Introduction

Understanding active and passive voice rules for all tenses is essential for effective communication and excelling in competitive examinations. The active voice emphasizes the subject performing the action, while the passive voice highlights the action or the object receiving it. This guide provides a clear explanation of active and passive voice rules for all tenses, complete with 20 examples per tense, practical tips, and strategies to help students and candidates master this crucial grammar concept.

Active and Passive Voice: An Overview

In the active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., “She writes a letter”). In the passive voice, the action is performed on the subject (e.g., “A letter is written by her”). Knowing how to transform sentences while maintaining tense accuracy is vital for writing, speaking, and competitive exams like TOEFL, IELTS, or government tests.

Key Rules for Active and Passive Voice

• Active Voice Structure: Subject + Verb + Object
• Passive Voice Structure: Object + Auxiliary Verb (form of “to be”) + Past Participle + (by + Subject)
• The tense of the verb in the active voice determines the auxiliary verb in the passive voice.
• Not all sentences can be converted to passive voice (e.g., intransitive verbs like “sleep”).
• In passive voice, the doer (subject) is often omitted if it’s implied or unimportant.

Active and Passive Voice Rules for All Tenses

Below, we explore active and passive voice rules for all tenses with 20 examples per tense to illustrate the transformations.

1. Present Simple Tense

Rule: Active: Subject + V1 (base verb) + Object
Passive: Object + is/am/are + V3 (past participle) + (by + Subject)

Examples:

1. Active: She writes a letter. Passive: A letter is written by her.
2. Active: They play football. Passive: Football is played by them.
3. Active: He reads a book. Passive: A book is read by him.
4. Active: We clean the house. Passive: The house is cleaned by us.
5. Active: I draw a picture. Passive: A picture is drawn by me.
6. Active: You sing a song. Passive: A song is sung by you.
7. Active: The teacher explains the lesson. Passive: The lesson is explained by the teacher.
8. Active: They watch movies. Passive: Movies are watched by them.
9. Active: She paints the wall. Passive: The wall is painted by her.
10. Active: He repairs the car. Passive: The car is repaired by him.
11. Active: We water the plants. Passive: The plants are watered by us.
12. Active: I cook dinner. Passive: Dinner is cooked by me.
13. Active: You write essays. Passive: Essays are written by you.
14. Active: They build houses. Passive: Houses are built by them.
15. Active: She feeds the dog. Passive: The dog is fed by her.
16. Active: He solves the puzzle. Passive: The puzzle is solved by him.
17. Active: We organize events. Passive: Events are organized by us.
18. Active: I answer questions. Passive: Questions are answered by me.
19. Active: You design posters. Passive: Posters are designed by you.
20. Active: They plant trees. Passive: Trees are planted by them.

2. Present Continuous Tense

Rule: Active: Subject + is/am/are + V-ing + Object
Passive: Object + is/am/are + being + V3 + (by + Subject)

Examples:

1. Active: She is writing a letter. Passive: A letter is being written by her.
2. Active: They are playing football. Passive: Football is being played by them.
3. Active: He is reading a book. Passive: A book is being read by him.
4. Active: We are cleaning the house. Passive: The house is being cleaned by us.
5. Active: I am drawing a picture. Passive: A picture is being drawn by me.
6. Active: You are singing a song. Passive: A song is being sung by you.
7. Active: The teacher is explaining the lesson. Passive: The lesson is being explained by the teacher.
8. Active: They are watching movies. Passive: Movies are being watched by them.
9. Active: She is painting the wall. Passive: The wall is being painted by her.
10. Active: He is repairing the car. Passive: The car is being repaired by him.
11. Active: We are watering the plants. Passive: The plants are being watered by us.
12. Active: I am cooking dinner. Passive: Dinner is being cooked by me.
13. Active: You are writing essays. Passive: Essays are being written by you.
14. Active: They are building houses. Passive: Houses are being built by them.
15. Active: She is feeding the dog. Passive: The dog is being fed by her.
16. Active: He is solving the puzzle. Passive: The puzzle is being solved by him.
17. Active: We are organizing events. Passive: Events are being organized by us.
18. Active: I am answering questions. Passive: Questions are being answered by me.
19. Active: You are designing posters. Passive: Posters are being designed by you.
20. Active: They are planting trees. Passive: Trees are being planted by them.

