Active to Passive Voice Converter Online: A Comprehensive Guide

Mastering the active and passive voice is essential if you want to write clearly and sound more natural in English. I often tell my students that knowing how to shift between these two forms isn’t just a grammar trick it’s a skill that sharpens your communication and helps you better understand what you read and hear.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the basics of active and passive voice, show you how to form them, and point out common mistakes to avoid. With clear examples and simple tips, you’ll gain the confidence to use both voices correctly in any context from school assignments to everyday writing.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Active and Passive Voice
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories of Passive Voice
• Examples of Active and Passive Voice
• Usage Rules
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition of Active and Passive Voice

In English grammar, the voice of a verb describes the relationship between the action (or verb) and the participants (subject, object, etc.). There are two main voices: active and passive.

Active Voice

In the active voice, the subject performs the action. The subject is the agent, and the verb directly affects the object. Active voice sentences are typically more direct, concise, and easier to understand.

For example:

• The dog chased the ball. (The dog is the subject performing the action of chasing.)
• She wrote a letter. (She is the subject performing the action of writing.)

Passive Voice

In the passive voice, the subject receives the action. The subject is acted upon, and the focus is on the action itself or the object of the action. The passive voice is formed using a form of the auxiliary verb “be” (is, am, are, was, were, being, been) and the past participle of the main verb.

For example:

• The ball was chased by the dog. (The ball is the subject receiving the action of being chased.)
• A letter was written by her. (A letter is the subject receiving the action of being written.)

The passive voice is often used when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action. It can also be used to maintain a formal or objective tone.

Structural Breakdown

Understanding the structure of active and passive voice sentences is essential for converting between them. The key lies in identifying the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence and then rearranging them in the passive sentence.

Active Voice Structure

The basic structure of an active voice sentence is:

Subject + Verb + Object

For example:

• The cat (Subject) ate (Verb) the mouse (Object).
• John (Subject) painted (Verb) the house (Object).

Passive Voice Structure

The basic structure of a passive voice sentence is:

Object (of active sentence) + Be (auxiliary verb) + Past Participle (of main verb) + By + Subject (of active sentence) (optional)

For example:

• The mouse (Object) was (Be) eaten (Past Participle) by the cat (Subject).
• The house (Object) was (Be) painted (Past Participle) by John (Subject).

Note that the “by + subject” part is often omitted in passive sentences when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.

Here’s a breakdown of how to convert an active sentence to a passive sentence:

1. Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object in the active sentence.
2. Move the Object of the active sentence to the Subject position in the passive sentence.
3. Change the verb in the active sentence to the past participle form.
4. Add the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb “be” before the past participle. The form of “be” must agree with the tense and number of the new subject (the object from the active sentence).
5. Add “by” followed by the subject of the active sentence (optional).

Types and Categories of Passive Voice

The passive voice can be used in different tenses, each with its own specific form of the auxiliary verb “be.” Understanding these variations is crucial for accurate and effective use of the passive voice.

Simple Present Passive

Object + is/are/am + Past Participle

Example: The letter is written by her.

Simple Past Passive

Object + was/were + Past Participle

Example: The car was repaired yesterday.

Simple Future Passive

Object + will be + Past Participle

Example: The project will be completed next week.

Present Continuous Passive

Object + is/are/am + being + Past Participle

Example: The house is being painted right now.

Past Continuous Passive

Object + was/were + being + Past Participle

Example: The dinner was being prepared when I arrived.

Present Perfect Passive

Object + has/have + been + Past Participle

Example: The report has been finished by the team.

Past Perfect Passive

Object + had + been + Past Participle

Example: The room had been cleaned before the guests arrived.

Future Perfect Passive

Object + will have been + Past Participle

Example: The task will have been completed by tomorrow.

Modal Passive

Object + Modal Verb (can, could, should, etc.) + be + Past Participle

Example: The problem can be solved easily.

Examples of Active and Passive Voice

The following tables provide examples of active and passive voice in different tenses and with various subjects and objects. These examples illustrate how to convert sentences from active to passive voice and highlight the structural differences between the two.

Simple Tenses: Active to Passive

This table illustrates the conversion of active voice sentences to passive voice in simple present, simple past, and simple future tenses.

