[NEW] Active and Passive Voice Examples with Answers ( 60 Examples ) | passive voice examples – NATAVIGUIDES

In this article, I’ll tell you about active and passive voice examples with answers. This chapter is very important in English Grammar.

A good English speaker always uses active and passive voices in his colloquial sentences.

That means this chapter plays an important role in English speaking. Also, it increases the efficiency of an English speaker.

Since it’s important from a speaking perspective, so it must be taught.

Without its knowledge, you can’t do better in speaking or writing.

It’s nothing, but a chapter by which you can represent a particular sentence in two different ways and both different ways of the sentences convey the same meaning.

Hence, without wasting your valuable time let’s dive into the article that is about active and passive voice examples with answers.

Also, see the article on direct and indirect speech.

Active and Passive Voice Examples with Answers ( 60 Examples ) or Active and Passive Voice Examples for All Tenses –

Before telling active and passive voice examples with answers, we’ll know how to recognize active and passive voice individually.

1. Active voice –

General formula – Subject + Verb + Object.

For example –

( a ) Police arrested the thief.

( b ) I love my teacher.

( c ) Kamlesh is driving the bus.

( d ) He will not tolerate the matter.

( e ) No one wants nuisance.

( f ) She speaks English very fluently.

2. Passive voice –

General formula – Object + Helping Verb + V3 + By + Subject.

For example –

( a ) I was being troubled yesterday.

( b ) Children are loved by their parents.

( c ) The work has been completed by the manager.

( d ) Sameer was hesitated by a man.

( e ) We have been surprised at his stunt.

( f ) The road was inspected by the chairman.

Find out spotting errors in the sentences.

Active and Passive Voice Rules of Indefinite Sentences –

1. Present Indefinite/Simple Present –

Active voice formula Subject + v1 + object.Passive voice formulaObject + is/are/am + v3 + by + subject.

For example –

( a ) Active voice – She loves her daughter.

Passive voice – Her daughter is loved by her.

( b ) Active voice – Rubina plays cricket very well.

Passive voice – Cricket is played very well by Rubina.

( c ) Active voice – No one pushes you.

Passive voice – You are not pushed by anyone or You are pushed by no one.

( d ) Active voice – Mushtaq sir beats you a lot.

Passive voice – You are beaten a lot by Mushtaq sir.

( e ) Active voice – Abhishek teaches me Hindi.

Passive voice – I am taught Hindi by Abhishek. or Hindi is taught me by Abhishek.

See, the examples of the present participles in the sentences.

2. Past Indefinite/Simple Past –

Active voice formula Subject + v2 + objectPassive voice formulaObject + was/were + v3 + by + subject

For example –

( a ) Active voice – He attacked me with a knife.

Passive voice – I was attacked with a knife by him.

( b ) Active voice – They promised him to give their seats.

Passive voice – He was promised to give their seats by them.

( c ) Active voice – I wasted my time.

Passive voice – My time was wasted by me.

( d ) Active voice – The little boy asked her the way to Lucknow.

Passive voice – She was asked the way to Lucknow by the little boy. or The way to Lucknow was asked her by the little boy.

( e ) Active voice – The teacher refused your admittance.

Passive voice – Your admittance was refused by the teacher.

Also, dive into the article about the proper and common noun examples.

3. Future Indefinite/Simple Future –

Active voice formula Subject + will/shall + v1 + objectPassive voice formulaObject + will/shall + be + v3 + by + subject

For example –

( a ) Active voice – He will pass the exam.

Passive voice – The exam will be passed by him.

( b ) Active voice – The commander will respect the order.

Passive voice – The order will be respected by the commander.

( c ) Active voice – My mother will look after me very well.

Passive voice – I shall be looked after very well by my mother.

( d ) Active voice – The father will carry my luggage.

Passive voice – My luggage will be carried by the father.

( e ) Active voice – The bank will sanction the loan.

Passive voice – The loan will be sanctioned by the bank.

