HBSE 12th Class English Grammar Change of Voice
Haryana State Board HBSE 12th Class English Solutions Grammar Change of Voice Exercise Questions and Answers.
Haryana Board 12th Class English Grammar Change of Voice
The Passive Voice
A voice is the form of a verb which shows its connection with the subject. It shows whether the subject does something or something is done to the subject.
Kinds of Voice:
(a) Active Voice : In active voice, the verb shows that the subject does something.
(b) Passive Voice : It shows that something is done to the subject, e.g. .
Ram wrote a letter. (active voice)
A letter was written by Ram. (passive voice)
Radha sang a song. (active voice)
A song was sung by Radha. (passive voice)
General rules for changing the voice:
(a) The passive of an active tense is formed by putting the verb “to be” into the same tense as the active verb and adding the past participle (III form of the verb).
(b) The object of the verb becomes the subject.
(c) The subject of the verb in the active voice becomes the object of the verb in the passive voice and the preposition ‘by’ is placed before it.
Change of active tenses inta passine tenses:
(a) Simple Present Tense : is/am/are+III form of the verb.
Active: Radha writes a letter.
Passive: A letter is written by Radha.
(b) Present Continuous Tense : is/am/are+being+llI form.
Active: They are playing a match.
Passive: A match is being played by them.
(c) Present Perfect: has/have+been+lll form.
Active: He has written a letter.
Passive: A letter has been written by him.
(d) Simple Past Tense: was/were+III form.
Active: Radha sang a song.
Passive: A song was sung by Radha.
(e) Past Continuous : was/were+being+lll form.
Active: He was watering the plants.
Passive: Plants were being watered by him.
(f) Past Perfect: had+been+III form.
Active: He had taken the lunch.
Passive: The lunch had been taken by him.
(g) Simple Future Tense : will/shall+be+lll form.
Active: He will paint the door.
Passive: The door will be painted by him.
(h) Future Perfect: will/shall+have+been+lll form.
Active: He will have written a letter.
Passive: A letter will have been written by him.
Passive Voice of sentences with modal auxiliaries:
In such sentences, we use: modal auxiliary (would/should/can, etc.)+be+III form of the verb+by+agent (if necessary).
Active: Mohan can read this book.
Passive: This book can be read by Mohan.
Active: You must obey the elders.
Passive : The elders must be obeyed by you.
नोट-किसी tense को passive में बदलने के लिए क्या नियम लागू होते हैं। यह आगे विस्तार से समझाया गया है। विद्यार्थी tense को बदलने के सब नियमों को संक्षेप में जानने के लिए आगे दी गई Table (तालिका) का अध्ययन करें।
Change of Tense From Active to Passive Voice
| Tense | Rule | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| 1. Present Indefinite | Is/am/are + III from | Radha writes a letter. | A letter is written by Radha. |
| 2. Present Continuous | Is/am/are + being + III from | Radha is writing a letter. | A letter is being written by Radha. |
| 3. Present Perfect | Has/have + been + III from | Radha has written a letter. | A letter has been written by Radha. |
| 4. Past Indefinite | Was/were + being | Radha wrote a letter. | A letter was written by Radha. |
| 5. Past Continuous | Was/were + being + III from | Radha was writing a letter. | A letter was being written by Radha. |
| 6. Past Perfect | Had been + III form | Radha had written a letter. | A letter had been written by Radha. |
| 7. Future Indefinite | Will/shall + be + III form | Radha will write a letter. | A letter will be written by Radha. |
| 8. Future Perfect | Will/shall + have + been + III form | Radha will have written a letter. | A letter will have been written by Radha. |
Note: The sentences of Present, Past, Perfect and Future Continuous tenses and the Future Perfect
Continuous Tense cannot be changed into Passive voice.
Exercise 1
(Based on the Simple, Present, Past, and Future Tenses) –
Change the following sentences into passive voice :