Active Voice	Passive Voice
She reads the book.	The book is read by her.
They built the house.	The house was built by them.
He will write a letter.	A letter will be written by him.
The chef cooks the meal.	The meal is cooked by the chef.
The students answered the questions.	The questions were answered by the students.
The company will launch the product.	The product will be launched by the company.
The dog chases the cat.	The cat is chased by the dog.
The gardener planted the flowers.	The flowers were planted by the gardener.
The teacher will grade the exams.	The exams will be graded by the teacher.
The artist paints the portrait.	The portrait is painted by the artist.
The team won the game.	The game was won by the team.
The scientist will conduct the experiment.	The experiment will be conducted by the scientist.
The baker makes the bread.	The bread is made by the baker.
The author wrote the novel.	The novel was written by the author.
The musician will play the song.	The song will be played by the musician.
The mechanic fixes the car.	The car is fixed by the mechanic.
The detective solved the mystery.	The mystery was solved by the detective.
The programmer will develop the software.	The software will be developed by the programmer.
The child eats the apple.	The apple is eaten by the child.
The wind blew the leaves.	The leaves were blown by the wind.

Continuous Tenses: Active to Passive

This table demonstrates the conversion of active voice sentences to passive voice in present continuous and past continuous tenses.

Active Voice	Passive Voice
She is reading the book.	The book is being read by her.
They were building the house.	The house was being built by them.
He is writing a letter.	A letter is being written by him.
The chef is cooking the meal.	The meal is being cooked by the chef.
The students were answering the questions.	The questions were being answered by the students.
The company is launching the product.	The product is being launched by the company.
The dog is chasing the cat.	The cat is being chased by the dog.
The gardener was planting the flowers.	The flowers were being planted by the gardener.
The teacher is grading the exams.	The exams are being graded by the teacher.
The artist is painting the portrait.	The portrait is being painted by the artist.
The team was winning the game.	The game was being won by the team.
The scientist is conducting the experiment.	The experiment is being conducted by the scientist.
The baker is making the bread.	The bread is being made by the baker.
The author was writing the novel.	The novel was being written by the author.
The musician is playing the song.	The song is being played by the musician.
The mechanic is fixing the car.	The car is being fixed by the mechanic.
The detective was solving the mystery.	The mystery was being solved by the detective.
The programmer is developing the software.	The software is being developed by the programmer.
The child is eating the apple.	The apple is being eaten by the child.
The wind was blowing the leaves.	The leaves were being blown by the wind.

Perfect Tenses: Active to Passive

This table shows the transformation of active voice sentences to passive voice in present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect tenses.

Active Voice	Passive Voice
She has read the book.	The book has been read by her.
They had built the house.	The house had been built by them.
He will have written a letter.	A letter will have been written by him.
The chef has cooked the meal.	The meal has been cooked by the chef.
The students had answered the questions.	The questions had been answered by the students.
The company will have launched the product.	The product will have been launched by the company.
The dog has chased the cat.	The cat has been chased by the dog.
The gardener had planted the flowers.	The flowers had been planted by the gardener.
The teacher has graded the exams.	The exams have been graded by the teacher.
The artist has painted the portrait.	The portrait has been painted by the artist.
The team had won the game.	The game had been won by the team.
The scientist will have conducted the experiment.	The experiment will have been conducted by the scientist.
The baker has made the bread.	The bread has been made by the baker.
The author had written the novel.	The novel had been written by the author.
The musician has played the song.	The song has been played by the musician.
The mechanic has fixed the car.	The car has been fixed by the mechanic.
The detective had solved the mystery.	The mystery had been solved by the detective.
The programmer will have developed the software.	The software will have been developed by the programmer.
The child has eaten the apple.	The apple has been eaten by the child.
The wind had blown the leaves.	The leaves had been blown by the wind.

Modal Verbs: Active to Passive

This table illustrates the conversion of active voice sentences with modal verbs to passive voice.

Active Voice	Passive Voice
She can read the book.	The book can be read by her.
They should build the house.	The house should be built by them.
He must write a letter.	A letter must be written by him.
The chef could cook the meal.	The meal could be cooked by the chef.
The students might answer the questions.	The questions might be answered by the students.
The company will launch the product.	The product will be launched by the company.
The dog can chase the cat.	The cat can be chased by the dog.
The gardener should plant the flowers.	The flowers should be planted by the gardener.
The teacher must grade the exams.	The exams must be graded by the teacher.
The artist could paint the portrait.	The portrait could be painted by the artist.
The team might win the game.	The game might be won by the team.
The scientist will conduct the experiment.	The experiment will be conducted by the scientist.
The baker can make the bread.	The bread can be made by the baker.
The author should write the novel.	The novel should be written by the author.
The musician must play the song.	The song must be played by the musician.
The mechanic can fix the car.	The car can be fixed by the mechanic.
The detective should solve the mystery.	The mystery should be solved by the detective.
The programmer will develop the software.	The software will be developed by the programmer.
The child can eat the apple.	The apple can be eaten by the child.
The wind should blow the leaves.	The leaves should be blown by the wind.

