VOICE

English Grammar Mind Map · SSC / BPSC / BSSC

Kinds of Voice
  • Active Voice / Active Verb
  • Passive Voice / Passive Verb
  • Aditi writes a letter. (Active Voice)
  • A letter is written by Aditi. (Passive Voice)
Active vs Passive — Definitions

Active Voice

If the subject of the verb DOES an action, the verb is Active.

Aditi writes a letter.

Passive Voice

If the subject of the verb RECEIVES an action, the verb is Passive.

A letter is written by Aditi.

Be forms used in passive: is / am / are / was / were / be / been / being
Structure for changing Active to Passive
Active: Sub + Verb + Obj
Passive: Sub + be + V3 + by + Obj
Transitive vs Intransitive Verbs
⚠ EXAM TRAP We CANNOT make Passive Voice of an Intransitive Verb. Only Transitive verbs (which take an object) can be converted to passive.

Transitive

An object is used after a Transitive Verb. Test: V + What/Whom = Object

He wants toys. (V + what = toys)
I adore her. (V + whom = her)

Intransitive

An object is NOT used after an Intransitive Verb.

I am going to Shimla. (Prepositional obj, not direct obj)
He walks fast. (adverb, not object)

She has come to the office. — Intransitive Verb (no direct object)

Linking Verbs — No Passive Voice

The juice tastes delicious. — (n) juice, L.V. tastes, S.C.(Adj) delicious

⚠ EXAM TRAP We CANNOT make Passive Voice of Linking Verbs: Be, Become, Remain, Taste, Smell, Seem, Appear, etc. — because a Subject Complement (not an object) is used after linking verbs.
Subject = Subject Complement  ·  Subject ≠ Object
  • The juice tastes delicious.
  • He is handsome.
  • She looks stunning.
SentenceStructure
He became a musician.Sub = Sub Complement (Linking Verb — cannot passivize)
He married a musician.Sub ≠ Obj (Transitive Verb — CAN passivize: A musician was married by him)
⚡ QUICK RECALL Test: if the word after the verb renames/describes the subject itself (Subject = Complement), it's a linking verb — no passive possible. If it's a separate entity receiving the action (Subject ≠ Object), it's transitive — passive is possible.
Pronoun Reference Table
PersonNumberSubjectObjectPossessive Adj.Possessive Pronoun
1stSingularIMeMyMine
PluralWeUsOurOurs
2ndSingularYouYouYourYours
PluralYouYouYourYours
3rdSingularHeHimHisHis
SingularSheHerHerHers
SingularItItIts—
PluralTheyThemTheirTheirs
Master Tense Conversion Table — Active to Passive
Note: When changing Active Voice into Passive Voice, TENSES DON'T get changed.
Active VoicePassive Voice
V1 + e/esis / am / are + V3
is/am/are + V1+ingis/am/are + being + V3
has/have + V3has/have + been + V3
has/have + been + V1+inghas/have + been + being + V3
V2was/were + V3
was/were + V1+ingwas/were + being + V3
had + V3had been + V3
had been + V1+inghad been + being + V3
will/shall + V1will/shall + be + V3
will/shall + be + V1+ingNo Passive
will/shall + have + V3will/shall + have + been + V3
Modal + V1Modal + be + V3
⚠ EXAM TRAP Future Continuous Tense (will/shall + be + V1+ing) has NO passive form — this is the only tense row in the table with no passive equivalent.
Assertive Sentences — Full Tense Practice
ActivePassive
People love cricket.Cricket is loved by people.
Aditi is writing a letter.A letter is being written by Aditi.
He has brought the vegetables.The vegetables have been brought by him.
You have been playing football since morning.Football has been being played by you since morning.
She stole my heart.My heart was stolen by her.
The family was cooking a meal.A meal was being cooked by the family.
He has composed a song.A song has been composed by him.
