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Active and Passive Voice: Rules, Formulas, Examples, Exercises & Answers
Complete Guide to Active Voice and Passive Voice in English Grammar – All Tenses, Conversion Rules, 100+ Examples, Modal Verbs, Questions, Commands, Worksheets and Answers
Victoria Academy – A Canadian International School
Ontario, Canada | Grades 9–12 | BSID #884963
Active voice and passive voice are two different ways of organizing information in an English sentence.
In active voice, the subject performs the action.
Active: The student completed the assignment.
In passive voice, the subject receives the action.
Passive: The assignment was completed by the student.
Both sentences describe the same basic event, but they place attention on different parts of that event.
Understanding active and passive voice helps students improve:
English grammar;
sentence construction;
academic writing;
essay writing;
scientific writing;
reading comprehension;
formal communication;
editing;
and overall writing clarity.
This complete guide explains active and passive voice step by step, including formulas for the major English tenses, common mistakes, special sentence types, exercises and answers.
Quick Answer: What Is Active and Passive Voice?
Active Voice
The subject performs the action.
Formula:
SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT
Example:
Sofia writes the report.
Sofia = subject
writes = verb
the report = object
Passive Voice
The receiver of the action becomes the grammatical subject.
General Formula:
OBJECT + APPROPRIATE FORM OF “BE” + PAST PARTICIPLE (V3) + BY + SUBJECT
Example:
The report is written by Sofia.
What Is Active Voice?
Active voice is a sentence structure in which the subject directly performs the action expressed by the verb.
Example:
The teacher explained the lesson.
Who performed the action?
The teacher.
What did the teacher do?
Explained.
What received the action?
The lesson.
So the structure is:
SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT
More Active Voice Examples
Maya reads a book.
Noah completed the project.
The students cleaned the classroom.
The scientist conducted the experiment.
Victoria Academy students submit assignments online.
The teacher reviewed the essay.
Emma opened the window.
Daniel solved the equation.
The team will prepare the presentation.
The researcher collected the data.
In each sentence, the subject performs the action.
What Is Passive Voice?
Passive voice is a sentence structure in which the focus moves from the person or thing performing an action to the person or thing receiving the action.
Example:
The lesson was explained by the teacher.
Here:
The lesson
receives the action.
The sentence can also be written:
The lesson was explained.
The phrase “by the teacher” is not always necessary.
This is especially true when:
the person performing the action is unknown;
the person is obvious;
the person is unimportant;
or the writer wants to focus on the action or result.
More Passive Voice Examples
The book is read by Maya.
The project was completed by Noah.
The classroom was cleaned by the students.
The experiment was conducted by the scientist.
Assignments are submitted online.
The essay was reviewed by the teacher.
The window was opened by Emma.
The equation was solved by Daniel.
The presentation will be prepared by the team.
The data were collected by the researcher.
Active Voice vs Passive Voice
Feature
Active Voice
Passive Voice
Main focus
Person or thing performing the action
Action or receiver of the action
Basic order
Subject + Verb + Object
Object + Be + V3 + Agent
Style
Usually direct and concise
Often more formal or impersonal
Doer
Usually clearly identified
May be included or omitted
Common use
Everyday and general writing
Scientific, formal, technical or result-focused writing
Example
The student wrote the essay.
The essay was written by the student.
The Main Formula for Passive Voice
The general transformation is:
OBJECT + BE VERB + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
Active:
The teacher checked the homework.
Break the sentence into:
Subject = the teacher
Verb = checked
Object = the homework
Now move the object to the beginning:
The homework...
Use the correct form of be for the tense:
The homework was...
Use the past participle:
The homework was checked...
Add the original subject if needed:
The homework was checked by the teacher.
Final answer:
THE HOMEWORK WAS CHECKED BY THE TEACHER.
What Does V1, V2 and V3 Mean?
Students often see formulas such as:
V1
V2
V3
These mean different forms of a verb.
Verb
V1
V2
V3
write
write
wrote
written
eat
eat
ate
eaten
take
take
took
taken
make
make
made
made
see
see
saw
seen
break
break
broke
broken
choose
choose
chose
chosen
teach
teach
taught
taught
build
build
built
built
complete
complete
completed
completed
For passive voice:
THE MAIN VERB USES V3.
Five Core Rules for Changing Active Voice to Passive Voice
Rule 1 – Find the Object
The active sentence normally needs an object that receives the action.
Active:
The student wrote the essay.
Object:
the essay
This becomes the passive subject.
Rule 2 – Move the Object to the Beginning
Active:
The student wrote the essay.
Passive begins:
The essay...
Rule 3 – Use the Correct Form of “Be”
The form of be depends on the original tense.
Examples:
is
are
was
were
being
been
be
Rule 4 – Change the Main Verb to V3
Active:
wrote
Passive:
written
Therefore:
The essay was written...
Rule 5 – Add “by + Agent” Only When Useful
Complete sentence:
The essay was written by the student.
But if the doer is unknown or unimportant:
The essay was written yesterday.
may be better.
Very Important Rule: The Tense Should Stay the Same
When changing active voice into passive voice, the meaning and tense should remain equivalent.
Example:
Active:
She writes the report.
Simple Present.
Passive:
The report is written by her.
Still Simple Present.
Do not change it into:
The report was written by her.
because that would change the tense to Simple Past.
Pronoun Changes in Active and Passive Voice
When the active subject moves after by, subject pronouns normally change to object pronouns.
Subject Form
Object Form
I
me
we
us
you
you
he
him
she
her
it
it
they
them
who
whom
Example:
She completed the work.
becomes:
The work was completed by her.
Not:
The work was completed by she.
