How to Change Sentences into the Passive Voice

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 97 views

Introduction

In English grammar, the passive voice is a way of expressing an action where the recipient of the action is emphasized rather than the doer. This is achieved by reversing the normal order of the subject and the object in a sentence. In this section, we will learn how to change sentences into the passive voice.

What is the Passive Voice?

The passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the recipient of the action (the object) becomes the subject of the sentence, while the doer of the action (the subject) becomes the object. This is in contrast to the active voice, where the doer of the action is the subject and the recipient is the object.

Examples of Passive Voice

Here are some examples of sentences in the active voice and their corresponding passive voice:

Active Voice: He usually buys the tickets.
Passive Voice: The tickets are usually bought by him.
Active Voice: The manager will hire new employees.
Passive Voice: New employees will be hired by the manager.
Active Voice: She has written three books.
Passive Voice: Three books have been written by her.

How to Change Sentences into the Passive Voice

To change a sentence into the passive voice, follow these steps:

Identify the subject and object: Determine who or what is performing the action (the subject) and who or what is receiving the action (the object).
Reverse the order: Swap the subject and object, so that the object becomes the subject and the subject becomes the object.
Use the correct form of the verb: The verb in the passive voice is usually in the past participle form (e.g., "bought," "hired," "written").
Add the agent: The agent (the doer of the action) can be added to the sentence using the preposition "by" (e.g., "by him," "by the manager," "by her").

Tips for Using the Passive Voice

Here are some tips to keep in mind when using the passive voice:

Use the passive voice to emphasize the recipient of the action: The passive voice is useful when you want to focus on the person or thing that receives the action, rather than the person or thing that performs the action.
Use the passive voice to avoid mentioning the doer: In some cases, you may not want to mention the doer of the action, such as when the doer is unknown or irrelevant. The passive voice can be used to avoid mentioning the doer.
Use the passive voice to create a more formal tone: The passive voice can create a more formal tone in writing, which can be useful in academic or professional contexts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using the passive voice:

Using the passive voice incorrectly: Make sure to use the passive voice correctly by following the steps outlined above.
Using the passive voice too much: While the passive voice can be useful in certain situations, using it too much can make your writing seem unclear or confusing.
Not using the agent: If you use the passive voice, make sure to include the agent (the doer of the action) using the preposition "by."

Conclusion

Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions about the Passive Voice

Q: What is the difference between the active and passive voice?

A: The active voice is a grammatical construction in which the doer of the action is the subject, while the passive voice is a construction in which the recipient of the action is the subject.

Q: When should I use the passive voice?

A: You should use the passive voice when you want to emphasize the recipient of the action, avoid mentioning the doer, or create a more formal tone.

Q: How do I change a sentence into the passive voice?

A: To change a sentence into the passive voice, follow these steps:

Identify the subject and object: Determine who or what is performing the action (the subject) and who or what is receiving the action (the object).
Reverse the order: Swap the subject and object, so that the object becomes the subject and the subject becomes the object.
Use the correct form of the verb: The verb in the passive voice is usually in the past participle form (e.g., "bought," "hired," "written").
Add the agent: The agent (the doer of the action) can be added to the sentence using the preposition "by" (e.g., "by him," "by the manager," "by her").

Q: What is the difference between the present, past, and past perfect tenses in the passive voice?

A: The present tense in the passive voice is used to describe actions that are happening now or are generally true (e.g., "The tickets are bought by him"). The past tense in the passive voice is used to describe actions that happened in the past (e.g., "The tickets were bought by him"). The past perfect tense in the passive voice is used to describe actions that happened before another action in the past (e.g., "The tickets had been bought by him before he left").

Q: Can I use the passive voice with all types of verbs?

A: No, you cannot use the passive voice with all types of verbs. The passive voice is typically used with transitive verbs, which are verbs that take an object (e.g., "buy," "hire," "write"). Intransitive verbs, which do not take an object (e.g., "sleep," "laugh," "cry"), cannot be used in the passive voice.

Q: How do I know when to use the passive voice with a verb?

A: To determine whether to use the passive voice with a verb, ask yourself whether the verb is transitive or intransitive. If the verb is transitive, you can use the passive voice. If the verb is intransitive, you cannot use the passive voice.

Q: Can I use the passive voice with all types of subjects?

A: No, you cannot use the passive voice with all types of subjects. The passive voice is typically used with animate subjects (e.g., people, animals), but not with inanimate subjects (e.g., objects, buildings).

Q: How do I know when to use the passive voice with a subject?

A: To determine whether to use the passive voice with a subject, ask yourself whether the subject is animate or inanimate. If the subject is animate, you can use the passive voice. If the subject is inanimate, you cannot use the passive voice.

Q: Can I use the passive voice in all types of writing?

A: No, you cannot use the passive voice in all types of writing. The passive voice is typically used in formal or technical writing, but not in informal or creative writing.

Q: How do I know when to use the passive voice in writing?

A: To determine whether to use the passive voice in writing, ask yourself whether you want to emphasize the recipient of the action, avoid mentioning the doer, or create a more formal tone. If the answer is yes, you can use the passive voice.