1. Seeta writes a letter. [H.B.S.E. 2017 (Set-B)]
2. Please come soon. [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-A)]
3. The postman delivers the mail three times a day.
4. People play cricket all over the world. [H.B.S.E. 2020 (Set-B)]
5. A maid-servant washes my clothes four times a week.
6. It is impossible to do. [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-A)]
1. The police maintains law and order in the country.
8. Mohan sang a song at the function.
9. The thief stole a number of things. [H.B.S.E. 2020 (Set-A)]
10. They play handball. [H.B.S.E. March 2018 (Set-D)J
11. The hunter will kill a lion.
12. India will never sign this treaty.
13. In case of war, our missiles will destroy the enemy.
14. Mohan beat his younger brother yesterday.
15. He encourages me. [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-A)]
Answers:
1. A letter is written by Seeta.
2. You are requested to come soon.
3. The mail is delivered three times a day by the postman.
4. Cricket is played all over the world.
5. My clothes are washed three times a day by the maid-servant.
6. It is impossible to be done.
7. Law and order is maintained in the country by police.
8. A song was sung at the function by Mohan.
9. A number of things were stolen by the thief.
10. Handball is played by them.
11. A lion will be killed by hunter.
12. This treaty will never be signed by India.
13. In case of war, the enemy will be destroyed by our missiles.
14. His younger brother was beaten yesterday by Mohan.
15.1 am encouraged by him.
Exercise 2
(Based on the Present and Past Continuous Tenses)
Put the following sentences into passive voice :
1. The workers are building a road.
2. The farmers are reaping the harvest.
3. He is always collecting stamps.
4. Sita is writing a letter. [H.B.S.E. 2017 (Set-A)]
5. They are repairing the road.
6. They were listening to the songs.
7. The chairman was interviewing the candidates.
8. Mohan was telling the truth.
9. The gardener was watering the plants.
10. They were building it. [H.B.S.E. March 2018 (Set-A)]
11. The peon is ringing the bell.
12. He is helping the victims of the quake.
13. They were watching the match.
14. My friend is helping me in this matter.
15. A nurse is dressing his wounds. [H.B.S.E. 2017 (Set-B)]
Answers:
1. A road is being built by the workers.
2. The harvest is being reaped by the farmers.
3. Stamps are always being collected by him.
4. A letter is being written by Sita.
5. The road is being repaired by them.
6. The songs were being listened to by them.
7. The candidates were being interviewed by the chairman.
8. I was being built by them.
9. The plants were being watered by the gardener.
10. Their lunch was being taken by them.
11. The bell is being rung by the peon.
12. The victims of the quake are being helped by him.
13. The match was being watched by them.
14. I am being helped in this matter by my friend.
15. His wounds are being dressed by a nurse.
Exercise 3
(Based on the Present, Past and Future Perfect Tense)
Put the following sentences into passive voice.
1. China has made an atom bomb.
2. The police has caught the robber.
3. I have done all the work.
4. He has always helped me.
5. Mohan has spent all his money on useless things.
6. The watchman had locked the room.
7. The fire had destroyed all the huts.
8. Our forces had defeated the enemy.
9. The typist had typed four letters. [H.B.S.E. 2017 (Set-A)]
10. The doctor had cured the patient.
11. I shall have finished all the work by 7 p.m.
12. They will attend the conference.
13. By now the firemen will have controlled the fire.
14. He will have made the same mistake again.
15. He will have made a chair.
Answers:
1. An atom bomb has been made by China.
2. The robber has been caught by the police.
3. All the work has been done by me.
4. I have always been helped by him.
5. All his money has been spent on useless things by Mohan.
6. The room had been locked by the watchman.
7. All the huts had been destroyed by the fire.
8. The enemy had been defeated by our forces.
9. Four letters had been typed by the typist
10. The patient had been cured by the doctor.
1. All the work will have been finished by me by 7 p.m.
12. The conference will be attended by them.
13. By now, the fire will have been controlled by the firemen.
14. The same mistake will have been made again by him.
15. A chair will have been made by him.
Exercise 4
(Sentences with Modal Auxiliaries)
Put the following into passive voice.
1. You must finish this work.
2. I can lift this box.
3. He might have saved your life. [H.B.S.E. 2020 (Set-B)]
4. The Principal will address the students.
5. You should take an umbrella.
6. We ought to respect the elders.
7. They could not cross the river.
8. You should take exercise daily.
9. You must not steal his pencil.
10. The doctor could not save the patient.
Answers:
1. This work must be finished by you.
2. This box can be lifted by me.
3. Your life might have been saved by him.
4. The students will be addressed by Principal.
5. An umbrella should be taken by you.
6. The elders ought to be respected by us.
7. The river could not be crossed by them.
8. Exercise should be taken daily by you.
9. His pencil must not be stolen by you.
10. The patient could not be saved by the doctor.
Passive of Megative Sentences:
The passive of negative sentences is formed by putting not between the auxiliary and the III form of the verb. The other rules remain the same :
| Active | Passive |
| Lions do not eat grass | Grass is not eaten by Lions. |
| Mohan did not water the plants. | The plants were not watered by Mohan. |
| He will never help you. | You will never be helped by him. |
| She is not writing a letter. | A letter is not being written by her. |
Passive of Interrogative Sentences:
A. Questions beginning with helping verbs :
(a) If the question begins with do/does/did, the form will be is/am/are/were+sub)ect+111 form.