Active and Passive Voice Rules for Different Tenses
One of the best ways to learn voice is to understand how the be verb changes with each tense.
1. Simple Present Tense
Active Structure
SUBJECT + V1 / V1-S + OBJECT
Passive Structure
OBJECT + IS / AM / ARE + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
Example
Active:
Emma writes a letter.
Passive:
A letter is written by Emma.
Simple Present – More Examples
Active Voice
Passive Voice
The teacher checks the homework.
The homework is checked by the teacher.
Students read the article.
The article is read by the students.
Noah cleans the room.
The room is cleaned by Noah.
They publish the results.
The results are published by them.
The school provides online lessons.
Online lessons are provided by the school.
Maya answers the question.
The question is answered by Maya.
Researchers collect data.
Data are collected by researchers.
The chef prepares the meal.
The meal is prepared by the chef.
The librarian organizes the books.
The books are organized by the librarian.
Teachers assess student work.
Student work is assessed by teachers.
2. Present Continuous Tense
Active Structure
SUBJECT + IS / AM / ARE + V-ING + OBJECT
Passive Structure
OBJECT + IS / AM / ARE + BEING + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
Example:
The student is writing the report.
becomes:
The report is being written by the student.
Present Continuous – More Examples
Active
Passive
They are preparing the presentation.
The presentation is being prepared by them.
The teacher is checking the assignment.
The assignment is being checked by the teacher.
Emma is reading the novel.
The novel is being read by Emma.
Workers are repairing the road.
The road is being repaired by workers.
The team is designing the website.
The website is being designed by the team.
The chef is preparing dinner.
Dinner is being prepared by the chef.
Noah is solving the problem.
The problem is being solved by Noah.
The students are decorating the classroom.
The classroom is being decorated by the students.
3. Present Perfect Tense
Active Structure
SUBJECT + HAS / HAVE + V3 + OBJECT
Passive Structure
OBJECT + HAS / HAVE + BEEN + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
Example:
Mia has completed the assignment.
Passive:
The assignment has been completed by Mia.
Present Perfect – More Examples
Active
Passive
They have finished the project.
The project has been finished by them.
The teacher has checked the essays.
The essays have been checked by the teacher.
Noah has solved the question.
The question has been solved by Noah.
The students have prepared the presentation.
The presentation has been prepared by the students.
The team has completed the research.
The research has been completed by the team.
Emma has written three reports.
Three reports have been written by Emma.
Researchers have collected the results.
The results have been collected by researchers.
The school has announced the schedule.
The schedule has been announced by the school.
4. Simple Past Tense
Active Structure
SUBJECT + V2 + OBJECT
Passive Structure
OBJECT + WAS / WERE + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
Example:
The student submitted the assignment.
Passive:
The assignment was submitted by the student.
Simple Past – More Examples
Active
Passive
Maya wrote the essay.
The essay was written by Maya.
The teacher explained the lesson.
The lesson was explained by the teacher.
Noah solved the problem.
The problem was solved by Noah.
The team completed the project.
The project was completed by the team.
Researchers conducted the experiment.
The experiment was conducted by researchers.
Emma opened the door.
The door was opened by Emma.
The student asked a question.
A question was asked by the student.
They built the bridge.
The bridge was built by them.
The editor corrected the article.
The article was corrected by the editor.
The class completed the activity.
The activity was completed by the class.
5. Past Continuous Tense
Active Structure
SUBJECT + WAS / WERE + V-ING + OBJECT
Passive Structure
OBJECT + WAS / WERE + BEING + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
Example:
The students were preparing the presentation.
Passive:
The presentation was being prepared by the students.
Past Continuous – More Examples
Active
Passive
Emma was writing the essay.
The essay was being written by Emma.
They were repairing the computer.
The computer was being repaired by them.
The teacher was explaining the topic.
The topic was being explained by the teacher.
Workers were painting the building.
The building was being painted by workers.
Noah was reviewing the document.
The document was being reviewed by Noah.
The team was collecting information.
Information was being collected by the team.
6. Past Perfect Tense
Active Structure
SUBJECT + HAD + V3 + OBJECT
Passive Structure
OBJECT + HAD BEEN + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
Example:
Mia had completed the project.
Passive:
The project had been completed by Mia.
Past Perfect – More Examples
Active
Passive
The teacher had checked the work.
The work had been checked by the teacher.
The team had submitted the proposal.
The proposal had been submitted by the team.
Emma had written the report.
The report had been written by Emma.
They had repaired the road.
The road had been repaired by them.
Noah had completed the experiment.
The experiment had been completed by Noah.
7. Simple Future Tense
Active Structure
SUBJECT + WILL + V1 + OBJECT
Passive Structure
OBJECT + WILL BE + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
Example:
The teacher will check the assignments.
Passive:
The assignments will be checked by the teacher.
Simple Future – More Examples
Active
Passive
Emma will prepare the report.
The report will be prepared by Emma.
The team will complete the project.
The project will be completed by the team.
The students will submit the work tomorrow.
The work will be submitted by the students tomorrow.
Noah will answer the question.
The question will be answered by Noah.
They will announce the results.
The results will be announced by them.
The school will issue the schedule.
The schedule will be issued by the school.
Researchers will publish the findings.
The findings will be published by researchers.
8. Future Perfect Tense
Active Structure
SUBJECT + WILL HAVE + V3 + OBJECT
Passive Structure
OBJECT + WILL HAVE BEEN + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
Example:
The students will have completed the project.
Passive:
The project will have been completed by the students.
Future Perfect – More Examples
Active
Passive
Emma will have written the report.
The report will have been written by Emma.
The team will have finished the work.
The work will have been finished by the team.