Swiggy will deliver the groceries.The groceries will be delivered by Swiggy.
She will have studied the course.The course will have been studied by her.
They must complete the task.The task must be completed by them.
Kinds of Interrogative Sentences
  • Yes/No Questions
  • Wh-Questions
Yes/No Questions — Structure by Tense
1. Do/Does + Sub + V1 + Obj? (Active)  →  Is/Am/Are + Sub + V3 + by Obj? (Passive)
  • Does he cook a meal? → Is a meal cooked by him?
  • Do you watch a movie? → Is a movie watched by you?
  • Do you watch movies? → Are movies watched by you?
2. Is/Am/Are/Was/Were + Sub + V1+ing + Obj? (Active)  →  Is/Am/Are/Was/Were + Obj + being + V3 + by Sub? (Passive)
  • Am I catching the thief? → Is the thief being caught by me?
  • Was he beating me? → Was I being beaten by him?
  • Was she drinking juice? → Was juice being drunk by her?
3. Had/Has/Have + Sub + V3 + Obj? (Active)  →  Had/Has/Have + Obj + been + V3 + by Sub? (Passive)
  • Has she taught a class? → Has a class been taught by her?
  • Has she joined an NGO? → Has an NGO been joined by her?
  • Have they collected the money? → Has the money been collected by them?
4. Did + Sub + V1 + Obj? (Active)  →  Was/Were + Obj + V3 + by Sub? (Passive)
  • Did she beat you? → Were you beaten by her?
  • Did he trouble you? → Were you troubled by him?
  • Did they abuse you? → Were you abused by them?
5. Modal + Sub + V1 + Obj? (Active)  →  Modal + Obj + be + V3 + by Sub? (Passive)
  • Can he manage the office? → Can the office be managed by him?
  • Should she eat pineapples? → Should the pineapples be eaten by her?
  • May I get an estimate? → May an estimate be got by me?
Wh-Questions — Basic Rule
When making passive of Wh-questions, the Wh-word is written AS IS, and the rest of the sentence changes according to the Yes/No question rules above.
  • Why have you borrowed the money? → Why has the money been borrowed by you?
  • When will you read my book? → When will my book be read by you?
  • When do you water the plant? → When is the plant watered by you?
  • Why are you breaking the chair? → Why is the chair being broken by you?
Who-Questions (Who as Subject)
Active: Who + V + Obj?  →  Passive: By whom + H.V + Sub(be) + V3 = Who + H.V + Sub(be) + V3 + by?
  • Who discovered Gravity? → By whom was Gravity discovered?
  • Who has discovered Gravity? → By whom has Gravity been discovered?
  • Who cut this blooming tree? → By whom was this blooming tree cut?
  • Who asked that question? → By whom was that question asked?
  • Who can decode this puzzle? → By whom can this puzzle be decoded?
  • Who will feed him? → By whom will he be fed?
Whom-Questions (Whom as Object)
Active: Whom + H.V + Sub + M.V?  →  Passive: Who + H.V + (Be) + V3 + by Obj?
  • Whom did he beat? → Who was/were beaten by you?
  • Whom has he beaten? → Who has/have been beaten by him?
  • Whom did she love? → Who was/were loved by her?
  • Whom has he tricked? → Who has/have been tricked by him?
⚠ EXAM TRAP The object in the active sentence (e.g. "he" in "Whom did he beat?") becomes the "by" agent in the passive — so the pronoun changes accordingly (he → by him, not "by you"). Watch subject-object pronoun conversion carefully across the transformation.
Imperative Sentence — Overview
Imperative Sentence = Order / Advise / Request
Structure: V1 / Do / Do not / Let
  • Work hard.
  • Do not go there.
  • Let me talk.
Order — Two Passive Forms
With ObjectWithout Object
ActiveV1 + ObjV1
Passive-1Let + Sub + be + V3You are ordered to + V1