Usage Rules

While both active and passive voice are grammatically correct, they serve different purposes and are appropriate in different contexts. Understanding when to use each voice is crucial for effective communication.

When to Use Active Voice

• When the actor is important: Use the active voice when you want to emphasize who is performing the action.
• For clarity and directness: Active voice sentences are generally clearer and more direct than passive voice sentences.
• For conciseness: Active voice sentences are often more concise than passive voice sentences.
• When the actor is known: If the actor is known and relevant, use the active voice.

When to Use Passive Voice

• When the actor is unknown: If you don’t know who performed the action, use the passive voice. For example: “The window was broken.”
• When the actor is unimportant: If the actor is not important, use the passive voice. For example: “Mistakes were made.”
• When the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action: If you want to emphasize the action itself or the recipient of the action, use the passive voice. For example: “The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.” (Focus on the painting)
• To maintain a formal or objective tone: The passive voice can be used to create a more formal or objective tone in writing. This is common in scientific and technical writing.
• To avoid blaming someone: The passive voice can be used to avoid directly blaming someone for an action. For example: “The error was made.” (Instead of “He made the error.”)

Exceptions and Special Cases

• Intransitive verbs: Intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take an object) cannot be used in the passive voice. For example, “He sleeps” cannot be converted to the passive voice.
• Stative verbs: Stative verbs (verbs that describe a state rather than an action) are rarely used in the passive voice. For example, “She knows the answer” is better in active voice.
• Verbs with two objects: Verbs that take two objects (a direct object and an indirect object) can be converted to the passive voice in two different ways. For example, “He gave her the book” can be converted to either “The book was given to her by him” or “She was given the book by him.”

Common Mistakes

Using the active and passive voice correctly can be challenging, and several common mistakes can occur. Being aware of these errors can help you avoid them and improve your writing.

Overuse of Passive Voice

One of the most common mistakes is the overuse of the passive voice. While the passive voice has its uses, excessive use can make your writing sound weak, indirect, and difficult to read.

Always consider whether the active voice would be more appropriate before using the passive voice.

Incorrect: The report was written by me.

Correct: I wrote the report.

Incorrect Tense Agreement

Another common mistake is using the incorrect tense of the auxiliary verb “be” in the passive voice. The tense of “be” must match the tense of the active voice verb.

Incorrect: The letter is written yesterday.

Correct: The letter was written yesterday.

Missing “By” Phrase

While the “by” phrase (e.g., “by him,” “by her”) is optional in passive sentences, omitting it when the actor is important can make the sentence unclear.

Unclear: The painting was admired.

Clearer: The painting was admired by the art critics.

Confusing Active and Passive Structure

Sometimes, learners confuse the structure of active and passive sentences, leading to grammatically incorrect sentences.

Incorrect: The car was driven by him he.

Correct: The car was driven by him.

Using Passive Voice with Intransitive Verbs

As mentioned earlier, intransitive verbs cannot be used in the passive voice. Attempting to do so results in an ungrammatical sentence.

Incorrect: It was slept by him.

Correct: He slept.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of active and passive voice with the following exercises. Convert the sentences from active to passive voice or vice versa, as indicated.

Exercise 1: Active to Passive

Convert the following active voice sentences to passive voice.

Question	Answer
1. The dog chased the ball.	The ball was chased by the dog.
2. She wrote a letter.	A letter was written by her.
3. They are building a house.	A house is being built by them.
4. He has painted the picture.	The picture has been painted by him.
5. The chef cooks the meal.	The meal is cooked by the chef.
6. The students answered the questions.	The questions were answered by the students.
7. The company will launch the product.	The product will be launched by the company.
8. The gardener planted the flowers.	The flowers were planted by the gardener.
9. The teacher is grading the exams.	The exams are being graded by the teacher.
10. The artist painted the portrait.	The portrait was painted by the artist.

Exercise 2: Passive to Active

Convert the following passive voice sentences to active voice.