3. Present Perfect Tense

Rule: Active: Subject + has/have + V3 + Object
Passive: Object + has/have + been + V3 + (by + Subject)

Examples:

1. Active: She has written a letter. Passive: A letter has been written by her.
2. Active: They have played football. Passive: Football has been played by them.
3. Active: He has read a book. Passive: A book has been read by him.
4. Active: We have cleaned the house. Passive: The house has been cleaned by us.
5. Active: I have drawn a picture. Passive: A picture has been drawn by me.
6. Active: You have sung a song. Passive: A song has been sung by you.
7. Active: The teacher has explained the lesson. Passive: The lesson has been explained by the teacher.
8. Active: They have watched movies. Passive: Movies have been watched by them.
9. Active: She has painted the wall. Passive: The wall has been painted by her.
10. Active: He has repaired the car. Passive: The car has been repaired by him.
11. Active: We have watered the plants. Passive: The plants have been watered by us.
12. Active: I have cooked dinner. Passive: Dinner has been cooked by me.
13. Active: You have written essays. Passive: Essays have been written by you.
14. Active: They have built houses. Passive: Houses have been built by them.
15. Active: She has fed the dog. Passive: The dog has been fed by her.
16. Active: He has solved the puzzle. Passive: The puzzle has been solved by him.
17. Active: We have organized events. Passive: Events have been organized by us.
18. Active: I have answered questions. Passive: Questions have been answered by me.
19. Active: You have designed posters. Passive: Posters have been designed by you.
20. Active: They have planted trees. Passive: Trees have been planted by them.

4. Past Simple Tense

Rule: Active: Subject + V2 (past tense) + Object
Passive: Object + was/were + V3 + (by + Subject)

Examples:

1. Active: She wrote a letter. Passive: A letter was written by her.
2. Active: They played football. Passive: Football was played by them.
3. Active: He read a book. Passive: A book was read by him.
4. Active: We cleaned the house. Passive: The house was cleaned by us.
5. Active: I drew a picture. Passive: A picture was drawn by me.
6. Active: You sang a song. Passive: A song was sung by you.
7. Active: The teacher explained the lesson. Passive: The lesson was explained by the teacher.
8. Active: They watched movies. Passive: Movies were watched by them.
9. Active: She painted the wall. Passive: The wall was painted by her.
10. Active: He repaired the car. Passive: The car was repaired by him.
11. Active: We watered the plants. Passive: The plants were watered by us.
12. Active: I cooked dinner. Passive: Dinner was cooked by me.
13. Active: You wrote essays. Passive: Essays were written by you.
14. Active: They built houses. Passive: Houses were built by them.
15. Active: She fed the dog. Passive: The dog was fed by her.
16. Active: He solved the puzzle. Passive: The puzzle was solved by him.
17. Active: We organized events. Passive: Events were organized by us.
18. Active: I answered questions. Passive: Questions were answered by me.
19. Active: You designed posters. Passive: Posters were designed by you.
20. Active: They planted trees. Passive: Trees were planted by them.

5. Past Continuous Tense

Rule: Active: Subject + was/were + V-ing + Object
Passive: Object + was/were + being + V3 + (by + Subject)

Examples:

1. Active: She was writing a letter. Passive: A letter was being written by her.
2. Active: They were playing football. Passive: Football was being played by them.
3. Active: He was reading a book. Passive: A book was being read by him.
4. Active: We were cleaning the house. Passive: The house was being cleaned by us.
5. Active: I was drawing a picture. Passive: A picture was being drawn by me.
6. Active: You were singing a song. Passive: A song was being sung by you.
7. Active: The teacher was explaining the lesson. Passive: The lesson was being explained by the teacher.
8. Active: They were watching movies. Passive: Movies were being watched by them.
9. Active: She was painting the wall. Passive: The wall was being painted by her.
10. Active: He was repairing the car. Passive: The car was being repaired by him.
11. Active: We were watering the plants. Passive: The plants were being watered by us.
12. Active: I was cooking dinner. Passive: Dinner was being cooked by me.
13. Active: You were writing essays. Passive: Essays were being written by you.
14. Active: They were building houses. Passive: Houses were being built by them.
15. Active: She was feeding the dog. Passive: The dog was being fed by her.
16. Active: He was solving the puzzle. Passive: The puzzle was being solved by him.
17. Active: We were organizing events. Passive: Events were being organized by us.
18. Active: I was answering questions. Passive: Questions were being answered by me.
19. Active: You were designing posters. Passive: Posters were being designed by you.
20. Active: They were planting trees. Passive: Trees were being planted by them.

