not/were not----V+ing----Obj

PASSIVE: Sub----was not/were not----being----V₃----Obj

Example: Rahim was not writing a story.

Passive: A story was not being written by Rahim.

Exercise #2

(Based on Present Continuous & Past Continuous):

Ø Change the voice from Active to Passive and vice versa:

1. They are building a house.

2. The child is eating bananas.

3. She is writing a letter.

4. They were interviewing her for the job.

5. Who is creating this mess?

6. The invigilator was reading out the instructions.

7. The driver was blowing the horn.

8. Who is doing the work?

9. A poem is being recited by Susmita.

10. The house is building.

11. Are you writing an essay?

12. When were you playing golf?

13. The masons were building a house.

14. Why are the girls plucking flowers?

15. Who is knocking at the door?

16. The fisherman was catching fish.

17. The girl is preparing her lesson.

18. My mother is talking to a stranger.

19. Why is he not learning his lessons?

20. When was the bell ringing?

21. Whose father is helping you?

22. The carpenter is making furniture.

23. It is creating problems for us.

24. She was painting the living room red.

25. Were you recording me without permission?

26. They are driving the girls to the soccer match.

27. Is someone helping you?

28. What are you doing at the moment?

29. He was playing the guitar.

30. The drums were beating at puja pandals.

31. You are listening to music.

32. Were you not painting the gate?

33. They were making a noise in the class.

34. Sarah was holding an umbrella.

35. She is wearing a blue saree.

36. He was not feeding the dogs.

37. The students are having lunch.

38. My car is being fixed.

39. The old beggar is being laughed at by the children.

40. Mangoes are selling at 80 rupees a kilo.