Passive-2You are ordered to + V1—
With ObjectWithout Object
ActiveShut the door.Work hard.
Passive-1Let the door be shut.You are ordered to work hard.
Passive-2You are ordered to shut the door.—
  • Switch off the lights. → Let the lights be switched off. / You are ordered to switch off the lights.
  • Do not go there. → You are ordered not to go there.
Advise — Two Passive Forms
With ObjectWithout Object
ActiveV1 + ObjV1
Passive-1Sub + should be + V3You are advised to + V1
Passive-2You are advised to + V1—
  • Help the needy woman. → The needy woman should be helped. / You are advised to help the needy woman.
  • Get up early. → You are advised to get up early.
  • Always obey the elders. → The elders should always be obeyed.
  • Know your limitations. → Your limitations should be known.
  • Complete the assignment. → Let the assignment be completed.
Request
Passive: You are requested to + V1  (Please or Kindly)
  • Please give me some money. → You are requested to give me some money.
  • Please hold the bag. → You are requested to hold the bag.
  • Bring a cup of coffee. → Let a cup of coffee be brought. / You are ordered to bring a cup of coffee.
Infinitive Structures ("is to" / "has to")
Active: Sub + is/am/are + to + V1 + Obj  →  Passive: Sub + is/am/are + to + be + V3 + by Obj
  • He is to write a book. → A book is to be written by him.
  • I am to buy some groceries. → Some groceries are to be bought by me.
  • The government is to take some strict actions against the conspirators. → Some strict actions against the conspirators are to be taken by the government.
  • The judge is to pronounce the verdict. → The verdict is to be pronounced.
Active: Sub + has/have + to + V1 + Obj  →  Passive: Sub + has/have + to + be + V3 + by Obj
  • He has to write a book. → A book has to be written by him.
  • I have to buy some groceries. → Some groceries have to be bought by me.
  • He has to visit all his relatives. → All his relatives have to be visited by him.
  • You have to buy the smartwatch. → The smartwatch has to be bought by you.
Words NOT Used in Passive Voice
These words are not used in Passive Voice: Police, Public, People, Judge, Everyone, Someone, No one, Anyone
  • The Police are to catch the thieves. → The thieves are to be caught. (agent dropped)
  • People organise parties here. → Parties are organised here.
  • Somebody has picked my pocket. → My pocket has been picked.
⚡ QUICK RECALL When the active subject is one of these generic/impersonal agents, the "by + agent" phrase is simply DROPPED in the passive rather than retained — since naming "by people," "by the police," etc. adds no information.
Passive Voice of Verbs with Double Objects
Direct Object = Reply of "what" after verb  ·  Indirect Object = Reply of "whom" after verb
Active: Sub + Verb + [Indirect Obj + Direct Obj]  OR  Sub + Verb + [Direct Obj + to/for + Indirect Obj]
ActivePassive 1 (Indirect Obj as subject)Passive 2 (Direct Obj as subject)
My brother gifted me a bicycle.I was gifted a bicycle by my brother.A bicycle was gifted to me by my brother.
She has given me only bitter memories.I have been given only bitter memories by her.Only bitter memories have been given to me by her.
Shopkeeper gave him a discount.He was given a discount by shopkeeper.A discount was given to him by shopkeeper.
⚡ QUICK RECALL Verbs with double objects (give, gift, tell, teach, etc.) can form TWO valid passive versions — either object can become the new subject. Both are grammatically correct.
Passive Voice of Verbs with Fixed Prepositions

