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Open in Interactive ReaderIntroduction to Voice
Voice indicates whether the subject of the sentence actively performs the action or passively receives the impact of that action.
Voice (वाच्य) ले वाक्यमा रहेको Subject (कर्ता) ले आफै काम गर्छ कि वा कामको असर मात्र प्राप्त गर्छ (Subject माथि काम हुन्छ) भन्ने कुरालाई स्पष्ट पार्दछ।
Active Voice vs. Passive Voice Layout
An active sentence emphasizes the executor (doer) of an action, whereas a passive sentence pivots the structural focus entirely onto the action or the object receiving it.
| Voice Category | Core Structural Formula | Conceptual Focus | Demonstrative Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Voice | Subject + Verb + Object | Focus on the Doer of the action | Ram writes a letter. |
| Passive Voice | Object + Be Verb + V3 + by + Subject | Focus on the Action / Object affected | A letter is written by Ram. |
Pragmatic Usage Contexts for Passive Voice
Passive voice is chosen when contextual factors render the doer secondary or completely irrelevant to the expression.
| Functional Context | Stylistic / Real-World Reason | Standard Exemplar Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Doer | The agent responsible for the action is unidentifiable. | My bag was stolen yesterday. |
| Action Primacy | The completed action is substantially more important than the actor. | English is spoken worldwide. |
| Scientific / Process Writing | Objectivity is paramount during technical steps. | Water is heated to 100°C in the experiment. |
| News Reports | Objective reporting or institutional declarations. | The long-awaited bridge was completed yesterday. |
Pronoun Subject-to-Object Modification
When personal pronouns move from active subjective positions to the end of passive agent phrases, they must switch to objective case forms.
| Active Subject Position | Passive Objective Agent Target |
|---|---|
| He | him |
| She | her |
| They | them |
| I | me |
| We | us |
| You | you (unchanged) |
| It | it (unchanged) |
| Ram / Proper Noun | Ram / Proper Noun (unchanged) |
| Book / Common Noun | Book / Common Noun (unchanged) |
The Master Tense Conversion Matrix
Verbs must match the tense pattern of the active clause using a tailored helper form of 'be' plus the absolute Past Participle (V3).
| Tense / Aspect Structure | Active Verb / Pattern | Passive Structural Formula | Passive Example Mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | V1 / V5 | is / am / are + V3 | English is taught by the instructor. |
| Present Continuous | is / am / are + V4 | is / am / are + being + V3 | A classic book is being read by her. |
| Present Perfect | has / have + V3 | has / have + been + V3 | The massive roads have been repaired. |
| Past Simple | V2 | was / were + V3 | The classroom was cleaned by Ram. |
| Past Continuous | was / were + V4 | was / were + being + V3 | A tasty dinner was being cooked by her. |
| Past Perfect | had + V3 | had + been + V3 | The hard homework had been finished. |
| Future Simple | will + V1 | will + be + V3 | The strategic project will be completed. |
| Future Perfect | will have + V3 | will have + been + V3 | The work will have been completed by him. |
| Modal Structure | modal + V1 (can/should) | modal + be + V3 | The complex problem can be solved by him. |
Super Exam Verification Hacks
The Passive Identity Check: A sentence cannot be classified as grammatically passive unless it contains a form of the 'be' verb (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) matching perfectly with a V3 (Past Participle). If it lacks this explicit tandem, it is active.
Correct Format
The professional work is completed. (Passive: 'is' [be verb] + 'completed' [V3])The novel has been published. (Passive: 'been' [be verb] + 'published' [V3])Incorrect Format
She is singing a nice melody. (Active: 'is' + V4 'singing', not V3)The building has constructed. (Incorrect: lacks the essential passive marker 'been')The Agent Omission Rule
Omit generic or unknown actors in passive layout.
If the active subject is vague, indefinite, or widely generalized (such as someone, somebody, people, they, nobody), you should completely drop the 'by + agent' phrase from the end of your passive sentence.