Noah will have submitted the assignment.
The assignment will have been submitted by Noah.
Researchers will have completed the study.
The study will have been completed by researchers.
The school will have announced the results.
The results will have been announced by the school.
What About the Other English Tenses?
Students sometimes see statements that certain tenses “cannot” be passive.
A more useful way to understand the issue is:
Some passive constructions are grammatically possible but very uncommon and awkward in ordinary English.
Examples involving perfect continuous or future continuous forms can become difficult to read.
For school-level writing, it is usually better to rephrase the sentence naturally rather than force an extremely complicated passive structure.
For example, instead of trying to build a long form such as:
The project will have been being completed...
a clearer sentence is usually preferable.
Good writing is not about producing the longest possible grammatical structure.
It is about:
CLARITY + ACCURACY + NATURAL ENGLISH.
Active and Passive Voice With Modal Verbs
Modal verbs include:
can
could
may
might
must
should
would
ought to
The basic passive structure is:
OBJECT + MODAL + BE + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
Examples With Modal Verbs
Can
Active:
Emma can solve the problem.
Passive:
The problem can be solved by Emma.
Could
Active:
The team could complete the task.
Passive:
The task could be completed by the team.
May
Active:
They may announce the results today.
Passive:
The results may be announced today.
Might
Active:
The storm might damage the building.
Passive:
The building might be damaged by the storm.
Must
Active:
Students must complete the assignment.
Passive:
The assignment must be completed by the students.
Should
Active:
Students should follow the instructions.
Passive:
The instructions should be followed by the students.
Would
Active:
The teacher would review the report.
Passive:
The report would be reviewed by the teacher.
Active and Passive Voice With “Have To”
Example:
Students have to submit the assignment.
Passive:
The assignment has to be submitted by the students.
Plural example:
Students have to complete the activities.
Passive:
The activities have to be completed by the students.
How to Change Active Voice to Passive Voice Step by Step
Consider:
THE STUDENT COMPLETED THE PROJECT.
Step 1 – Identify the Subject
Who performed the action?
The student
Step 2 – Identify the Verb
What happened?
completed
Step 3 – Identify the Object
What received the action?
the project
Step 4 – Put the Object First
The project...
Step 5 – Identify the Tense
“Completed” is Simple Past.
Simple Past passive uses:
WAS / WERE + V3
Step 6 – Use the Past Participle
Complete → completed → completed
So:
The project was completed...
Step 7 – Add the Original Subject if Necessary
The project was completed by the student.
Final answer:
THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED BY THE STUDENT.
Shortcut for Students: O-B-V-A
A simple memory technique:
O – OBJECT FIRST
B – CORRECT “BE” VERB
V – V3
A – AGENT IF NEEDED
Example:
Active:
The teacher checks the work.
O = the work
B = is
V = checked
A = by the teacher
Passive:
The work is checked by the teacher.
Does Every Active Sentence Have a Passive Form?
No.
This is an important rule.
Normally, the active sentence needs a transitive verb—a verb that has an object.
Example:
Emma opened the door.
“the door” is an object.
So passive is possible:
The door was opened by Emma.
But consider:
Emma slept.
There is no object.
We cannot normally write:
Was slept by Emma.
Therefore:
SENTENCES WITH NO OBJECT USUALLY CANNOT BE CONVERTED INTO PASSIVE VOICE.
Examples of Intransitive Verbs
Common verbs that may be used without objects include:
sleep
arrive
go
come
laugh
cry
die
fall
occur
happen
Example:
The student arrived.
No passive transformation is available because there is no object receiving the action.
When Should We Use Active Voice?
Active voice is often best when:
the person performing the action matters;
you want clear and direct writing;
you want shorter sentences;
you are giving instructions;
you are telling a story;
you are explaining responsibility;
or the sentence sounds more natural in active form.
Example:
THE STUDENT SUBMITTED THE PROJECT.
This is direct and clear.
When Should We Use Passive Voice?
Passive voice is useful when:
the doer is unknown;
the doer is unimportant;
the doer is already obvious;
the action is more important than the doer;
the result deserves emphasis;
or a more impersonal academic style is appropriate.
Passive Voice When the Doer Is Unknown
Example:
Someone stole my bicycle.
If we do not know who:
MY BICYCLE WAS STOLEN.
There is no reason to write:
My bicycle was stolen by someone.
The passive sentence is stronger without the unnecessary agent.
Passive Voice When the Doer Is Unimportant
Active:
Someone cleans the laboratory every evening.
Passive:
The laboratory is cleaned every evening.
The important information is the cleaning, not who performs it.
Passive Voice When the Action Is More Important
Active:
Researchers tested the samples carefully.
Passive:
The samples were tested carefully.
In scientific writing, the procedure or result may matter more than the individual researcher.
Active Voice in Academic Writing
Students sometimes believe academic writing should always use passive voice.
That is not correct.
Modern academic writing frequently uses both active and passive voice.
Active voice can improve:
clarity;
responsibility;
readability;
and sentence strength.
Example:
We analyzed the results.
is clear and direct.
Passive Voice in Academic Writing
Passive voice remains useful when the procedure or evidence deserves greater emphasis than the researcher.
Example:
The samples were analyzed at room temperature.
The focus is on the samples and the procedure.
Students should therefore learn:
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE ARE TOOLS.
Neither one is automatically better in every sentence.
Passive Voice in Scientific Writing
Scientific writing commonly uses passive structures such as:
The solution was heated to 80°C.
The samples were measured carefully.
The data were recorded after each trial.
The results were compared with the control group.
The emphasis falls on:
method;
process;
evidence;
or result.