+ to

Known, Addicted, Accustomed

+ at

Surprised, Amazed, Astonished, Startled, Vexed

+ in

Contained, Including, Interested, Disinterested, Engulfed

+ with

Pleased, Satisfied, Decorated, Filled, Annoyed

ActivePassive
The magician amazes the children.The children are amazed at the magician.
I annoy her.She is annoyed with me.
She surprised me.I was surprised at her.
Their nonchalance vexed me.I was vexed at their nonchalance.
The flood engulfed many houses.Many houses were engulfed in the flood.
⚠ EXAM TRAP These fixed prepositions are NOT "by" — passive of these specific adjectival-participle verbs takes their own dedicated preposition (at/with/in/to), which must be memorized individually since they don't follow the general "by + agent" pattern.
Type 1 — Let + Object + V1
Active: Let + Obj + V1
Passive-1: Sub + may be allowed to + V1
Passive-2: It is suggested that + Sub + should + V1
  • Let me sing. → I may be allowed to sing.
  • Let him play. → He may be allowed to play. / It is suggested that he should play.
  • Let us dance. → We may be allowed to dance. / It is suggested that we should dance.
Type 2 — Let + Object1 + V1 + Object2
Active: Let + Obj1 + V1 + Obj2
Passive: Let + Obj2 + be + V3 + by Obj1
  • Let her cook the meal. → Let the meal be cooked by her.
  • Let her bring a glass of water. → Let a glass of water be brought by her.
  • Let him buy toys. → Let toys be bought by him.
Concept 1 — "There is/are... to + V1"
Active: There + is/am/are/was/were + noun + to + V1
Passive: There + is/am/are/was/were + noun + to be + V3
  • There are some groceries to buy. → There are some groceries to be bought.
  • There is no question to ask. → There is no question to be asked.
  • There are chores to do. → There are chores to be done.
Concept 2 — Bid/Make/See/Watch/Hear/Notice/Help (Bare Infinitive)
Active: Sub + Verb + Obj + V1 (bare infinitive)
Passive: Sub + be + V3 + to V1 + by Obj
  • He saw me sleep. → I was seen to sleep by him.
  • She made him laugh. → He was made to laugh by her.
  • I have noticed her steal some money. → She has been noticed to steal some money by me.
  • She saw me eat momos. → I was seen to eat momos by her.
  • We noticed him loaf around. → He was noticed to loaf around by us.
  • I saw him ride bicycle. → He was seen to ride bicycle by me.
⚠ EXAM TRAP — Exception with "Let" If "Let" replaces the main verb (bid/make/see/etc.), the bare infinitive is kept AS IS in the passive — "to" is NOT added.
Active: Sub + Verb + Obj + V1 (bare infinitive)
Passive (with Let): Subject + be + V3 + V1 (no "to") + by Object
  • They let me play. → I was let play by them. (NOT "let to play")
  • She let me speak. → I was let speak by her.
  • He let me work. → I was let work by him.
Concept 3 — Verb + Object + Complement
Active: Sub + Verb + Obj + Complement
Passive: Sub + be + V3 + Complement + by Obj
  • We made him stay. → He was made stay by us.
  • They elected him captain. → He was elected captain by them.
  • The committee appointed him chairman. → He was appointed chairman by the committee.
Concept 4 — Phrasal Verbs (Verb + Preposition)
Active: Sub + Phrasal Verb (Verb + Prepo) + Object
  • The dogs fell upon me. → I was fallen upon by the dogs.
  • I will bear out your testimony. → Your testimony will be borne out by me.
  • He can bring forth his case. → His case can be brought forth by him.
  • The company is laying off employees. → Employees are being laid off by the company.
  • He was looking for his wallet. → His wallet was being looked for by him.
⚡ QUICK RECALL In phrasal verb passives, the entire verb+preposition combination (fall upon, bear out, bring forth, lay off, look for) moves together as one unit — the preposition stays attached to the verb, not to the object.
Concept 5 — Advise/Request/Order/Ask/Tell/Warn/Command/Allow + to V1
Active: Sub + Verb + Obj + to V1 (Verb list: advise, request, order, ask, tell, warn, command, allow)
Passive: Sub + be + V3 + to V1 + by Obj
  • She advised me to prepare for UPSC. → I was advised to prepare for UPSC by her.
  • My mother warned me not to play outside. → I was warned not to play outside by my mother.
  • My father ordered me to bring him a glass of water. → I was ordered to bring him a glass of water by my father.
  • My brother advised me to learn time management. → I was advised to learn time management by my brother.
Concept 6 — Feel/Taste + Adjective
Active: Sub + feel/taste + Adjective
