Voice refers to the form or format of a verb that indicates whether the subject of a sentence is performing the action (active voice) or receiving the action (passive voice).
There are two main voices: active voice and passive voice.
Active Voice
In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. The structure of a sentence in active voice is usually Subject-Verb-Object (SVO).
For example: The scientists (subject) conducted (verb) the confidential experiment (object).
Passive Voice
In the passive voice, the subject receives the action. The emphasis is on what or who is affected by the action. The structure of a sentence in passive voice is typically Object-Verb-Subject (OVS) or Object-Verb (OV).
For example, The confidential experiment (object) was conducted (verb) by the scientists (subject).
The table below explains how to change verbs from active voice to passive voice:
Active Voice |
Passive Voice |
Subject (Doer) + Verb + Object (Receiver) |
Object (Receiver) + to be (am/is/are/was/were) + Verb + by Subject (Doer) |
Simple Present: The chef cooks the meal. |
The meal is cooked by the chef. |
Simple Past: The students completed the assignment. |
The assignment was completed by the students. |
Simple Future: The company will launch a new product. |
A new product will be launched by the company. |
Present Continuous: The team is designing a website. |
A website is being designed by the team. |
Past Continuous: The workers were constructing the building. |
The building was being constructed by the workers. |
Future Continuous: The gardener will be planting flowers. |
Flowers will be planted by the gardener. |
Present Perfect: She has written a book. |
A book has been written by her. |
Past Perfect: They had already finished the project. |
The project had already been finished by them. |
Future Perfect: The team will have completed the task. |
The task will have been completed by the team. |
Present Perfect Continuous: He has been painting the fence. |
The fence has been being painted by him. |
Past Perfect Continuous: They had been working on the project. |
The project had been being worked on by them. |
Future Perfect Continuous: She will have been studying for five hours. |
Studying will have been being done by her for five hours. |
1. Active: The teacher teaches the students grammar.
Passive: Grammar is taught to the students by the teacher.
2. Active: The gardener planted beautiful flowers in the garden.
Passive: Beautiful flowers were planted in the garden by the gardener.
3. Active: The scientist discovered a new species of butterflies.
Passive: A new species of butterflies was discovered by the scientist.
4. Active: The artist painted a stunning masterpiece.
Passive: A stunning masterpiece was painted by the artist.
5. Active: The mechanic fixed the car's engine.
Passive: The car's engine was fixed by the mechanic.
6. Active: The company will launch a new product next month.
Passive: A new product will be launched by the company next month.
7. Active: The students are studying for the upcoming exam.
Passive: The upcoming exam is being studied for by the students.
8. Active: The architect designed a modern skyscraper.
Passive: A modern skyscraper was designed by the architect.
9. Active: The doctor prescribed medicine for the patient.
Passive: Medicine was prescribed for the patient by the doctor.
10. Active: The singer performed a soulful song at the concert.
Passive: A soulful song was performed at the concert by the singer.
Narration refers to the way the words of a speaker are reported. They can be reported in two ways:
Direct speech involves quoting the exact words spoken by a person. In direct speech, the original speaker's words are enclosed in quotation marks.
For example, He said, "I am leaving for the Oxford University soon."
Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, involves reporting what someone else has said without quoting their exact words. The structure of the sentence is changed, and often the verb tense may also change, however, the meaning should remain the same.
For example, He said that he was leaving for the Oxford University soon.
This table shows the rules for changing the pronouns, verb tenses and sometimes the time expressions:
Direct Speech |
Indirect Speech |
Present Simple Tense |
Change verb tense to past |
"I am happy," said Tom. (Direct) |
Tom said that he was happy. (Indirect) |
Present Continuous Tense |
Change verb tense to past and adjust pronouns and time expressions |
"I am reading a book," she said. |
She said that she was reading a book. |
Present Perfect Tense |
Change "have" to "had" and adjust pronouns and time expressions |
"I have visited that museum," said John |
John said that he had visited that museum. |
Past Simple Tense |
No change |
"I played football," said Sam. |
Sam said that he played football. |
Past Continuous Tense |
Change verb tense to past and adjust pronouns and time expressions |
"I was cooking dinner," she said. |
She said that she was cooking dinner. |
Past Perfect Tense |
Change "had" to "had been" and adjust pronouns and time expressions |
"I had finished my homework," said Lily. |
Lily said that she had finished her homework. |
Future Simple Tense |
Change verb tense to would + base form |
"I will help you," said Sarah. |
Sarah said that she would help me. |
Modal Verbs (can, must, etc.) |
Change the modal verb to its past form (could, must) |
"I can swim," said Alex. |
Alex said that he could swim. |
Imperative Sentences |
Use the infinitive form of the verb |
"Close the door," she said. |
She asked me to close the door. |
Reporting Verbs |
Use appropriate reporting verbs |
"I don't like pizza," said Jane. |
Jane admitted that she didn't like pizza. |
1. Indirect Speech: Mary said, "I will attend the meeting tonight."
Direct Speech: Mary said that she would attend the meeting that night.
2. Indirect Speech: The teacher exclaimed, "What an excellent performance by the students!"
Direct Speech: The teacher exclaimed with admiration that the students had performed excellently.
3. Indirect Speech: "Don't forget to submit your assignments on time," warned the professor.
Direct Speech: The professor warned the students not to forget to submit their assignments on time.
4. Indirect Speech: "I have never been to Paris before," admitted Tom.
Direct Speech: Tom admitted that he had never been to Paris before.
5. Indirect Speech: "We are going to the beach this weekend," announced my sister.
Direct Speech: My sister announced that they were going to the beach that weekend.
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