The document discusses the differences between active and passive voice. In active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb. In passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb. Some key differences are that passive voice always uses a form of the verb "to be" and the past participle of the main verb, and only transitive verbs can be used in the passive form. The document provides examples of changing between active and passive voice and using different tenses in both voices.

2. What is active voice?
A feature of sentences in which the subject performs the
action of the verb and the direct object is the goal or the
recipient: The mechanic fixed the car.
What is Passive Voice?
A feature of sentences in which the object or goal of the
action functions as the sentence subject and the main verb
phrase includes the verb to be and the past participle: The car
was fixed by the mechanic.

3. The Different
Active Voice
Subject performs the
action denoted by the
verb.
Each tense use its own
verb depend on the
formula.
Only some tenses need
verb be.
the subject (doer) and
the verb moves the
sentence along.
Passive Voice
Subject receives the
action expressed by the
verb.
All tenses use past
participle verb.
Verb be must always be
present in every tense.
The agent (doer) of the
action is unimportant.

4. No by phrase.
Whether Transitive and
Intransitive verbs can be
used in the active.
It is used for most non-
scientific writing. Using
active voice for the
majority of your sentences
makes your meaning clear
for readers, and keeps the
sentences from becoming
too complicated or wordy.
Use by phrase if it’s
important to know the
performer.
Only transitive verbs can
be used in the passive.
It is mostly used in
scientific or technical
writing or lab reports,
where the subject is not
really important but the
process or principle being
described is of ultimate
importance. It is also
useful when describing,
say, a mechanical process.

5. Change Active into Passive
Move the active sentence's direct object into the sentence's
subject slot.
Place the active sentence's subject into a phrase beginning
with the preposition by.

6. Change Passive into Active
Add a form of the auxilary verb be to the main verb and
change the main verb's form.
Move the passive sentence's subject into the active
sentence's direct object slot.

7. Remove the auxilary verb be from the main verb and
change main verb's form if needed.
Place the passive sentence's object of the
preposition by into the subject slot.

8. Tenses
Tense Active
Passive
(S + Be + Past
Participle)
Simple Present
Agni cooks chicken
curry.
Chicken curry is cooked
by Agni.
Simple Past
Agni cooked chicken
curry.
Chicken curry was
cooked by Agni.
Present Progressive
Agni is cooking chicken
curry.
Chicken curry is being
cooked by Agni.
Past Progressive
Agni was cooking
chicken curry.
Chicken curry was being
cooked by Agni.

9. Present Perfect
Agni has cooked chicken
curry.
Chicken curry has been
cooked by Agni.
Past Perfect
Agni had cooked chicken
curry.
Chicken curry had been
cooked by Agni.
Simple Future
Agni will cook chicken
curry.
Chicken curry will be
cooked by Agni.
Agni is going to cook
chicken curry.
Chicken curry is going to
be cooked by Agni.
Future Perfect
Agni will have cook
chicken curry.
Chicken curry will have
been cooked by Agni.

10. Modal
Modal
Passive
(S + Modal + Be + Past Participle)
Will Marie will be returned to the dorm.
Can Marie can’t be returned to the dorm.
Should Marie should be returned to the dorm.
May Marie may be returned to the dorm.
Ought to Marie ought to be returned to the dorm.
Must Marie must be returned to the dorm.
Might Marie might be returned to the dorm.
Has to Marie has to be returned to the dorm.
Supposed to
Marie supposed to be returned to the
dorm.
Had better
Marie had better be returned to the
dorm.

11. How to Recognize Active – Passive
Voice
1. Find the subject (the main character of the sentence).
2. Find the main verb (the action that the sentence identifies).
3. Examine the relationship between the subject and main verb.
Does the subject perform the action of the main verb? (If so,
the sentence is active.)
Does the subject sit there while something else — named or
unnamed –performs an action on it? (If so, the sentence
is passive.)
Can’t tell? If the main verb is a linking verb (“is,” “was,” “are,”
“seems (to be),” “becomes” etc.), then the verb functions like
an equals sign; there is no action involved — it merely
describes a state of being.

12. Summary
In active the subject performs the action of the verb
Whether transitive and intransitive can be used in the
active.
In passive the subject receive the action of the verb.
Only transitive can be use in the passive.
There’s always verb be in passive.
In passive all tenses use past participle.
By phrase use only if the performer important to be
known.

14. 1. Change into passive
1. James climbed the ladder.
2. Children cannot open these bottles easily.
3. The boys pushed the tree over.
4. Corrosion had damaged the hull of the ship.
5. The government built a road right outside her front door.
2. Change into active
1. The milk had been knocked over by a cat.
2. My books were stolen yesterday.
3. The football was kicked by Luke.
4. Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by plantation
workers.
5. The streets around the fire had been blocked off by the
police.

15. 3. Decide whether it is active or passive
1. Mark was eating an apple.
2. The picture was painted by Bob.
3. Tina opened the present.
4. The phone was being used by Mr. Thomas.
5. The card was made by Fred.
6. James hit the tree with his stick.
7. The man jumped off the step.
8. Daniel was watching the birds.
9. The pyramids were built thousands of years ago.
10. Several robberies were committed during the night.