Passive: Sub + is/am/are/was/were + adjective + when + felt/tasted
  • The samosa tastes spicy. → The samosa is spicy when tasted.
  • The velvet feels smooth. → The velvet is smooth when felt.
Concept 7 — Say/Believe/Think/Know/Report/Consider/Claim + That-clause
Active: Subject + say/believe/think/know/report/consider/claim + that + clause
Passive-1: It + be V3 + that + clause
Passive-2: That + clause + be V3 + by object
Passive-3: Subject + be + V3 + to V1
  • People believe that government is judicious. → It is believed that government is judicious. / That government is judicious is believed by people. / Government is believed to be judicious.
  • We believe that Sachin Tendulkar is the best. → It is believed that Sachin Tendulkar is the best. / That Sachin Tendulkar is the best is believed by us. / Sachin Tendulkar is believed to be the best.
  • They think that the children are mischievous. → It is thought that the children are mischievous. / That the children are mischievous is thought by them. / The children are thought to be mischievous.
Concept 8 — "It is time to..."
Active: It + is/am/are/was/were + time + to V1 + object
Passive: It + is/am/are/was/were + time + for + object + to be V3
  • It is time to feed kids now. → It is time for the kids to be fed.
  • It is time to reward him. → It is time for him to be rewarded.
  • It is time to learn the guitar. → It is time for the guitar to be learned.
  • It is time to leave the company. → It is time for the company to be left.
Concept 9 — "It is your duty to..."
Active: It is your/my/his... duty + to V1
Passive: You/I/He + is/am/are + supposed + to V1
  • It is your duty to meet the obligation now. → You are supposed to meet the obligation now.
  • It is our duty to give back to the society. → We are supposed to give back to the society.
Master Table — Complete Chapter Revision
TopicKey Rule / Fact
Kinds of VoiceActive (subject does action), Passive (subject receives action)
Basic structureActive: Sub+Verb+Obj → Passive: Sub+be+V3+by Obj
Intransitive VerbsNo passive possible (no object to become new subject)
Linking VerbsBe/Become/Remain/Taste/Smell/Seem/Appear — no passive (Subject=Complement, not Object)
Tense preservationTenses never change when converting Active→Passive
Future ContinuousNo passive form exists for will/shall+be+V1+ing
Yes/No Question passivesDifferent HV pattern for each tense: Do/Does→Is/Am/Are; Did→Was/Were; Has/Have→Has/Have+been; Modal→Modal+be
Wh-Question passivesWh-word stays as-is; rest follows Yes/No question passive rule
Who-question passiveWho+V+Obj? → By whom+HV+Sub(be)+V3?
Whom-question passiveWhom+HV+Sub+MV? → Who+HV+(be)+V3+by Obj?
Imperative — OrderLet+Sub+be+V3 OR You are ordered to+V1
Imperative — AdviseSub+should be+V3 OR You are advised to+V1
Imperative — RequestYou are requested to+V1
Infinitive "is to"Sub+is/am/are+to+V1+Obj → Sub+is/am/are+to+be+V3+by Obj
Infinitive "has to"Sub+has/have+to+V1+Obj → Sub+has/have+to+be+V3+by Obj
No-passive agent wordsPolice, Public, People, Judge, Everyone, Someone, No one, Anyone — "by" agent dropped in passive
Double object verbs2 valid passives — either Direct or Indirect object can become subject
Fixed preposition passivesknown/addicted/accustomed→to; surprised/amazed/astonished/startled/vexed→at; contained/interested/engulfed→in; pleased/satisfied/decorated/filled/annoyed→with (NOT "by")
"Let" Type 1Let+Obj+V1 → Sub+may be allowed to+V1 / It is suggested that+Sub+should+V1
"Let" Type 2Let+Obj1+V1+Obj2 → Let+Obj2+be+V3+by Obj1
Concept 1 — There is/are...toThere+is/are+noun+to+V1 → There+is/are+noun+to be+V3
Concept 2 — Bid/Make/See/Watch/Hear/Notice/HelpBare infinitive V1 → passive adds "to": be+V3+to V1+by Obj
Concept 2 exception — LetIf "Let" is the main verb, bare infinitive stays AS IS (no "to" added) in passive
Concept 3 — Verb+Obj+ComplementSub+be+V3+Complement+by Obj (make/elect/appoint type verbs)
Concept 4 — Phrasal verbsVerb+preposition moves together as one unit in passive
Concept 5 — Advise/Request/Order/Ask/Tell/Warn/Command/Allow+to V1Sub+be+V3+to V1+by Obj
Concept 6 — Feel/Taste+AdjectiveSub+is/was+adjective+when+felt/tasted
Concept 7 — Say/Believe/Think/Know/Report/Consider/Claim+that3 valid passives: It+be V3+that+clause / That+clause+be V3+by obj / Subject+be+V3+to V1
Concept 8 — "It is time to..."It is time+for+object+to be V3
Concept 9 — "It is [X]'s duty to..."Subject+is/am/are+supposed+to V1