Learn, how to use articles ( a, an & the ).

4. Modal –

Active voice formula Subject + modal + v1 + objectPassive voice formulaObject + modal + be + v3 + by + subject

For example –

( a ) Active voice – You should follow the traffic rules.

Passive voice – The traffic rules should be followed by you.

( b ) Active voice – The people must help the poor.

Passive voice – The poor must be helped by the people.

( c ) Active voice – I can give him remuneration.

Passive voice – He can be given remuneration by me. or Remuneration can be given him by me.

( d ) Active voice – The train might leave the station.

Passive voice – The station might be left by the train.

( e ) Active voice – The bus manager could not provide the facilities.

Passive voice – The facilities could not be provided by the bus manager.

Read also, what is a preposition with examples ?

Active and Passive Voice Rules of Continuous Sentences –

1. Present Continuous –

Active voice formula Subject + is/are/am + v1 + ing + object.Passive voice formulaObject + is/are/am + being + v3 + by + subject.

For example –

( a ) Active voice – Karan is playing Hockey.

Passive voice – Hockey is being played by Karan.

( b ) Active voice – The council is looking into the matter.

Passive voice – The matter is being looked into by the council.

( c ) Active voice – We are laughing at her silly things.

Passive voice – Her silly things are being laughed at by us.

( d ) Active voice – I am not taking this injury very seriously.

Passive voice – This injury is not being taken very seriously by me.

( e ) Active voice – The police are presenting the accused before the court.

Passive voice – The accused is being presented before the court by the police.

2. Past Continuous –

Active voice formula Subject + was/were + v1 + ing + object.Passive voice formulaObject + was/were + being + v3 + by + subject.

For example –

( a ) Active voice – A senior officer was investigating that case.

Passive voice – That case was being investigated by a senior officer.

( b ) Active voice – He was hitting the nail on the head.

Passive voice – The nail was being hit on the head by him.

( c ) Active voice – She was not accepting your proposal.

Passive voice – Your proposal was not being accepted by her.

( d ) Active voice – The men were digging a hole on the beach.

Passive voice – A hole was being dug on the beach by the men.

( e ) Active voice – The chairman of the board was disconnecting my phone.

Passive voice – My phone was being disconnected by the chairman of the board.

3. Future Continuous –

Active voice formula Subject + will/shall + be + v1 + ing + objectPassive voice formulaIt cannot be changed into passive voice.

4. Modal Continuous –

Active voice formula Subject + modal + be + v1 + ing + object.Passive voice formulaIt also cannot be changed into passive voice.

Active and Passive Voice Rules of Perfect Sentences –

1. Present Perfect –

Active voice formula Subject + has/have + v3 + object.Passive voice formulaObject + has/have + been + v3 + by + subject.

For example –

( a ) Active voice – The incident has broken me.

Passive voice – I have been broken by the incident.

( b ) Active voice – Ravi’s family has invited them to the inauguration.

Passive voice – They have been invited to the inauguration by Ravi’s family.

( c ) Active voice – We have studied Grammar very well.

Passive voice – Grammar has been studied very well by us.

( d ) Active voice – The result has surprised me a lot.

Passive voice – I have been surprised a lot by the result.

( e ) Active voice – The government has not allowed children to drive.

Passive voice – Children have not been allowed to drive by the government.

2. Past Perfect –

Active voice formula Subject + had + v3 + object.Passive voice formulaObject + had + been + v3 + by + subject.

For example –

( a ) Active voice – We had not heard that song before.

Passive voice – That song had not been heard before by us.

( b ) Active voice – They had seen a big lion.

Passive voice – A big lion had been seen by them.

( c ) Active voice – An anarchist had disturbed the mob.

Passive voice – The mob had been disturbed by an anarchist.

( d ) Active voice – He had given me an invitation.

Passive voice – I had been given an invitation by him. or an Invitation had been given me by him.