6. Past Perfect Tense

Rule: Active: Subject + had + V3 + Object
Passive: Object + had + been + V3 + (by + Subject)

Examples:

1. Active: She had written a letter. Passive: A letter had been written by her.
2. Active: They had played football. Passive: Football had been played by them.
3. Active: He had read a book. Passive: A book had been read by him.
4. Active: We had cleaned the house. Passive: The house had been cleaned by us.
5. Active: I had drawn a picture. Passive: A picture had been drawn by me.
6. Active: You had sung a song. Passive: A song had been sung by you.
7. Active: The teacher had explained the lesson. Passive: The lesson had been explained by the teacher.
8. Active: They had watched movies. Passive: Movies had been watched by them.
9. Active: She had painted the wall. Passive: The wall had been painted by her.
10. Active: He had repaired the car. Passive: The car had been repaired by him.
11. Active: We had watered the plants. Passive: The plants had been watered by us.
12. Active: I had cooked dinner. Passive: Dinner had been cooked by me.
13. Active: You had written essays. Passive: Essays had been written by you.
14. Active: They had built houses. Passive: Houses had been built by them.
15. Active: She had fed the dog. Passive: The dog had been fed by her.
16. Active: He had solved the puzzle. Passive: The puzzle had been solved by him.
17. Active: We had organized events. Passive: Events had been organized by us.
18. Active: I had answered questions. Passive: Questions had been answered by me.
19. Active: You had designed posters. Passive: Posters had been designed by you.
20. Active: They had planted trees. Passive: Trees had been planted by them.

7. Future Simple Tense

Rule: Active: Subject + will + V1 + Object
Passive: Object + will + be + V3 + (by + Subject)

Examples:

1. Active: She will write a letter. Passive: A letter will be written by her.
2. Active: They will play football. Passive: Football will be played by them.
3. Active: He will read a book. Passive: A book will be read by him.
4. Active: We will clean the house. Passive: The house will be cleaned by us.
5. Active: I will draw a picture. Passive: A picture will be drawn by me.
6. Active: You will sing a song. Passive: A song will be sung by you.
7. Active: The teacher will explain the lesson. Passive: The lesson will be explained by the teacher.
8. Active: They will watch movies. Passive: Movies will be watched by them.
9. Active: She will paint the wall. Passive: The wall will be painted by her.
10. Active: He will repair the car. Passive: The car will be repaired by him.
11. Active: We will water the plants. Passive: The plants will be watered by us.
12. Active: I will cook dinner. Passive: Dinner will be cooked by me.
13. Active: You will write essays. Passive: Essays will be written by you.
14. Active: They will build houses. Passive: Houses will be built by them.
15. Active: She will feed the dog. Passive: The dog will be fed by her.
16. Active: He will solve the puzzle. Passive: The puzzle will be solved by him.
17. Active: We will organize events. Passive: Events will be organized by us.
18. Active: I will answer questions. Passive: Questions will be answered by me.
19. Active: You will design posters. Passive: Posters will be designed by you.
20. Active: They will plant trees. Passive: Trees will be planted by them.

8. Future Continuous Tense

Rule: Active: Subject + will + be + V-ing + Object
Passive: Object + will + be + being + V3 + (by + Subject)

Examples:

1. Active: She will be writing a letter. Passive: A letter will be being written by her.
2. Active: They will be playing football. Passive: Football will be being played by them.
3. Active: He will be reading a book. Passive: A book will be being read by him.
4. Active: We will be cleaning the house. Passive: The house will be being cleaned by us.
   5 Quito. Active: I will be drawing a picture. Passive: A picture will be being drawn by me.
5. Active: You will be singing a song. Passive: A song will be being sung by you.
6. Active: The teacher will be explaining the lesson. Passive: The lesson will be being explained by the teacher.
7. Active: They will be watching movies. Passive: Movies will be being watched by them.
8. Active: She will be painting the wall. Passive: The wall will be being painted by her.
9. Active: He will be repairing the car. Passive: The car will be being repaired by him.
10. Active: We will be watering the plants. Passive: The plants will be being watered by us.
11. Active: I will be cooking dinner. Passive: Dinner will be being cooked by me.
12. Active: You will be writing essays. Passive: Essays will be being written by you.
13. Active: They will be building houses. Passive: Houses will be being built by them.
14. Active: She will be feeding the dog. Passive: The dog will be being fed by her.
15. Active: He will be solving the puzzle. Passive: The puzzle will be being solved by him.
16. Active: We will be organizing events. Passive: Events will be being organized by us.
17. Active: I will be answering questions. Passive: Questions will be being answered by me.
18. Active: You will be designing posters. Passive: Posters will be being designed by you.
19. Active: They will be planting trees. Passive: Trees will be being planted by them.

