Mastering Active & Passive Voice rules is crucial for scoring high in the English Language section of competitive exams like SSC CGL, CHSL, Banking, CUET, and State PSCs. Direct conversion questions, sentence improvement, and error spotting frequently test these fundamental concepts. While students often rely on intuition, competitive exams intentionally design tricky options where knowing the exact structural transformation formulas guarantees marks.
Below are the essential concepts, shortcuts, and Active & Passive Voice rules with clear examples to ensure you ace your next exam.
1. What is Active and Passive Voice?
Before jumping into the rules, it helps to understand the core structural shift:
Active Voice: The subject of the sentence performs the action. (Example: “The teacher explains the grammar rule.”)
Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence receives the action. The teacher explains the grammar rule.
Hence, we apply a golden rule when converting sentences. The active object becomes the passive subject, and the verb is changed to its V3 form with to be.
2. Basic Conversion Formula
Generally, the standard formula for transforming any sentence in Active & Passive Voice is:
Object (New Subject) + Helping Verb (Tense based) + V3 (Past Participle) + “By” + Subject (New Object)
3. Tense-Wise Conversion Rules & Tables
Since examiners frequently test tense shifts, memorizing how auxiliary verbs change during Active & Passive Voice conversion is vital.
A. Simple Tenses
Simple Present: V1 / V1 + s/es → is / am / are + V3
For example:
❌ Active: He writes an application. → Passive: An application is written by him.
Simple Past: V2 → was / were + V3
Similarly, Active: He wrote an application. → Passive: An application was written by him.
Simple Future: shall / will + V1 → shall / will + be + V3
Likewise, Active: He will write an application. → Passive: An application will be written by him.
B. Continuous Tenses
Present Continuous: is / am / are + V1-ing → is / am / are + being + V3
For example, Active: They are cleaning the room. → Passive: The room is being cleaned by them.
Past Continuous: was / were + V1-ing → was / were + being + V3
Similarly, Active: They were cleaning the room. → Passive: The room was being cleaned by them.
C. Perfect Tenses
Present Perfect: has / have + V3 → has / have + been + V3
For example, Active: She has completed the project. → Passive: The project has been completed by her.
Past Perfect: had + V3 → had + been + V3
Likewise, Active: She had completed the project. → Passive: The project had been completed by her.
Future Perfect: shall / will + have + V3 → shall / will + have + been + V3
Similarly, Active: She will have completed the project. → Passive: The project will have been completed by her.
4. Modal Verbs Conversion Shortcuts
Similarly, modals (can, could, should, must, might, may, have to) follow a straightforward pattern in Active & Passive Voice questions:
Modal + V1 → Modal + be + V3
For example:
- Active: Candidates must submit their forms. → Passive: The forms must be submitted by candidates.
- Similarly, Active: You can solve this puzzle. → Passive: This puzzle can be solved by you.
5. Imperative Sentences (Commands, Advice, Requests)
When converting sentences expressing orders or advice, specific structures are required.
For Orders/Commands (“Let” Formula):
For example, Active: Open the door. → Passive: Let the door be opened.
For Advice/Suggestions:
Similarly, Active: Help the poor. → Passive: The poor should be helped.
6. Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
Questions can also trip up aspirants during exams. Therefore, the trick is to convert the interrogative sentence into a simple affirmative sentence in your head, apply the Active & Passive Voice transformation, and then put the helping verb back at the front.
Starting with “Do/Does/Did”:
For example, Active: Does he write a letter? → Passive: Is a letter written by him?
Starting with “Wh-” words (Who, What, Where, When):
Similarly, Active: Who wrote this book? → Passive: By whom was this book written?
7. Sentences with Two Objects (Direct & Indirect Objects)
When an active sentence contains both a direct object (thing) and an indirect object (person), either object can become the subject in the passive form. However, using the person is preferred.
For example:
Active: The teacher gave us (indirect) difficult homework (direct).
Passive 1: We were given difficult homework by the teacher. (Preferred)
Passive 2: Difficult homework was given to us by the teacher.
8. Verbs Followed by Fixed Prepositions Instead of “By”
Furthermore, competitive exams often test exceptions where words other than “by” follow the past participle in Active & Passive Voice.
To: known, obliged
For example, Active: Everyone knows him. → Passive: He is known to everyone.
At: surprised, shocked, alarmed, displeased
Similarly, Active: His behavior shocked me. → Passive: I was shocked at his behavior.
With: pleased, satisfied, disgusted
Likewise, Active: Her performance satisfied the judge. → Passive: The judge was satisfied with her performance.
In: interested, contained
Finally, Active: This box contains many secrets. → Passive: Many secrets are contained in this box.
Quick Revision Table for Exam Day
| Tense / Structure | Active Voice Form | Passive Voice Form |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | V1 / V1 + s/es | is / am / are + V3 |
| Simple Past | V2 | was / were + V3 |
| Present Continuous | is / am / are + V1-ing | is / am / are + being + V3 |
| Present Perfect | has / have + V3 | has / have + been + V3 |
| Modals | Modal + V1 | Modal + be + V3 |
15 Subject-Verb Agreement Rules You Should Learn Now
Authored by Suresh Kumar.
Additionally, the piece was reviewed by Nokari Editorial Team (Divyesh).
Additionally, Published: 25 October 2026.
Last Updated: 25 October 2026
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