( e ) Active voice – My family had recognized me

Passive voice – I had been recognized by my family.

3. Future Perfect –

Active voice formula Subject + will /shall + have + v3 + object.Passive voice formulaObject + will/shall + have + been + v3 + by + subject.

For example –

( a ) Active voice – Sonam will have married Varun.

Passive voice – Varun will have been married Sonam.

( b ) Active voice – My sister will have cooked delicious food.

Passive voice – Delicious food will have been cooked by my sister.

( c ) Active voice – My English teacher will have taken a moral test.

Passive voice – A moral test will have been taken by my English teacher.

( d ) Active voice – Kailash will not have saved enough money.

Passive voice – Enough money will not have been saved by Kailash.

( e ) Active voice – He will have bought a new bicycle.

Passive voice – A new bicycle will have been bought by him.

4. Modal Perfect –

Active voice formula Subject + modal + have + v3 + object.Passive voice formulaObject + modal + have + been + v3 + by + subject.

For example –

( a ) Active voice – Ramesh could have taken the flight.

Passive voice – The flight could have been taken by Ramesh.

( b ) Active voice – Your father should have told the story.

Passive voice – The story should have been told by your father.

( c ) Active voice – The doctors would have taken some precautions.

Passive voice – Some precautions would have been taken by the doctors.

Active and Passive Voice Rules of Imperative Sentences –

Active voice formula Verb + object. Passive voice formulaLet + object + be + v3. or Let + object + be + v3 + by + you.

For example –

( a ) Active voice – Shut the door.

Passive voice – Let the door be shut by you.

( b ) Active voice – Open the shop.

Passive voice – Let the shop be opened by you.

( c ) Active voice – Please write the poem.

Passive voice – You are requested to write the poem.

( d ) Active voice – Go away.

Passive voice – You are ordered to go away.

( e ) Active voice – Help the needy.

Passive voice – Let the needy be helped by you.

Active and Passive Voice Rules of Interrogative Sentences –

Since every tense has different passive voice formula for interrogative tenses, so I am giving some examples so you could understand very well.

( a ) Active voice – Do you love your parents?

Passive voice – Are your parents loved by you?

( b ) Active voice – Are they consulting the doctor?

Passive voice – Is the doctor being consulted by them?

( c ) Active voice – Have you taken your money back?

Passive voice – Has your money been taken back by you?

( d ) Active voice – Did he eat Maggie today?

Passive voice – Was Maggie eaten today by him?

( e ) Active voice – Had the cameraman filmed a video?

Passive voice – Had a video been filmed by the cameraman?

( f ) Active voice – Will the thief steal the purse?

Passive voice – Will the purse be stolen by the thief?

( g ) Active voice – Will they have helped their daughter?

Passive voice – Will their daughter have been helped by them?

Active and Passive Voice Rules of Wh type Sentences –

Here, I am also giving some examples.

( a ) Active voice – Why do you not love your pet?

Passive voice – Why is your pet not loved by you?

( b ) Active voice – Who is reading the Ramayana?

Passive voice – By whom is the Ramayana being read? or Who is the Ramayana being read by?

( c ) Active voice – When will people eat the food?

Passive voice – When will the food be eaten by people?

Change Active Voice to Passive Voice Exercises ( Practice Yourself ) –

( a ) Active voice – The anchor hosted the show.

( b ) Active voice – Karan slapped her.

( c ) Active voice – Akhilesh eats bananas.

( d ) Active voice – Rahul Vaidya does not win the match.

( e ) Active voice – Why do you beat him?

( f ) Active voice – When did he give her money?

( g ) Active voice – Does he love his mother?

( h ) Active voice – The batsman did not give a high five to a fan.

( i ) Active voice – I will drink mango juice today.

( j ) Active voice – Where will he buy an old laptop?

( k ) Active voice – Ramesh will not scold him.

( l ) Active voice – Shall I love her?