Passive Voice in News Writing
News reports sometimes use passive voice when the agent is unknown or not central to the first sentence.
Example:
Several roads were closed after the storm.
The important information is the road closure.
Passive Voice in Formal Notices
Examples:
Applications must be submitted before the deadline.
Mobile phones are not permitted during the examination.
The form should be completed carefully.
Late submissions may not be accepted.
These passive structures focus on rules and procedures.
Passive Voice in Everyday English
Passive voice is not limited to formal writing.
We use it naturally every day.
Examples:
My phone was stolen.
The meeting was cancelled.
The road is closed.
The package has been delivered.
The results will be announced tomorrow.
When Should “By + Agent” Be Removed?
Compare:
The criminal was arrested by the police.
and:
The criminal was arrested.
Often, “by the police” is obvious and unnecessary.
Another:
English is spoken by people in many countries.
More natural:
English is spoken in many countries.
Use the by-agent only when it adds useful information.
When Is “By + Agent” Important?
Sometimes the identity of the doer matters.
Example:
The theory was developed by a team of researchers.
The agent may be worth mentioning because the reader needs to know who developed it.
Another:
The novel was written by George Orwell.
The writer's identity is important information.
Active and Passive Voice With Two Objects
Some verbs take two objects.
Example:
The teacher gave the students an assignment.
There are two objects:
the students;
an assignment.
Two passive forms may sometimes be possible:
The students were given an assignment by the teacher.
or:
An assignment was given to the students by the teacher.
The first form is often more natural.
More Double-Object Examples
Active:
The school sent the parents a notice.
Passive:
The parents were sent a notice.
or:
A notice was sent to the parents.
Active:
The teacher taught us a new technique.
Passive:
We were taught a new technique by the teacher.
Active and Passive Voice With Questions
Interrogative sentences can also be changed into passive voice when the verb has an object.
Yes/No Question Example
Active:
Did Emma write the report?
Passive:
WAS THE REPORT WRITTEN BY EMMA?
Simple Present Question
Active:
Does the teacher check the assignments?
Passive:
ARE THE ASSIGNMENTS CHECKED BY THE TEACHER?
Future Question
Active:
Will the team complete the project?
Passive:
WILL THE PROJECT BE COMPLETED BY THE TEAM?
Modal Question
Active:
Can Noah solve the problem?
Passive:
CAN THE PROBLEM BE SOLVED BY NOAH?
Wh-Question Example
Active:
Who wrote this report?
Formal passive:
BY WHOM WAS THIS REPORT WRITTEN?
In everyday English, the active version often sounds more natural.
Another Wh-Question
Active:
Why did they cancel the meeting?
Possible passive:
Why was the meeting cancelled?
Notice that the unnecessary agent can be removed.
Active and Passive Voice With Imperative Sentences
Imperative sentences give:
commands;
instructions;
requests;
advice.
A traditional passive construction uses:
LET + OBJECT + BE + V3
Example:
Active:
Open the door.
Passive:
Let the door be opened.
More Imperative Examples
Active:
Close the window.
Passive:
Let the window be closed.
Active:
Complete the form.
Passive:
Let the form be completed.
However, traditional “Let...” passive forms can sound formal in everyday English.
Often a more natural passive instruction is better.
Example:
Do not waste water.
Natural passive:
Water should not be wasted.
Polite Requests in Passive Form
Active:
Please complete the form.
Formal passive:
You are requested to complete the form.
Active:
Please submit the documents today.
Formal passive:
You are requested to submit the documents today.
These forms are common in formal notices, but ordinary communication often sounds clearer in active voice.
Negative Sentences in Passive Voice
The word not normally follows the auxiliary or first suitable helping verb.
Example:
Active:
The student did not complete the assignment.
Passive:
The assignment was not completed by the student.
More Negative Examples
Active:
They do not allow phones in the examination room.
Passive:
Phones are not allowed in the examination room.
Active:
The school has not announced the results.
Passive:
The results have not been announced by the school.
Active:
The team will not complete the project today.
Passive:
The project will not be completed by the team today.
Active and Passive Voice With Infinitives
Passive infinitive:
TO BE + V3
Example:
Active meaning:
Someone needs to complete the form.
Passive:
The form needs to be completed.
Another:
The assignment has to be submitted tomorrow.
Passive Voice With Gerunds
Passive gerund structure:
BEING + V3
Example:
He dislikes being criticized unfairly.
Another:
The student appreciated being selected for the team.
These structures become more relevant in advanced English.
Passive Voice With “Get”
English sometimes uses get + past participle as an informal alternative to be + past participle.
Example:
The window got broken.
Compare:
The window was broken.
Another:
He got selected for the team.
Formal:
He was selected for the team.
Students should recognize get-passives, but formal academic writing usually prefers the be-passive.
Active Voice Is Usually Better for Clear Responsibility
Compare:
Mistakes were made.
and:
The team made several mistakes.
The passive version avoids identifying responsibility.
The active version clearly states who made the mistakes.
This is why students should not automatically use passive voice to make writing “sound formal.”
Strong writing is clear about responsibility when responsibility matters.
Active and Passive Voice Are NOT the Same as Direct and Indirect Speech
Students sometimes confuse these topics.
They are different grammar concepts.
Active / Passive Voice
Changes the focus between:
the doer;
and the receiver of an action.
Example:
Maya wrote the letter.
→
The letter was written by Maya.
Direct / Indirect Speech
Changes the way another person's words are reported.
Example:
Maya said, “I wrote the letter.”
→
Maya said that she had written the letter.
They should be studied separately.
100+ Active and Passive Voice Examples
Below are additional examples for quick practice.
Simple Present Examples
The teacher explains the lesson.
