There are some basic things which we can use to change from active voice to passive voice almost for all sentences or tenses. So, we do not actually need to memorize many rules or techniques for different sentences or tenses for voice changing. The basic techniques are given below.
Rule: 1. You need to follow five steps which will enable you to change any kind of sentence or tense from active to passive voice. It means that such steps will be the same in any case of voice changing. For example:
[a] without reflexive and quasi-passive, the object of the active voice will be replaced as the subject of the passive voice [b] an extra auxiliary verb will be used before the main verb “am/is/are = present indefinite tense”, “was/were = past indefinite tense”, “be = future indefinite tenseand any other modal verb”, “being = all kinds of continuous tense”, “been = all kinds of perfect tense” [c] the main verb will be changed in to past participle form [d] then a preposition will be used “normally, by is used in almost all sentences” [e] the subject of the active voice will be replaced as the object of the passive voice.Note: Before changing the sentence, you have to recognize the tense of the sentence.
Now, lets’ have some example where these five steps will do the trick for you.
Instruction for better understanding
[subjects are shown in italic, extra auxiliary verbs are shown in underlined, main verbs are highlighted in italic and bolded, objects are focused in bolded. So, for better understanding, look at the above mentioned symbol of the examples in the entire document]Ex: 1. We support our country.
Passive: our country is supported by us.
Ex: 2. I am writing an application to the headmaster for leave of absence.
Passive: an application to the headmaster for leave of absence is being written by me.
Ex: 3. They have designed a nice building.
Passive: a nice building has been designed by them.
Ex: 4. you made a wonderful science project.
Passive: a wonderful science project was made by you.
Ex: 5. An old man was watering his garden.
Passive: his garden was being watered by an old man.
Ex: 6. I had totally forgotten his name.
Passive: his name had been totally forgotten by me.
Ex: 7. They will perform a drama.
Passive: a drama will be performed by them.
Ex: 8. She will be drawing a picture.
Passive: a picture will be being drawn by her.
Ex: 9. We will have noticed you the fact.
Passive: you will have been noticed the fact.
Remember that in the above nine examples all the bolded objects have become italicized subject in passive voice, an extra underlined auxiliary verb has added before the main verb, all the bolded and italicized main verbs changed their form in to past participle, then a preposition is placed and finally all the italicized subjects of the active voice replaced as the bolded objects in the passive voice. No matter, what sentence or tense you are changing, the above steps will be unchanged while changing from active voice to passive voice.
Rule: 2. If you want to change the voice from active to passive of an interrogative sentence containing auxiliary verb, just follow the above steps and place an auxiliary verb before the subject of the passive voice according to the subject verb agreement. For example:
Ex: am I eating dinner?
Passive: is dinner being eaten by me?
Ex 2. Have you enjoyed the movie?
Passive: has the movie been enjoyed by you?
In the above examples we follow the same steps as stated but the only difference we do that we placed an auxiliary verb before the subject of the passive voice because the active voice is an interrogative sentence.
Rule: 3. If the interrogative sentence is consist of “Who”, do the same thing as stated above but remember that “whom” is such kind of object which can not be used at the ending part of a sentence. So, preposition + object “by whom” should be placed at the beginning of the sentence and follow the other steps in the same way.
Ex: 1. Who made this basket?
Passive: by whom was the basket made?
Ex: 2. Who will give the correct answer?
Passive: by whom will the correct answer be given?
Rule: 4. On the other hand, if the active sentence is comprised of “whom” , then “who” will be used as the subject as usual. Other steps remain unchanged.
Ex: 1. Whom are you calling now?
Passive: Who is being called by you now.
Ex: 2. Whom did she trust?
Passive: Who was trusted by her?
Rule: 5. When “What” is the object of an active sentence, obviously, “what” must be replaced as the subject while changing this kind from active to passive because “what” is similar in respect of subject and object. For example:
Ex: 1. What are you reading?
Passive: What is being read by you?
Ex: 2. What has he completed?
Passive: What has been completed by him?
Rule: 6. In respect of imperative sentence, “let” has to be used if the active sentence does not start with “let”. If let is already mentioned in the active sentence, you need not use “let” while changing to passive. Such as,
Ex: 1. Read this amusing story.
Passive: let this amusing story be read.
Ex: 2. Drink pure water for better health.
Passive: Let pure water be drunk for better health.
Attention: in the above word there are no italicized words “subject” because an imperative sentence does not mention it’s subject. Though “you” is always considered as the subject of imperative sentence,, it is generally omitted.
Ex: 7. But if your imperative sentence begins with “let” and have two objects in it, then one object will replace another and preposition “normally, by” must take place before the second object in the passive sentence. Such as,
Ex: 1. Let me tell the truth.
Passive: Let the truth be told by me.
Ex: 2. Let them enjoy a movie after their examination.
Passive: Let a movie be enjoyed by them after their examination.
Rule: 8. While changing active voice to passive voice of coasi-passive sentence, you just need to add an extra helping verb according to the tense as well as subject verb agreement and change the main verb in to past participle. You need not replace your subject and object.
Ex: 1. She feels very hot.
Passive: She is felt very hot.
Ex: 2. You look very smart.
Passive: You are looked very smart.
Rule: 9. To change an active sentence containing reflexive pronoun, you need to add an helping verb, change the main verb to past participle and use preposition “normally, by” before reflexive pronoun. Don’t unnecessarily think over subject and object because they will be unchanged in this regarding.
Ex: 1. She saved herself.
Passive: She was saved by herself.
Ex: 2. He killed himself.
Passive: He was killed by himself.
