Active and Passive Voice

Voice in grammar shows whether the subject of a sentence performs the action (Active Voice) or receives the action (Passive Voice). Understanding this concept is key to more powerful and flexible writing.

Active Voice

The subject performs the action.

This is the most common and direct way of structuring a sentence. It makes your writing clear and energetic.

Structure: Subject + Verb + Object

She writes a letter.
The teacher explains the lesson.
They play football.

Passive Voice

The subject receives the action.

This voice is used to shift focus from the doer of the action to the recipient or the action itself.

Structure: Object + be + Verb (V3) + by + Subject

A letter is written by her.
The lesson is explained by the teacher.
Football is played by them.

Changing Active to Passive

Follow these steps to convert a sentence from active to passive voice.

Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object: "He (S) writes (V) a story (O)."
Move the object to the subject's place: "A story..."
Add the correct 'be' verb based on the tense: "A story is..."
Use the past participle (V3) of the main verb: "A story is written..."
Add 'by' and the original subject (optional): "A story is written by him."

Voice Across Different Tenses

Tense	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Present Simple	She writes a letter.	A letter is written by her.
Past Simple	He ate an apple.	An apple was eaten by him.
Future Simple	They will complete the work.	The work will be completed by them.
Present Continuous	He is watching TV.	TV is being watched by him.
Past Continuous	She was reading a book.	A book was being read by her.
Present Perfect	I have finished the task.	The task has been finished by me.

Important Tip: Transitive Verbs Only

Only sentences with a direct object (using a transitive verb) can be changed to passive voice. For example, "He sleeps" is intransitive (no object), so it cannot be made passive.

Conclusion

While active voice is usually clearer and more direct, passive voice is useful when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant. Mastering both allows you to express yourself with greater flexibility and precision.