The lesson is explained by the teacher.Emma writes emails.
Emails are written by Emma.Students complete assignments.
Assignments are completed by students.The librarian organizes the books.
The books are organized by the librarian.Researchers collect information.
Information is collected by researchers.Noah answers the questions.
The questions are answered by Noah.The school provides learning resources.
Learning resources are provided by the school.The team prepares reports.
Reports are prepared by the team.Mia reads the article.
The article is read by Mia.The teacher reviews student work.
Student work is reviewed by the teacher.
Simple Past Examples
Emma completed the task.
The task was completed by Emma.The student submitted the assignment.
The assignment was submitted by the student.Noah answered the question.
The question was answered by Noah.Researchers analyzed the data.
The data were analyzed by researchers.The teacher corrected the essay.
The essay was corrected by the teacher.The school announced the result.
The result was announced by the school.The team finished the project.
The project was finished by the team.Emma delivered the presentation.
The presentation was delivered by Emma.The editor revised the article.
The article was revised by the editor.The students performed the experiment.
The experiment was performed by the students.
Simple Future Examples
The teacher will review the assignment.
The assignment will be reviewed by the teacher.Students will complete the project.
The project will be completed by students.The school will publish the timetable.
The timetable will be published by the school.Researchers will analyze the results.
The results will be analyzed by researchers.Emma will prepare the presentation.
The presentation will be prepared by Emma.Noah will answer the question.
The question will be answered by Noah.The team will submit the proposal.
The proposal will be submitted by the team.The committee will make the decision.
The decision will be made by the committee.The teacher will announce the scores.
The scores will be announced by the teacher.Students will complete the exercise.
The exercise will be completed by students.
Present Continuous Examples
The student is writing the report.
The report is being written by the student.The teacher is explaining the topic.
The topic is being explained by the teacher.They are repairing the computer.
The computer is being repaired by them.The students are preparing the presentation.
The presentation is being prepared by the students.Emma is reading the article.
The article is being read by Emma.Researchers are collecting data.
Data are being collected by researchers.The team is developing the plan.
The plan is being developed by the team.The school is updating the website.
The website is being updated by the school.The teacher is checking the answers.
The answers are being checked by the teacher.Noah is completing the assignment.
The assignment is being completed by Noah.
Past Continuous Examples
Emma was preparing the report.
The report was being prepared by Emma.The students were completing the test.
The test was being completed by the students.The teacher was explaining the lesson.
The lesson was being explained by the teacher.Researchers were studying the results.
The results were being studied by researchers.The team was designing the project.
The project was being designed by the team.Noah was fixing the computer.
The computer was being fixed by Noah.The school was organizing the event.
The event was being organized by the school.The students were writing essays.
Essays were being written by the students.Emma was answering the questions.
The questions were being answered by Emma.The editor was reviewing the article.
The article was being reviewed by the editor.
Present Perfect Examples
Emma has completed the assignment.
The assignment has been completed by Emma.Students have submitted their projects.
The projects have been submitted by students.The teacher has checked the answers.
The answers have been checked by the teacher.The school has published the timetable.
The timetable has been published by the school.Researchers have completed the study.
The study has been completed by researchers.The team has prepared the presentation.
The presentation has been prepared by the team.Noah has solved the problem.
The problem has been solved by Noah.The committee has approved the proposal.
The proposal has been approved by the committee.Emma has written the essay.
The essay has been written by Emma.The students have finished the activity.
The activity has been finished by the students.
Past Perfect Examples
The teacher had reviewed the work.
The work had been reviewed by the teacher.Emma had completed the report.
The report had been completed by Emma.The students had finished the project.
The project had been finished by the students.Researchers had collected the data.
The data had been collected by researchers.The school had announced the result.
The result had been announced by the school.Noah had answered the question.
The question had been answered by Noah.The team had prepared the document.
The document had been prepared by the team.The editor had corrected the article.
The article had been corrected by the editor.
Future Perfect Examples
Emma will have finished the report.
The report will have been finished by Emma.The students will have completed the assignment.
The assignment will have been completed by the students.The teacher will have checked the work.
The work will have been checked by the teacher.The team will have submitted the proposal.
The proposal will have been submitted by the team.Researchers will have completed the experiment.
The experiment will have been completed by researchers.The school will have published the timetable.
The timetable will have been published by the school.
Modal Verb Examples
Emma can solve the problem.
The problem can be solved by Emma.Students must complete the work.
The work must be completed by students.The teacher may extend the deadline.
The deadline may be extended by the teacher.The team could improve the design.
The design could be improved by the team.Students should follow the instructions.
The instructions should be followed by students.They might postpone the meeting.
The meeting might be postponed.The school can provide additional guidance.
Additional guidance can be provided by the school.The teacher should review the assignment.
The assignment should be reviewed by the teacher.Students must submit the form.
The form must be submitted by students.The team would complete the project.
The project would be completed by the team.
Questions and Commands
Did Emma write the report?
Was the report written by Emma?Does the teacher check the work?
Is the work checked by the teacher?Will students complete the project?
Will the project be completed by students?Can Noah answer the question?
Can the question be answered by Noah?Who wrote the article?
By whom was the article written?Open the door.
Let the door be opened.Complete the form.
Let the form be completed.Do not waste paper.
Paper should not be wasted.Please submit the application.
You are requested to submit the application.Follow the instructions.
The instructions should be followed.
Everyday Passive Examples
Someone stole my bag.
My bag was stolen.They cancelled the flight.
The flight was cancelled.Someone has delivered the package.
The package has been delivered.They closed the road.
The road was closed.Someone broke the window.
The window was broken.They postponed the meeting.
The meeting was postponed.Someone has changed the schedule.
