Verbs in Active and Passive Voice

What is Active and Passive Voice?

Active Voice

• The subject performs the action of the verb.
• Example: The striker scored a goal.
  • Subject: The striker
  • Verb: Scored
  • Object: A goal

Passive Voice

• The subject receives the action of the verb.
• Example: The goal was scored by the striker.
  • Subject: The goal
  • Verb: Was scored
  • (Optional) Doer: By the striker
• In passive voice, the doer of the action can be left out:
  • The goal was scored.

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Steps to Change Active Voice to Passive Voice

1. Identify the verb in the sentence.
2. Divide the sentence into Subject – Verb – Object.
3. Start the new sentence with the object.
4. Change the verb:

• Use the past participle of the main verb.
• Add the correct form of 'to be' or sometimes 'got' (e.g., I was stung by a bee).

Examples in Different Tenses

Tense	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Present Continuous	The striker is scoring a goal.	A goal is being scored by the striker.
Perfect Tense	The striker has scored a goal.	A goal has been scored by the striker.
Simple Future	The striker will score a goal.	A goal will be scored by the striker.

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Worked Examples

1. Changing Active to Passive Voice

Sentence: Money provides financial freedom.

✅ Answer: Financial freedom is provided by money.

Sentence: Robert is training someone every week.

✅ Answer: Someone is being trained by Robert every week.

Sentence: The 18-year-old had developed an illness causing paralysis.

✅ Answer: An illness causing paralysis had been developed by the 18-year-old.

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2. Changing Passive to Active Voice

Sentence: Graça Machel is admired greatly by the people of Mozambique.

✅ Answer: The people of Mozambique greatly admire Graça Machel.

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Exam Tips

✔ Always identify the subject, verb, and object before changing voice.

✔ Ensure the tense remains the same when converting sentences.

✔ Passive voice often sounds more formal and is used in reports or academic writing.

✔ In active voice, the subject is clearer and more direct.