यदि Active Voice को Subject बुझ्न नसकिने वा सामान्य खालको छ (जस्तै: someone, somebody, people, a person) भने Passive Voice बनाउँदा वाक्यको अन्त्यमा 'by + subject' राख्नु पर्दैन। यसलाई हटाइदिँदा वाक्य बढी प्राकृतिक देखिन्छ।
Someone stole my shiny bicycle. → My bicycle was stolen. (No agent required)
People speak English all across the globe. → English is spoken worldwide.
Imperative and Command Conversions
Commands and direct task instructions employ a specialized 'Let' formula instead of typical tense adjustments.
| Imperative Type | Active Sample Input | Passive Formula Structure | Resulting Passive Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positive Command | Close the door. | Let + Object + be + V3 | Let the door be closed. |
| Positive Task | Finish the work. | Let + Object + be + V3 | Let the work be finished. |
| Negative Command | Do not waste time. | Let + Object + not + be + V3 | Let time not be wasted. |
High-Yield Impersonal Passive Patterns
Impersonal Passive Rule: When reporting public beliefs or general knowledge using verbs like say, believe, think, know, consider, report, suppose followed by a 'that-clause', transform the phrasing using an introductory dummy 'It' structure:
Formula: It + Be Verb + V3 (of reporting verb) + that + [remaining clause completely unchanged]
Formula: It + Be Verb + V3 (of reporting verb) + that + [remaining clause completely unchanged]
Correct Format
People believe that the earth revolves. → It is believed that the earth revolves around the sun.People say that honesty is the best policy. → It is said that honesty is the best policy.Authorities reported that the hazard was contained. → It was reported that the hazard was contained.Incorrect Format
That honesty is the best policy is said by people.It is say that honesty is the best policy.The Intransitive Verb Blindspot
Verbs without direct objects CANNOT be turned into passive.
Intransitive verbs (actions that do not pass onto a direct receiving object, such as sleep, run, arrive, laugh, die, sit) cannot be transformed into the passive voice because there is no object to assume the position of the subject.
वाक्यमा object नभएका अकर्मक क्रियाहरू (Intransitive verbs जस्तै: sleep, run, arrive, sit, go) लाई passive voice मा परिवर्तन गर्न कत्ति पनि मिल्दैन। परीक्षामा यस्ता वाक्य आएमा 'No passive possible' भनेर बुझ्नुपर्छ।
He sleeps comfortably on the mattress. → No passive voice variant is possible.
The administrative team arrived quite late. → No passive voice variant is possible.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
The technical report is completed by him yesterday.
The technical report was completed by him yesterday. (Time marker dictates past be verb)
A textbook has been being write by her.
A textbook is being written by her. / A textbook has been written by her.
English course tracks are taught from the professor.
English course tracks are taught by the professor. (Agent marker is universally 'by')
The entire room cleaned by Ram.
The room was cleaned by Ram. (Missing essential auxiliary 'be' verb component)
The homework was finished by he.
The homework was finished by him. (Incorrect subjective case pronoun pronoun utilized)
Easy Level Practice
Easy Level
1
Ram writes a letter. → A letter .......... (is written / was written / written) by Ram. (choose the appropriate passive verb combination)
Correct! The active main verb 'writes' is in the Present Simple tense (V5), which transforms into 'is/am/are + V3' based on the singular target object.
Correct: is written. The active main verb 'writes' is in the Present Simple tense (V5), which transforms into 'is/am/are + V3' based on the singular target object.
2
She cleans the room. → The room is .......... (clean) by her. (put the correct past participle V3 form of the action verb)
Correct! Passive syntax rules mandate that the primary actionable verb must be written in its baseline past participle V3 form, which is 'cleaned'.
Correct: cleaned. Passive syntax rules mandate that the primary actionable verb must be written in its baseline past participle V3 form, which is 'cleaned'.
3
They play football. → Football .......... by them. (complete the sentence with the correct passive verb layout)
Correct! The simple present root action 'play' shifts to match the singular object 'Football' using the helping verb 'is' combined with the V3 form 'played'.