The schedule has been changed.They will announce the result tomorrow.
The result will be announced tomorrow.Someone is repairing the elevator.
The elevator is being repaired.They have completed the construction.
The construction has been completed.
Common Mistakes in Active and Passive Voice
Mistake 1 – Forgetting V3
Incorrect:
The report was write by Emma.
Correct:
The report was written by Emma.
Remember:
PASSIVE = BE + V3
Mistake 2 – Using the Wrong Be Verb
Active:
Students complete the work.
Incorrect:
The work was completed by students.
That changes the tense.
Correct:
The work is completed by students.
Mistake 3 – Changing the Tense
Active:
Emma wrote the essay.
Correct passive:
The essay was written by Emma.
Not:
The essay is written by Emma.
Mistake 4 – Using the Subject Pronoun After “By”
Incorrect:
The report was written by she.
Correct:
The report was written by her.
Mistake 5 – Trying to Make Every Sentence Passive
Active:
The child slept.
There is no direct object.
A normal passive transformation is not possible.
Mistake 6 – Adding an Unnecessary Agent
Weak:
The road was closed by someone.
Better:
The road was closed.
Mistake 7 – Believing Passive Voice Is Always More Formal and Therefore Better
Consider:
The decision was made.
Who made it?
The sentence hides important information.
If responsibility matters:
The committee made the decision.
is stronger.
Mistake 8 – Confusing Passive Voice With Past Tense
Passive voice can appear in:
present;
past;
future;
perfect forms;
continuous forms;
and modal constructions.
Example:
The report is written every month.
This is passive but present tense.
Mistake 9 – Confusing “Be” With Passive Voice Automatically
Not every sentence containing be is passive.
Example:
Emma is happy.
This is not passive voice.
There is no action being received.
Compare:
Emma is praised by her teacher.
That is passive.
Mistake 10 – Overusing Passive Voice
A paragraph filled with passive structures can become distant and difficult to read.
Compare:
The experiment was prepared. The samples were collected. The results were recorded. The conclusions were written.
Sometimes appropriate.
But when the actors matter:
The students prepared the experiment, collected the samples, recorded the results and wrote their conclusions.
may be clearer.
How to Identify Passive Voice Quickly
Look for three clues.
1. Is the subject receiving an action?
2. Is there a form of “be”?
3. Is the main verb in past participle form?
Example:
The report was written by Emma.
Subject receiving action:
the report
Be verb:
was
Past participle:
written
Therefore:
PASSIVE VOICE.
Active or Passive? Quick Practice
Identify each sentence.
The students completed the experiment.
The experiment was completed by the students.
The teacher is explaining the lesson.
The lesson is being explained by the teacher.
The school announced the results.
The results were announced yesterday.
The package has been delivered.
Emma has written the report.
The assignment must be submitted today.
Noah solved the equation.
Answers
Active
Passive
Active
Passive
Active
Passive
Passive
Active
Passive
Active
Active to Passive Voice Exercise 1 – Basic Sentences
Change these sentences into passive voice.
Emma writes the report.
The teacher checks the homework.
Students complete the activity.
Noah answers the questions.
The school publishes the timetable.
The team prepares the presentation.
Researchers collect the data.
The librarian organizes the books.
The student solves the problem.
The chef prepares the meal.
Answers – Exercise 1
The report is written by Emma.
The homework is checked by the teacher.
The activity is completed by students.
The questions are answered by Noah.
The timetable is published by the school.
The presentation is prepared by the team.
The data are collected by researchers.
The books are organized by the librarian.
The problem is solved by the student.
The meal is prepared by the chef.
Exercise 2 – Simple Past
Convert to passive voice.
Emma completed the assignment.
The teacher explained the lesson.
Noah repaired the computer.
The team prepared the report.
Students conducted the experiment.
The school announced the result.
The editor corrected the article.
Researchers analyzed the data.
The students cleaned the classroom.
Maya wrote the essay.
Answers – Exercise 2
The assignment was completed by Emma.
The lesson was explained by the teacher.
The computer was repaired by Noah.
The report was prepared by the team.
The experiment was conducted by students.
The result was announced by the school.
The article was corrected by the editor.
The data were analyzed by researchers.
The classroom was cleaned by the students.
The essay was written by Maya.
Exercise 3 – Continuous and Perfect Tenses
Convert to passive voice.
The students are preparing the project.
Emma is writing the report.
The teacher was checking the assignments.
Researchers were collecting information.
Noah has completed the task.
The students have submitted their projects.
The team had prepared the presentation.
The teacher had reviewed the essays.
The school has announced the schedule.
Researchers have completed the study.
Answers – Exercise 3
The project is being prepared by the students.
The report is being written by Emma.
The assignments were being checked by the teacher.
Information was being collected by researchers.
The task has been completed by Noah.
The projects have been submitted by the students.
The presentation had been prepared by the team.
The essays had been reviewed by the teacher.
The schedule has been announced by the school.
The study has been completed by researchers.
Exercise 4 – Future and Modal Verbs
Convert to passive voice.
The teacher will check the assignment.
Students will complete the project.
The school will announce the result.
Emma can solve the problem.
Students must follow the instructions.
The team may postpone the meeting.
Noah could complete the task.
Students should submit the forms.
Researchers might publish the study.
The teacher would review the report.
Answers – Exercise 4
The assignment will be checked by the teacher.
The project will be completed by students.
The result will be announced by the school.
The problem can be solved by Emma.
The instructions must be followed by students.
The meeting may be postponed by the team.
The task could be completed by Noah.
The forms should be submitted by students.
The study might be published by researchers.
The report would be reviewed by the teacher.