FAQs on Active and Passive Voice Examples with Answers –

1. What is active voice and examples?

Active voices are the general sentences of indefinite, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous sentences.

Examples –

1. I am giving you water.
2. He has done my work.
3. I left the house.
4. My elder sister will beat me.

2. What comes first in an active voice?

In an active voice, the subject of the sentence comes first.

3. What is the formula of active voice?

General formula – Subject+Verb+Object.

Final words –

I hope that the article must have fulfilled your needs regarding active and passive voice examples with answers.

Here, I have covered all types of active and passive voice examples with answers.

Now, I don’t think that you’ll have any problem regarding active and passive voice examples with answers.

This topic is very essential for students and teachers who are really serious about English speaking or knowledge of English.

This is why, if you want to know the rules of this chapter and usage as well, please read this article and also solve the given examples.

Eventually, if you really enjoyed the article, please share it with those who need it.

Thank you.

The passive voice is often maligned by teachers and professors as a bad writing habit. Or, to put it in the active voice, teachers and professors across the English-speaking world malign the passive voice as a bad writing habit.

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What is the passive voice?

In general, the active voice makes your writing stronger, more direct, and, you guessed it, more active. The subject something, or it the action of the verb in the sentence. With the passive voice, the subject is acted upon by some other performer of the verb. (In case you weren’t paying attention, the previous two sentences use the type of voice they describe.)

But the passive voice is not incorrect. In fact, there are times when it can come in handy. Read on to learn how to form the active and passive voices, when using the passive voice is a good idea, and how to avoid confusing it with similar forms.

The difference between active and passive voice

While is all about time references, describes whether the grammatical subject of a clause performs or receives the action of the verb.
Here’s the formula for the active voice:
[subject]+[verb (performed by the subject)]+[optional object]

Chester kicked the ball.

In a passive voice construction, the grammatical subject of the clause the action of the verb. So, the ball from the above sentence, which is the action, becomes the subject. The formula:
[subject]+[some form of the verb ]+[past participle of a transitive verb]+[optional prepositional phrase]

The ball was kicked by Chester.

That last little bit—“by Chester”—is a prepositional phrase that tells you who the performer of the action is. But even though Chester is the one doing the kicking, he’s no longer the grammatical subject. A passive voice construction can even drop him from the sentence entirely:

The ball was kicked.

How’s that for anticlimactic?

When (and when not) to use the passive voice

If you’re writing anything with a definitive subject who’s performing an action, you’ll be better off using the active voice. And if you search your document for instances of was, is, or were and your page lights up with instances of passive voice, it may be a good idea to switch to active voice.

That said, there are times when the passive voice does a better job of presenting an idea, especially in certain formal, professional, and legal discussions. Here are three common uses of the passive voice:

1
Reports of crimes or incidents with unknown perpetrators

My car was stolen yesterday.

If you knew who stole the car, it probably wouldn’t be as big a problem. The passive voice emphasizes the stolen item and the action of theft.

2
Scientific contexts

The rat was placed into a T-shaped maze.

Who places the rat into the maze? Scientists, duh. But that’s less important than the experiment they’re conducting. Therefore, passive voice.

3
When you want to emphasize an action itself and the doer of the action is irrelevant or distracting:

The president was sworn in on a cold January morning.

How many people can remember off the top of their heads who swears in presidents? Clearly the occasion of swearing in the commander in chief is the thing to emphasize here.
In each of the above contexts, the action itself—or the person or thing receiving the action—is the part that matters. That means the performer of the action can appear in a prepositional phrase or be absent from the sentence altogether.

Creative ways to use the passive voice in writing

The above examples show some formal uses of the passive voice, but some writers take advantage of the shift in emphasis it provides for other reasons. Here are moments when the passive voice is a stylistic decision that suits the author’s writing goals.
1
Avoid getting blamed
There are times when you want to get away with something without making it crystal-clear who’s at fault. The classic example:

“Mistakes were made.” —most politicians

Who made them? Is anyone taking responsibility? What’s the solution here? One political scientist dubbed this structure the “past exonerative” because it’s meant to exonerate a speaker from whatever foul they may have committed. In other words, drop the subject, get off the hook.