(b) If the question begins with the auxiliary, the passive form will be: Modal auxiliary+subject+Ae+lII form.
(c) If the question begins with has/have/had, the passive form will be: has/have/had+been+ III form.
(d) If the question is a continuous tense, the passive structure will be is/am/are/was/ were+subject+being+III form.
| Active | Passive |
| Do you drink coffee? | Is coffee drunk by you? |
| Did he write a letter? | Was a letter written by him? |
| Can you lift this box? | Can this box be lifted by you? |
| Has he done his work? | Has his work been done by him?[2018(Set-C)] |
| Is she singing a song? | Is a song being sung by her? |
B. Questions beginning with ‘wh-words’, like what, why, when, etc.
(a) The question word is retained in the beginning of the sentences. The rest of the rules are the same as in other questions.
(b) In case of question starting with ‘who’, the structure is By+whom+helping verb+subject+ III form.
Exercise 5
Put the following sentences into passive voice :
1. Have you seen an elephant?
2. Do you like coffee? [H.B.S.E. 2017 (Set-D)]
3. Shall I eat the fruit? [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-C)J
4. May I take your pen?
5. Has he finished his work?
6. Shall I know the result?
7. Do the Hindus bum their dead?
8. Had Monica defeated Steffi Graf?
9. Did the teacher punish Mohan?
10. Should I take exercise?
11. Should we obey the elders?
12. Could you solve this sum? [H.B.S.E. March 2020 (Set-D)]
13. Must you cross this river?
14. Had you beaten your brother?
15. Will he write a letter?
Answers:
1. Has an elephant been seen by you?
2. Is coffee liked by you?
3. Will the fruit be eaten by me?
4. May your pen be taken by me?
5. Has his work been finished by him?
6. Will the result be known to me?
7. Are their dead burned by the Hindus?
8. Had Steffi Graf been defeated by Monica?
9. Was Mohan punished by the teacher?
10. Should exercise be taken by me?
11. Should the elders be obeyed by us?
12. Could this sum be solved by you?
13. Must this river be crossed by you?
14. Had your brother been beaten by you?
15. Will a letter be written by him?
Exercise 6
Put the following into passive voice :
Who broke this cup? [H.B.S.E. 2017 (Set-A)]
How did you cross the road? [H.B.S.E. 2020 (Set-C’)]
When did you buy it? [H.B.S.E. 2017 (Set-C)]
Where did they see you? [H.B.S.E. 2020 (Set-D)]
What things did you see?
Why should you do this work?
Why did the teacher punish the students?
When will he return your money? [H.B.S.E. 2020 (Set-A)]
When does the postman deliver the mail?
Who will win the elections? [H.B.S.E. 2017 (Set-B)]
Answers:
1. By whom was this cup broken?
2. How was the road crossed by you?
3. When was it bought by you?
4. Where were you seen by them?
5. What things were seen by you?
6. Why should this work be done by you?
7. Why were the students punished by the teacher?
8. Your money be returned by him?
9. When is the mail delivered by the postman?
10. By whom will the elections be won?
Passive of Imperative Sentences:
(a) An imperative sentence in passive voice begins with ‘let’. The passive form will be: let+be+III form.
(b) When there is already ‘let’ in the active sentences, the passive structure is the same as in (a) above.
(c) In sentences showing orders, requests, etc., this form is used :
You are ordered/requested/advised+infmitive with ‘to’.
| Active | Passive |
| Open the door. | Let the door be opened. |
| Don’t tease the dog. | Let the dog not be teased. |
| Let me finish the work. | Let the work be finished by me. |
| Please help me. | You are requested to help me. |
| Go there at once. | You are ordered to go there at once. |
Passive of verbs containing two objects:
If a verb in the active voice has two objects, either of them can be retained in the passive :
| Active | Passive |
| Mohan gave me a book? | I was given a book by Mohan. |
| Or | |
| Father gave me a cycle. | A book was given to me by Mohan. |
| I was given a cycle by father. | |
| Or | |
| A cycle was given to me by my father. |
Passive of sentences containing prepositions:
In some sentences, there is a preposition after the verb. It will be kept with the verb while changing the sentence into passive:
| Active | Passive |
| He was looking at the picture. | The picture was being looked at by him. |
| He spoke to me. | I was spoken to by him. |
| He acted upon my advice. | My advice was acted upon by him. |
Passive of verbs with object and object complement:
When a verb has both an object and object complement, only the object is made the subject. The object complement comes after the III form of the verb and before “by+subject”.