Exercise 5 – Passive to Active Voice
Change these sentences into active voice.
The assignment was completed by Emma.
The lesson is explained by the teacher.
The project will be submitted by the students.
The question has been answered by Noah.
The experiment was conducted by researchers.
The classroom is being cleaned by the students.
The report had been reviewed by the teacher.
The problem can be solved by Maya.
The timetable was published by the school.
The results will be announced by the committee.
Answers – Exercise 5
Emma completed the assignment.
The teacher explains the lesson.
The students will submit the project.
Noah has answered the question.
Researchers conducted the experiment.
The students are cleaning the classroom.
The teacher had reviewed the report.
Maya can solve the problem.
The school published the timetable.
The committee will announce the results.
Exercise 6 – Questions
Convert to passive voice.
Did Emma complete the project?
Does the teacher check the assignments?
Will students submit the report?
Can Noah solve the problem?
Has the team completed the research?
Are the students preparing the presentation?
Did researchers collect the data?
Will the school publish the result?
Answers
Was the project completed by Emma?
Are the assignments checked by the teacher?
Will the report be submitted by students?
Can the problem be solved by Noah?
Has the research been completed by the team?
Is the presentation being prepared by the students?
Were the data collected by researchers?
Will the result be published by the school?
Exercise 7 – Find the Mistake
Correct each sentence.
1.
The essay was wrote by Emma.
Correct:
The essay was written by Emma.
2.
The homework is completed yesterday.
Correct:
The homework was completed yesterday.
3.
The report was written by she.
Correct:
The report was written by her.
4.
The project will completed tomorrow.
Correct:
The project will be completed tomorrow.
5.
The assignment has been complete by Noah.
Correct:
The assignment has been completed by Noah.
6.
The room is being clean by students.
Correct:
The room is being cleaned by students.
7.
The results has been announced.
Correct:
The results have been announced.
8.
The problem can solved by Emma.
Correct:
The problem can be solved by Emma.
Active and Passive Voice Worksheet
Try these without checking the answers first.
The dog chased the ball.
Emma is writing a story.
Students have completed the task.
Noah will deliver the parcel tomorrow.
The students respect their teacher.
The chef prepared dinner.
Workers are repairing the road.
Someone had stolen my bicycle.
Emma must finish the assignment.
Complete the form.
The school announced the timetable.
Researchers collected the samples.
The teacher has checked the essays.
They will publish the results next week.
The students were conducting the experiment.
The committee may approve the proposal.
Noah wrote the report.
Someone has changed the schedule.
The teacher should explain the rule.
They cancelled the meeting.
Worksheet Answers
The ball was chased by the dog.
A story is being written by Emma.
The task has been completed by students.
The parcel will be delivered by Noah tomorrow.
The teacher is respected by the students.
Dinner was prepared by the chef.
The road is being repaired by workers.
My bicycle had been stolen.
The assignment must be finished by Emma.
Let the form be completed.
The timetable was announced by the school.
The samples were collected by researchers.
The essays have been checked by the teacher.
The results will be published next week.
The experiment was being conducted by the students.
The proposal may be approved by the committee.
The report was written by Noah.
The schedule has been changed.
The rule should be explained by the teacher.
The meeting was cancelled.
7-Day Active and Passive Voice Practice Plan
Day 1 – Identify Subject, Verb and Object
Practice finding:
Subject
Verb
Object
in 20 sentences.
Day 2 – Simple Present and Simple Past
Practise:
is / are + V3
was / were + V3
Day 3 – Continuous Tenses
Practise:
is / are being + V3
was / were being + V3
Day 4 – Perfect Tenses
Practise:
has / have been + V3
had been + V3
Day 5 – Future and Modal Verbs
Practise:
will be + V3
can be + V3
must be + V3
should be + V3
Day 6 – Questions and Commands
Practise:
interrogatives;
imperatives;
negative sentences.
Day 7 – Mixed Review
Complete a mixed worksheet and review every mistake.
A useful learning cycle:
IDENTIFY → CONVERT → CHECK → CORRECT → REPEAT
How Can Students Improve at Active and Passive Voice?
Do not memorize every example.
Learn the structure.
For each sentence, ask:
Who performs the action?
What is the verb?
What receives the action?
Is there an object?
What tense is the sentence?
Which form of “be” matches that tense?
What is the V3 form?
Is “by + agent” actually needed?
If you can answer these questions, conversion becomes much easier.
Why Active and Passive Voice Matters Beyond Grammar Exercises
Students sometimes learn voice only because it appears in an English grammar test.
But voice has a much broader purpose.
It affects how information is presented.
Compare:
The research team analyzed the results.
The writer emphasizes:
the research team.
Now:
The results were analyzed carefully.
The writer emphasizes:
the results and analysis.
The grammatical choice changes the focus.
That is why understanding voice is part of learning how to write clearly and purposefully.
Active and Passive Voice in Essays
Strong essays use sentence structures strategically.
Active voice can make arguments clearer:
The evidence supports this conclusion.
Passive voice can emphasize findings:
The conclusion is supported by several pieces of evidence.
Both are grammatically correct.
The writer chooses according to the intended emphasis.
Active and Passive Voice in Academic English
As students progress through secondary school and prepare for university-level study, they may encounter passive voice in:
research reports;
laboratory reports;
academic articles;
formal instructions;
historical writing;
news reports;
technical material;
and scholarly discussion.
Understanding the passive helps students both read and write more effectively.
English Learning at Victoria Academy
Victoria Academy
A Canadian International School
Ontario, Canada | Grades 9–12 | BSID #884963
At Victoria Academy, students completing Ontario high-school courses are encouraged to build skills that support academic success and future higher education.