Question	Answer
1. The ball was chased by the dog.	The dog chased the ball.
2. A letter was written by her.	She wrote a letter.
3. A house is being built by them.	They are building a house.
4. The picture has been painted by him.	He has painted the picture.
5. The meal is cooked by the chef.	The chef cooks the meal.
6. The questions were answered by the students.	The students answered the questions.
7. The product will be launched by the company.	The company will launch the product.
8. The flowers were planted by the gardener.	The gardener planted the flowers.
9. The exams are being graded by the teacher.	The teacher is grading the exams.
10. The portrait was painted by the artist.	The artist painted the portrait.

Exercise 3: Mixed Practice

Convert the following sentences from active to passive or passive to active, as appropriate.

Question	Answer
1. The cat ate the mouse.	The mouse was eaten by the cat.
2. The window was broken by someone.	Someone broke the window.
3. They are cleaning the room.	The room is being cleaned by them.
4. The report has been finished by the team.	The team has finished the report.
5. The car was repaired yesterday.	Someone repaired the car yesterday.
6. She will submit the proposal.	The proposal will be submitted by her.
7. The book was given to him by her.	She gave him the book.
8. The problem can be solved easily.	Someone can solve the problem easily.
9. The cake is being baked by my mother.	My mother is baking the cake.
10. The contract had been signed by the CEO.	The CEO had signed the contract.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, understanding the nuances of the passive voice and its applications in different contexts is crucial. This section explores some advanced topics related to active and passive voice.

Passive Voice with Reporting Verbs

Reporting verbs (e.g., say, believe, think, know) are often used in the passive voice to report opinions or beliefs without explicitly stating who holds them. This is common in academic writing and news reports.

Example:

• Active: People say that he is a good leader.
• Passive: It is said that he is a good leader.
• Passive: He is said to be a good leader.

Causative Passive

The causative passive is used to indicate that someone has arranged for something to be done, rather than doing it themselves. It typically involves the verb “have” or “get” in the passive voice.

Example:

• Active: I had the car repaired.
• Passive (Causative): I had the car repaired by the mechanic.

Passive Voice and Impersonal Constructions

The passive voice is often used in impersonal constructions to avoid mentioning the person performing the action or to create a more formal tone.

Example:

• Active: Someone has stolen my wallet.
• Passive: My wallet has been stolen.

Passive Voice in Scientific Writing

In scientific writing, the passive voice is frequently used to emphasize the experiment or the results rather than the experimenter. This helps maintain an objective tone.

Example:

• Active: We conducted the experiment.
• Passive: The experiment was conducted.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about active and passive voice.

1. What is the difference between active and passive voice?In the active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., “The dog chased the ball”). In the passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g., “The ball was chased by the dog”). The active voice is generally more direct and concise, while the passive voice is used when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action.
2. When should I use the passive voice?Use the passive voice when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action. It’s also useful for maintaining a formal or objective tone, avoiding blame or reporting opinions without stating who holds them.
3. Can all active sentences be converted to passive voice?No, only active sentences with transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be converted to passive voice. Intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take an object) cannot be used in the passive voice.
4. Is it wrong to use the passive voice?No, it is not inherently wrong to use the passive voice. However, overuse of the passive voice can make your writing sound weak and indirect. It is important to use the passive voice appropriately and strategically.
5. How do I identify the passive voice in a sentence?The passive voice is formed using a form of the auxiliary verb “be” (is, am, are, was, were, being, been) and the past participle of the main verb. For example, “The book was written by her.”
6. What is the structure of a passive voice sentence?The basic structure of a passive voice sentence is: Object (of active sentence) + Be (auxiliary verb) + Past Participle (of main verb) + By + Subject (of active sentence) (optional).
7. How can I improve my use of active and passive voice?Practice converting sentences between active and passive voice. Pay attention to the context and purpose of your writing, and choose the voice that best suits your needs. Read widely and analyze how professional writers use active and passive voice.
8. What are some common mistakes to avoid when using passive voice?Avoid overuse of the passive voice, ensure correct tense agreement of the auxiliary verb “be,” include the “by” phrase when the actor is important, and avoid using the passive voice with intransitive verbs.

Conclusion

Understanding and mastering the active and passive voice is essential for effective communication in English. By grasping the definitions, structures, rules, and nuances of both voices, you can enhance your writing style and comprehension skills.

This article has provided a comprehensive guide to active and passive voice, covering various aspects from basic definitions to advanced topics. Remember that the key to mastering these concepts lies in consistent practice and careful attention to context.

As you continue to develop your English language skills, remember that both active and passive voice have their place in effective communication. By understanding when and how to use each voice appropriately, you can write with greater clarity, precision, and impact.

Keep practicing, keep exploring, and keep refining your understanding of these fundamental grammar concepts.