| Active | Passive |
| They elected him President. | He was elected President by them. |
| The teacher made Mohan monitor. | Mohan was made monitor by the teacher. |
Exercise 7
Change the following into passive voice :
1. Do not insult your elders. [H.B.S.E. 2017 (Set-C)]
2. Give me some water.
3. Write down your address.
4. Leave the room at once.
5. Let me make a coloured ribbon for your hair.
6. Drive the bull out of the garden.
7. Please help me in this matter.
8. Do the work. [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-D)]
9. Don’t stay here [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-B)]
10. Sit down, please.
Answers:
1. You are advised not to insult your elders.
2. Let some water be given to me.
3. Let your address be written down.
4. You are ordered to leave the room at once.
5. Let a coloured ribbon be made for your hair.
6. Let the bull be driven out of the garden.
7. You are requested to help me in this matter.
8. Let the work be done.
9. You are forbidden to stay here.
10. You are requested to sit down.
Exercise 8
Change the following into passive voice :
1. The President gave him an award.
2. I will teach him a lesson.
3. Mr. Shastri teaches us Sanskrit.
4. He showed me his wife’s photograph.
5. She drank out of the glass.
6. The officer looked into the matter.
7. Someone is knocking at the door.
8. You should not laugh at the poor people.
9. The mother looks after her child.
10. A car ran over the old man.
11. The teacher made Mohan the monitor.
12. I found him a good companion.
13. His misfortunes left him crippled.
14. Disease made him weak.
15. The Government nominated him a member.
Answers:
1. He was given an award by the President.
2. He will be taught a lesson by me.
3. We are taught Sanskrit by Mr. Shastri.
4. I was shown his wife’s photograph by him.
5. The glass was drunk out of by her.
6. The matter was looked into by the officer.
7. The door is being knocked at by someone.
8. The poor people should not be laughed at by you.
9. Her child is looked after by the mother.
10. The old man was run over by a car.
11. Mohan was made the monitor by the teacher.
12. He was found a good companion by me.
13. He was left crippled by his misfortunes.
14. He was made weak by disease.
15. He was nominated a member by the Government.
(a) For changing the infinitive into passive, this form is used: to be+ III form of the verb.
(b) For the sentences which begin with “It is time to the form is: “It is time+for+object+to be+III form”.
| Active | Passive |
| You will have to do it. | It will have to be done by you. |
| I want to buy a car. | I want a car to be bought by me. |
| It is time to take a cup of tea. | It is time for a cup of tea to be taken. |
| It is time to say prayers. | It is time for prayers to be said. |
Use of ‘vague’ Subject:
“People/they say/ believe assume” is changed into: it is believed/said/assumed, etc.
| Active | Passive |
| People say that the earth is round. | It is said that the earth is round. Or The earth is said to be round. |
| They believe that Mohan is the best doctor in the town. | It is believed that Mohan is the best doctor in the town. Or Mohan is believed to be the best doctor in the town. |
Agent not expressed:
Sometimes in passive sentences, the agent (subject) is not given as it is understood. In such cases the agent has to be supplied by us.
| Active | Passive |
| The thief has been caught. [2017 (Set-C)] | The police has caught the thief. |
| The road was repaired. [2017 (Set-D)] | The workmen repaired the road. |
Exercise 9
Put the following sentences into Passive.
1. I would like someone to help me. [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-B)]
2. Trees give us fruit to eat.
3. It is impossible to do it. [H.B.S.E. 2020 (Set-C)]
4. You have got to do it carefully.
5. We are to play a cricket match.
6. Ganesh lifted the cat. [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-D)]
1. People assume that he has a lot of money.
8. In the past people thought that the earth was flat.
9. They say that honesty is the best policy.
10. His behavior surprises me.
11. Mohan knows me well.
12. Then they put it on the table. [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-D)]
13. His work satisfied me.
14. There is nothing to lose. [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-C)]
15. The fruit tastes sweet. [H.B.S.E. 2019 (Set-C)]
Answers:
1. I would like to be helped.
2. Trees give us fruit to be eaten.
3. It is impossible to be done.
4. It has got to be done carefully by you.
5. A cricket match is to be played by us.
6. The cat was lifted by Ganesh.
7. It is assumed that he has a lot of money.
8. In the past it was thought that the earth was flat.
9. It is said that honesty is the best policy.
10. I am surprised at his behavior.
11. I am known well to Mohan.
12. Then it is put on the table by them.
13. I was satisfied with his work.
14. There is nothing to be lost.
15. The fruit is sweet when tasted.
Exercise 10
Put the following into passive voice.