These can include:
Academic English
Reading Comprehension
Academic Writing
Communication
Critical Thinking
Problem-Solving
Research Skills
Presentation Skills
Independent Learning
Time Management
University Readiness
English learning should go beyond memorizing isolated grammar rules.
Students should gradually learn how to:
understand information;
communicate clearly;
organize ideas;
support conclusions;
analyze evidence;
revise written work;
use feedback;
and choose language appropriate to the situation.
Active and Passive Voice – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is active voice?
Active voice is a sentence structure in which the subject performs the action.
Example:
Emma wrote the report.
2. What is passive voice?
Passive voice is a structure in which the subject receives the action.
Example:
The report was written by Emma.
3. What is the formula for active voice?
A common formula is:
SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT
4. What is the basic passive voice formula?
OBJECT + FORM OF BE + V3 + BY + SUBJECT
The by + subject part may be omitted when unnecessary.
5. What does V3 mean?
V3 means the past participle form of a verb.
Examples:
write → written
eat → eaten
take → taken
complete → completed
6. What is the easiest way to identify active voice?
Ask:
Is the subject performing the action?
If yes, the sentence is probably active.
7. How can I identify passive voice?
Look for a subject receiving an action, usually with:
be + past participle
Example:
The work was completed.
8. Can every active sentence become passive?
No.
Usually, the active verb needs an object.
Sentences with intransitive verbs such as sleep, arrive or laugh generally cannot be converted into normal passive forms.
9. Does the tense change when active becomes passive?
No. The sentence should preserve the same tense and basic meaning.
The grammatical structure changes.
10. What is the passive of Simple Present?
IS / AM / ARE + V3
Example:
She writes a letter.
→
A letter is written by her.
11. What is the passive of Simple Past?
WAS / WERE + V3
Example:
She wrote a letter.
→
A letter was written by her.
12. What is the passive of Simple Future?
WILL BE + V3
Example:
She will write the report.
→
The report will be written by her.
13. What is the passive of Present Continuous?
IS / AM / ARE + BEING + V3
14. What is the passive of Past Continuous?
WAS / WERE + BEING + V3
15. What is the passive of Present Perfect?
HAS / HAVE BEEN + V3
16. What is the passive of Past Perfect?
HAD BEEN + V3
17. What is the passive of Future Perfect?
WILL HAVE BEEN + V3
18. How do modal verbs change in passive voice?
Use:
MODAL + BE + V3
Example:
Students must complete the work.
→
The work must be completed.
19. Is “by” always needed in passive voice?
No.
Use the agent only when it adds useful information.
Example:
My bicycle was stolen.
is normally better than:
My bicycle was stolen by someone.
20. Why is active voice often preferred?
Active voice is often shorter, clearer and more direct.
It also identifies who is responsible for the action.
21. Why is passive voice used?
Passive voice is useful when:
the agent is unknown;
the agent is unimportant;
the action is more important;
or the writer wants to emphasize the receiver or result.
22. Is passive voice wrong?
No.
Passive voice is a normal and useful part of English grammar.
The issue is whether it is appropriate for the sentence.
23. Is active voice always better?
No.
Active voice is often clearer, but passive voice can be more appropriate in scientific, procedural, formal or result-focused writing.
24. Is passive voice used in scientific writing?
Yes.
Example:
The samples were analyzed in the laboratory.
25. Is passive voice used in everyday English?
Yes.
Examples:
My phone was stolen.
The meeting was cancelled.
The package has been delivered.
26. Can questions be passive?
Yes, when the verb has an object.
Example:
Did Emma write the report?
→
Was the report written by Emma?
27. Can commands be passive?
Yes.
Traditional example:
Open the door.
→
Let the door be opened.
More natural passive alternatives may sometimes be preferable depending on context.
28. What happens to pronouns?
Subject pronouns normally change to object forms after by.
she → her
he → him
they → them
we → us
I → me
29. Is “Emma is happy” passive voice?
No.
Although it contains is, there is no passive action.
30. Are active/passive voice and direct/indirect speech the same topic?
No.
Active/passive voice deals with who performs or receives an action.
Direct/indirect speech deals with reporting what someone said.
Quick Revision Table
Tense / Form
Passive Structure
Simple Present
is / am / are + V3
Present Continuous
is / am / are being + V3
Present Perfect
has / have been + V3
Simple Past
was / were + V3
Past Continuous
was / were being + V3
Past Perfect
had been + V3
Simple Future
will be + V3
Future Perfect
will have been + V3
Modal
modal + be + V3
Final Student Tip
Do not start by memorizing dozens of formulas without understanding the sentence.
First identify:
SUBJECT
VERB
OBJECT
Then identify:
TENSE
Then build:
CORRECT “BE” VERB + V3
And finally ask:
DO I REALLY NEED “BY + AGENT”?
The goal is not simply to convert sentences correctly.
The bigger goal is to understand why a writer chooses active or passive voice.
ACTIVE VOICE EMPHASIZES THE DOER.
PASSIVE VOICE EMPHASIZES THE ACTION OR RECEIVER.
GOOD WRITERS KNOW WHEN TO USE EACH.
About Victoria Academy
Victoria Academy
A Canadian International School
Ontario, Canada
Grades 9–12
BSID #884963
Victoria Academy provides Ontario high-school learning opportunities for eligible students, including international students who may be able to study online from their home country.
Students pursuing the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) must successfully complete all applicable Ontario graduation requirements based on their individual academic status and approved academic plan.
Strong English communication, writing, research, critical thinking and independent-learning skills can support students throughout secondary school and later post-secondary education.
STAY LOCAL. STUDY CANADIAN. THINK GLOBAL.
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