9. Future Perfect Tense

Rule: Active: Subject + will + have + V3 + Object
Passive: Object + will + have + been + V3 + (by + Subject)

Examples:

1. Active: She will have written a letter. Passive: A letter will have been written by her.
2. Active: They will have played football. Passive: Football will have been played by them.
3. Active: He will have read a book. Passive: A book will have been read by him.
4. Active: We will have cleaned the house. Passive: The house will have been cleaned by us.
5. Active: I will have drawn a picture. Passive: A picture will have been drawn by me.
6. Active: You will have sung a song. Passive: A song will have been sung by you.
7. Active: The teacher will have explained the lesson. Passive: The lesson will have been explained by the teacher.
8. Active: They will have watched movies. Passive: Movies will have been watched by them.
9. Active: She will have painted the wall. Passive: The wall will have been painted by her.
10. Active: He will have repaired the car. Passive: The car will have been repaired by him.
11. Active: We will have watered the plants. Passive: The plants will have been watered by us.
12. Active: I will have cooked dinner. Passive: Dinner will have been cooked by me.
13. Active: You will have written essays. Passive: Essays will have been written by you.
14. Active: They will have built houses. Passive: Houses will have been built by them.
15. Active: She will have fed the dog. Passive: The dog will have been fed by her.
16. Active: He will have solved the puzzle. Passive: The puzzle will have been solved by him.
17. Active: We will have organized events. Passive: Events will have been organized by us.
18. Active: I will have answered questions. Passive: Questions will have been answered by me.
19. Active: You will have designed posters. Passive: Posters will have been designed by you.
20. Active: They will have planted trees. Passive: Trees will have been planted by them.

Tips for Mastering Active and Passive Voice for Competitive Exams

1. Identify the Tense First: Always determine the tense of the active voice sentence before converting it to passive. This ensures the correct auxiliary verb is used.
2. Check for Transitivity: Only verbs with a direct object can be converted to passive voice. For example, “She sleeps” cannot be converted as “sleep” is intransitive.
3. Practice with Mixed Tenses: Competitive exams often test your ability to handle mixed tenses. Practice converting sentences across all tenses to build confidence.
4. Focus on Clarity: Use active voice for direct, clear communication in writing tasks. Reserve passive voice for formal contexts or when the doer is unknown.
5. Memorize Auxiliary Verbs: Learn the auxiliary verbs for each tense (e.g., is/am/are for Present Simple, was/were for Past Simple) to avoid mistakes.
6. Use Context Clues: In exams, analyze whether the sentence emphasizes the action or the doer to decide which voice is appropriate.
7. Avoid Overusing Passive Voice: Passive voice can make sentences wordy. Use it strategically in formal writing or when the object is more important.
8. Practice Sentence Transformation: Regularly practice converting active to passive and vice versa to improve speed and accuracy for exam questions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Incorrect Auxiliary Verb: Using “is” instead of “was” for past tense (e.g., “The book is read by him” instead of “The book was read by him”).
• Omitting “Been” in Perfect Tenses: Forgetting “been” in sentences like “The letter has written” instead of “The letter has been written.”
• Using Passive for Intransitive Verbs: Avoid converting sentences like “He runs” to passive, as they lack an object.
• Misplacing Prepositions: Ensure the preposition “by” is correctly used when mentioning the doer in passive voice.

Conclusion

Mastering active and passive voice rules for all tenses is a game-changer for students and candidates preparing for competitive exams. By understanding the structure, practicing with examples, and applying the tips provided, you can confidently transform sentences and tackle grammar questions. Whether you’re writing essays or solving grammar exercises, these active and passive voice rules for all tenses will enhance your skills and boost your exam performance.

Also Read: Mastering Conjunction Examples and Sentences: The Ultimate Guide

Active and Passive Voice Examples For All Tenses With Answers – Complete Guide