1. Are you expecting him today?
2. Did you wring the clothes?
3. Do not waste your time. [H.B.S.E. 2020 (Set-B)]
4. The management has closed the theatre.
5. Someone has stolen my purse.
6. I take tea every morning. [H.B.S.E. 2020 (Set-C)]
7. It is time to stop work.
8. They will not listen to us.
9. Don’t disturb him.
10. Does he like such films?
11. I want to stop the work.
12. Who will pay the bill? [H.B.S.E. March 2018 (Set-D)]
13. She is doing a book of grammar these days.
14. Why don’t you give that boy the book?
15. We can take out guests for a drive tomorrow.
Answers:
1. Is he being expected today by you?
2. Were the clothes wrung by you?
3. Let your time not be wasted.
4. The theatre has been closed by management.
5. My purse has been stolen.
6. Tea is taken by me every morning.
7. It is time for work to be stopped.
8. We will not be listened to by them.
9. Let him not be disturbed.
10. Are such films liked by him?
11. I want this work to be stopped.
12. By whom will the bill be paid?
13. A book of grammar is being done by her these days.
14. Why is that boy not given the book by you?
15. Our guests can be taken for a drive tomorrow.
Exercises For Practice (Unsolved)
Exercise 1
Change the following sentences into the passive voice :
1. The fire destroyed most of the huts.
2. A snake bite Mohan and the doctor gave him a serum.
3. The Government demolished many slums to make room for high buildings.
4. The kindness of a friend saved him from bankruptcy.
5. A vendor delivers a newspaper to my door every morning.
6. Someone turned on a light in the hall and opened the door.
7. I can answer the question. [H.B.S.E. March 2018 (Set-B)]
8. Who has broken his slate?
9. The officer refused the clerk leave for two days.
10. My father brought a cycle for me.
11. People sell fresh vegetables here.
12. He may help you. [H.B.S.E. March 2018 (Set-A)]
13. Summon the peon. [H.B.S.E. March 2020 (Set-D)]
14. The girl of the silent torrent gave a pitcher to the painter.
15. Rosemary invited the poor girls to her home.
Exercise 2
Change the following sentences into the passive voice :
1. The writer murdered his wife and walled her in the cellar.
2. We shall complete the project this week.
3. He must fill in the form.
4. The boys were laughing at the old beggar.
5. Rosalia asked Currito to take part in the dance.
6. His mother killed Rosalia with a knife.
7. She accused him of theft. [H.B.S.E. March 2018 (Set-A)]
8. Pahom requested the chief to give him a lot of land.
9. They say that Ram Nath is a good doctor.
10. It is time to say our prayers.
11. People sell fresh vegetables here.
12. Are they building a new bridge across the river?
13. The court tried the man, found him guilty and sent him to prison.
14. They are demolishing the entire building.
15. The police gave up the search after three hours.
Exercise 3
Change the following sentences into active voice.
1. It is said that Ram is a kind man.
2. He could not be moved to a hospital by the doctors.
3. This book was given to Ramesh by his uncle.
4. Have you been invited by him?
5. An interesting show is being watched by the students.
6. My Pen has been stolen. [H.B.S.E. March, 2018 (Set-D)]
7. Kindly call in the doctor. [H.B.S.E. March, (2020 (Set-A)]
8. English is spoken all over the world.
9. Mohan has been arrested.
10. Let the guilty students be punished by the teacher.
11. Let this work be completed by noon. .
12. He was laughed at by his friends.
13. The rising sun is worshipped by everybody.
14. A Snake was killed by him. [H.B.S.E. March 2018 (Set-B)J]
15. The doctor was sent for.
Exercise 4
Change the voice in the following sentences :
1. The headmaster looks after the discipline of the school.
2. Someone types the letters. [H.B.S.E. March 2018 (Set-C)]
3. The engineers located the fault in the machine.
4. The grandmother was feeding the sparrows.
5. I have ordered a new pair of shoes.
6. You will be told the whole story by Suresh.
7. The students has finished their assignments.
8. Open the door at once.
9. This mango tastes great. [H.B.S.E. March 2018 (Set-C)]
10. Many people now believe that politics is a dirty game.
11. All except Ved were present in the meeting which was held yesterday.
12. You should tell the truth to your doctor.
13. Telephone wires have been cut.
14. What is there to write about school?
15. Everybody ought to do his duty.
