Active voice and passive voice


Tamilnadu Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Grammar Active And Passive Voice

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There are two ways of expressing an action by using a transitive verb.

Read the following sentences:


Magesh killed a rat.

A rat was killed by Magesh..

TamilNadu stateboard Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Grammar Active And Passive Voice


These two sentences have the same meaning. These are simply two different ways of saying the same thing. There is, however, a shift in stress on the agent and also a change in the form of verb. In sentence (i), the subject ‘Magesh ‘ is the ‘doer of the action. It acts or is active. So the verb ‘killed’ is in active voice.


In sentence (ii), the subject ‘A rat’ is the ‘receiver’ of action. It suffers the action done by someone else (Magesh, in this case). It is acted upon. So the verb ‘was killed’ is in passive voice.



 A. Rewrite the following sentences using passive voice:

1. This mango tastes sweet.

  • This mango is sweet when tasted.


2. The rose smells sweet.

  • The rose is sweet when smelt.


3. Grass grows over the fields.

  • The fields are overgrown with grass.


4. It is time to ring the bell.

  • It is time for the bell to be rung.


5. This bottle contains milk.

  • Milk is contained in this bottle.


6. One must do one’s duty.

  • Duty must be done.


7. Your shirt needs washing.

  • Your shirt needs to be washed.


8. She accused him of theft.

  • He was accused of theft by her.


9. She might win the match.

  • The match might be won by her.


10. How will you cross the river?

  • How will the river be crossed by you?


Tamilnadu stateboard Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Grammar Active And Passive Voice


11. When did you write the letter?

  • When was the letter written by you?


12. Have you taught the boy?

  • Has the boy been taught by you?


13. Why did she beat the servant?

  • Why was the servant beaten by her?


14. Where will you spend your holidays?

  • Where will your holidays be spent by you?


15. Light the lamp.

  • Let the lamp be lighted.


16. People harvest water during the rainy season.

  • Water is harvested by people during the rainy season.


17. Rekha has forgotten the answer to the first question. She is answering the last question now.

  • The answer to the first question has been forgotten by Rekha. Now, the last question is being answered by her.


18. He does not obey his teachers.

  • His teachers are not obeyed by him.


19. I shall help him.

  • He will be helped by me.


20. You will not disturb me.

  • I shall not be disturbed by you.


B. Rewrite the following sentences using active voice:

I. By whom are you taught Physics?

  • Who teaches you Physics?


2. What was bought by her?

  • What did she buy?


Tamilnadu stateboard Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Grammar Active And Passive Voice


3. By whom will the bill be paid?

  • Who will pay the bill?


4. A letter was being written by him.

  • He was writing a letter.


5. My work was not being done by me.

  • I was not doing my work.


6. Was hockey being played by the children?

  • Were the children playing hockey?


7. The food had already been cooked by her.

  • She had already cooked the food.


8. By whose team had the match been won?

  • Whose team had won the match?


9. You are requested to post this letter.

  • Please post this letter.


10. You are advised to work hard.

  • Work hard.


11. Was the window broken by him?

  • Did he break the window?


12. What is wanted by you?

  • What do you want?


13. The match might be won by her.

  • She might win the match.


14. My proposal was objected to by her.

  • She objected to my proposal


15. His request was acceded to by us.

  • We acceded to his request.


16. It is said that he is a rich man.

  • People say that he is a rich man.


17. I am surprised at your behavior.

  • Your behavior surprises me.


Tamilnadu stateboard Samacheer Kalvi 10th English Grammar Active And Passive Voice


18. Milk is contained in this bottle.

  • This bottle contains milk.


19. Is French spoken by them?

  • Do they speak French?


20. From where was this pen bought by you?

  • Where did you buy this pen from?