Active Passive VoiceActive Passive Voice

Understanding the foundational shifts required to convert an active sentence into its passive equivalent.

• Subject-Object Interchange: The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence, and the active subject moves to the end, usually preceded by the preposition 'by'.
• Mandatory Third Form (V3): Regardless of the tense in the active voice, the main verb is invariably converted into its past participle (V3) form in the passive voice.
• Use of Auxiliary Verbs: A suitable form of the 'to be' verb (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) is introduced according to the tense and the number of the new subject.
• Pronoun Case Transformation: Subjective pronouns change to objective cases (I -> me, we -> us, he -> him, she -> her, they -> them, who -> whom).

Comprehensive matrix of structural conversions across all standard English tenses tested in AHC RO/ARO.

• Present Indefinite Tense: Active: Subject + V1/Vs/es + Object. Passive: Subject + is/am/are + V3 + by + Agent.
• Present Continuous Tense: Active: Subject + is/am/are + V1-ing + Object. Passive: Subject + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Agent.
• Present Perfect Tense: Active: Subject + has/have + V3 + Object. Passive: Subject + has/have + been + V3 + by + Agent.
• Past Indefinite Tense: Active: Subject + V2 + Object. Passive: Subject + was/were + V3 + by + Agent.
• Future Indefinite Tense: Active: Subject + shall/will + V1 + Object. Passive: Subject + shall/will + be + V3 + by + Agent.

Rules for converting non-standard sentences frequently targeted in competitive examinations.

• Modal Auxiliary Verbs: Structure: Subject + Modal (can, could, may, might, should, must, would) + V1 -> Passive becomes Subject + Modal + be + V3.
• Imperative Sentences (Commands/Requests): For commands starting with V1, use 'Let + object + be + V3'. Example: 'Open the door' -> 'Let the door be opened'.
• Interrogative Sentences (Wh- questions): Retain the question word at the beginning. 'Who' changes to 'By whom', and 'Whom' changes to 'Who'.
• Sentences with Infinitives: Structure: Subject + is/am/are/was/were/has/have + to + V1 + Object -> Passive becomes Object + is/am/are/was/were/has/have + to + be + V3.

High-yield examination traps involving fixed prepositions instead of 'by' and intransitive-like passive constructions.

• Fixed Prepositions with Verbs: Certain verbs take specific prepositions: 'know/oblige' take 'to', 'surprise/shock/alarm' take 'at', 'contain/interest' take 'in', 'pleased/disgusted' take 'with'.
• Quasi-Passive Verbs: Verbs like 'taste', 'smell', 'feel', 'read' active in form but passive in sense. Example: 'Honey tastes sweet' -> 'Honey is sweet when it is tasted'.
• Verbs without Objects (Intransitive): Intransitive verbs (e.g., sleep, go, die, laugh) generally do not have a passive form unless combined with an appropriate preposition forming a phrasal verb.