This simple and practical guide to understanding Active Voice and Passive Voice. These two grammatical structures are important when writing or speaking English because they change the way we present information. Don’t worry! By the end of this lesson, you’ll feel more confident using both.
Difference between Active Voice and Passive Voice
- Active Voice (AV): The subject performs the action.
Example: I ate an apple. - Passive Voice (PV): The subject receives the action.
Example: An apple was eaten by me.
In Passive Voice, we often use the structure “by + subject” to indicate who performed the action.
1. Simple Past Tense
Active Voice (AV):
Subject + Verb (V2) + Object
Passive Voice (PV):
Object + was/were + Verb (V3) + by + Subject Pronoun
Example:
- AV: I ate an apple.
- PV: An apple was eaten by me.
2. Past Continuous Tense
Active Voice (AV):
Subject + was/were + Verb-ing + Object
Passive Voice (PV):
Object + was/were + being + Verb (V3) + by + Subject Pronoun
Example:
- AV: I was eating an apple.
- PV: An apple was being eaten by me.
Also Read: 10 Kinds of Pronouns With Examples
3. Past Perfect Tense
Active Voice (AV):
Subject + had + Verb (V3) + Object
Passive Voice (PV):
Object + had + been + Verb (V3) + by + Subject Pronoun
Example:
- AV: I had eaten an apple.
- PV: An apple had been eaten by me.
4. Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Active Voice (AV):
Subject + had + been + Verb-ing + Object
Passive Voice (PV):
Object + had + been + being + Verb (V3) + by + Subject Pronoun
Example:
- AV: I had been eating an apple.
- PV: An apple had been being eaten by me.
Also Read: Basic Grammar Lesson for Beginners
5. Future in the Past
Active Voice (AV):
Subject + would + Verb (V1) + Object
Passive Voice (PV):
Object + would + be + Verb (V3) + by + Subject Pronoun
Example:
- AV: I would eat an apple.
- PV: An apple would be eaten by me.
Key Takeaways: Active vs. Passive Voice
- Active Voice is more direct and commonly used.
- Passive Voice is useful when you want to emphasize the object or the action rather than the subject.
- Pay attention to verb forms when switching between Active and Passive Voice!
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