2
Beat around the bush

Jane Austen is a master of poking fun at her characters so euphemistically that it seems almost polite, and the passive voice is one of her favorite methods for doing that.

were carried to a point of perseverance beyond civility, they could not give offense.” —Jane Austen,

“[He] pressed them so cordially to dine at Barton Park every day till they were better settled at home that, though his entreatiesto a point of perseverance beyond civility, they could not give offense.” —Jane Austen,

Austen could have rephrased this sentence like so:

“Though Mr. Middleton carried his entreaties to a point of perseverance beyond civility, they could not give offense.”

Though maybe she means something closer to:

“Mr. Middleton pushed his invitations beyond the point of politeness and into pushiness, but he still meant well.”

In cases like this, the passive voice allows for more polite phrasing, even if it’s also a little less clear.

3
Make your reader pay more attention to the something

This is like the president getting sworn in: the thing that gets the action of the verb is more important than the people performing the action.

were evoked by historians as an emblem of the city drowned in memories.” —Gabriel García Márquez,

“That treasure lying in its bed of coral, and the corpse of the commander floating sideways on the bridge,as an emblem of the city drowned in memories.” —Gabriel García Márquez,

Here, you could invert the sentence to say “Historians evoked that treasure (and so on).” But that would take the focus away from that oh-so-intriguing treasure and the corpse. And since the historians are less important here, the author makes the choice to stress the key idea of the sentence through the passive voice.

Here’s another famous example that puts the emphasis on what happens to the subject, instead of on what the subject is doing:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” —The Declaration of Independence, 1776

“All men” (and these days, women, too) get boosted to the front of the phrase because their equality and rights are the focus. It makes sense that a statement declaring independence would focus on the people who get that independence, after all.

So writers use it. Can you?

The above examples lean toward the literary side of things, but don’t forget that there are times when the passive voice is useful and necessary in daily life. In each of the sentences below, the passive voice is natural and clear. Rewriting these sentences in the active voice renders them sterile, awkward, or syntactically contorted.
Passive: Bob Dylan was injured in a motorcycle accident.
Active: A motorcycle accident injured Bob Dylan.
Passive: Elvis is rumored to be alive.
Active: People rumor Elvis to be alive.
Passive: Don’t be fooled!
Active: Don’t allow anything to fool you!

Passive voice misuse

Sometimes what looks like passive voice isn’t passive voice at all. If you’re not careful, even the most careful eye can mistake the following sentences for passive voice.

Chester’s favorite activity is kicking.
The bank robbery took place just before closing time.
There is nothing we can do about it.
There were a great number of dead leaves covering the ground.

Despite what any well-meaning English teachers may have told you, none of the sentences above are written in the passive voice. The sentence about the leaves, in fact, was (wrongly) presented as an example of the passive voice by none other than Strunk and White in .
Here’s how to remember: using the verb doesn’t automatically put a verb phrase into the passive voice. You also need a past participle. That’s how to keep passive voice masqueraders from fooling you.

Use Grammarly to catch the passive voice

Grammarly catches instances of passive voice in your writing so you know when you need to switch it up. For example, when writing this, Grammarly pointed out that the first phrase was, in fact, written in passive voice. We ignored it, of course, for style reasons.

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The gist here:

• The passive voice isn’t a grammatical error; it’s a matter of style
• Use the active voice if it makes your sentence sound clearer and more natural
• Forming passive voice requires the verb “to be” a past participle
• The passive voice is your friend when the thing receiving an action is the important part of the sentence—especially in scientific and legal contexts, times when the performer of an action is unknown, or cases where the subject is distracting or irrelevant
• When it comes to good writing, don’t be passive—even if your sentences sometimes need to be
• Use Grammarly to help you find instances of passive voice