Note: Future Continuous, Perfect Continuous usually not changed into Passive.
Change of Tenses Table
Tense Active Voice Passive Voice Example Rule
Example
Simple Present He reads a book. A book is read by him. is/am/are + past participle
Present A cake is being made by is/am/are + being + past
Continuous She is making a cake. her. participle
The work has been done by has/have + been + past
Present Perfect He has done the work. him. participle
Simple Past He wrote a letter. A letter was written by him. was/were + past participle
She was cleaning the The room was being was/were + being + past
Past Continuous room. cleaned by her. participle
Past Perfect He had called her. She had been called by him. had been + past participle
The job will be finished by will/shall + be + past
Simple Future He will finish the job. him. participle
He will have solved The puzzle will have been will/shall have + been +
Future Perfect the puzzle. solved by him. past participle
important Guidelines
Only transitive verbs (verbs with an object) can be changed to passive voice.
The object in active becomes the subject in passive.
The verb “to be” changes according to tense and number.
The original subject is introduced by ‘by’ (can be omitted if not important).
Active Voice Subject Passive Voice (after 'by')
I me
We us
He him
She her
They them
It it
You you
When changing to passive, the subject usually moves to the end of the sentence
preceded by 'by,' and the object comes to the front as the new subject.
Conversion in Imperative Sentences
Imperative sentences give commands, orders, advice, or requests and usually have an
implied subject “you”.
Basic Rule
For orders/commands:
Passive Structure: Let + object + be + past participle (V3)
Active: Close the door.
Passive: Let the door be closed.
For negative commands:
Passive Structure: Let + object + not + be + past participle
Active: Do not touch the glass.
Passive: Let the glass not be touched.
Requests with “Please”
Passive Structure: You are requested to + verb + object
Active: Please finish your work.
Passive: You are requested to finish your work.
Advice
Passive Structure: You are advised to + verb + object
Active: Work hard.
Passive: You are advised to work hard.
Suggestions
Passive Structure: Object + should be + past participle
Active: Follow your dreams.
Passive: Your dreams should be followed.
Other Examples
Active Sentence Passive Sentence
Wash the shirt. Let the shirt be washed.
Please help me. You are requested to help me.
Do not waste time. Let time not be wasted.
Take the medicine timely. You are advised to take the medicine timely.
Conversion in Interrogative Sentences
Interrogative sentences ask questions. The conversion rules depend on the type of
question.
Yes/No Questions
Passive Structure: Auxiliary (is/are/was/were) + object + past participle + (by subject) +
?
Active: Did he complete the work?
Passive: Was the work completed by him?
Active: Is she making a cake?
Passive: Is a cake being made by her?
Wh-Questions (Who, What, Which, etc.)
If “Who” is subject ;
Active: Who wrote this book?
Passive: By whom was this book written?
If “Who” is object:
Active: Whom did you invite?
Passive: Who was invited by you?
With “What” or “Which”:
Active: What did he eat?
Passive: What was eaten by him?
Other Examples
Active (Question) Passive (Question)
Is he singing the song? Is the song being sung by him?
Has she done her work? Has her work been done by her?
Who taught you English? By whom were you taught English?
# Always identify the object to become the new subject in passive construction.
# Use “let” for commands/orders and “you are” for requests/advice.
# For interrogative sentences, re-arrange question word order and verb forms
appropriately.