Correct: is played. The simple present root action 'play' shifts to match the singular object 'Football' using the helping verb 'is' combined with the V3 form 'played'.
4
He opened the gate. → The gate .......... (is opened / was opened / has opened) by him. (select the correct passive verb construction)
Correct! The past action marker 'opened' (V2) tells us to use the past tense singular 'be' verb 'was' along with the V3 form.
Correct: was opened. The past action marker 'opened' (V2) tells us to use the past tense singular 'be' verb 'was' along with the V3 form.
5
We completed the task. → The task was completed .......... us. (complete the agent phrase with the correct preposition)
Correct! The active grammatical agent or executor of an action is traditionally introduced into a passive structure using the preposition 'by'.
Correct: by. The active grammatical agent or executor of an action is traditionally introduced into a passive structure using the preposition 'by'.
6
She will call me. → I .......... (will be called / am called / will called) by her. (choose the appropriate future passive arrangement)
Correct! Simple future active constructions containing 'will + V1' follow a set rule turning into 'will + be + V3' in a passive structure.
Correct: will be called. Simple future active constructions containing 'will + V1' follow a set rule turning into 'will + be + V3' in a passive structure.
7
They are watching a movie. → A movie is .......... watched by them. (fill in the missing progressive aspect marker)
Correct! Continuous or progressive active clauses require the specific aspectual companion token 'being' to preserve their ongoing nature.
Correct: being. Continuous or progressive active clauses require the specific aspectual companion token 'being' to preserve their ongoing nature.
8
He has solved the problem. → The problem .......... (has been solved / have been solved / has solved) by him. (choose the proper form)
Correct! Present perfect expressions are passivized by inserting the marker 'been' between the helper 'has' and the final V3 verb.
Correct: has been solved. Present perfect expressions are passivized by inserting the marker 'been' between the helper 'has' and the final V3 verb.
9
Somebody stole my pen. → My pen .......... (stole / was stolen / is stolen). (complete the sentence omitting the unnecessary agent phrase)
Correct! Because 'Somebody' is an unstated, vague subject, it is dropped at the end. The past active verb 'stole' scales out into 'was stolen'.
Correct: was stolen. Because 'Somebody' is an unstated, vague subject, it is dropped at the end. The past active verb 'stole' scales out into 'was stolen'.
10
The teacher teaches grammar. → Grammar .......... (is taught / teaches / was taught) by the teacher. (select the correct option)
Correct! The simple present active indicator 'teaches' converts into 'is taught' to align with the singular field subject 'Grammar'.
Correct: is taught. The simple present active indicator 'teaches' converts into 'is taught' to align with the singular field subject 'Grammar'.
Medium Level Practice
Medium Level
1
They were building a road. → A road .......... (was built / was being built / had been built) by them. (choose the appropriate option)
Correct! Past progressive actions ('were building') convert to 'was/were + being + V3' to match the singular object target 'a road'.
Correct: was being built. Past progressive actions ('were building') convert to 'was/were + being + V3' to match the singular object target 'a road'.
2
She had finished the homework. → The homework .......... (has been finished / had been finished) by her. (select the correct past perfect form)
Correct! The deep past perfect pattern 'had finished' shifts uniformly into 'had been finished', irrespective of whether the object is singular or plural.
Correct: had been finished. The deep past perfect pattern 'had finished' shifts uniformly into 'had been finished', irrespective of whether the object is singular or plural.
3
We are making a new library. → A new library .......... by us. (complete the phrase with the correct present continuous passive forms)
Correct! The plural present progressive active verb 'are making' changes to 'is being made' to match the new singular subject 'A new library'.
Correct: is being made. The plural present progressive active verb 'are making' changes to 'is being made' to match the new singular subject 'A new library'.
4
He can solve the puzzle. → The puzzle .......... (can solve / can be solved / could be solved) by him. (choose the accurate modal passive option)
Correct! Modal helpers like 'can' do not change tense during voice switching. They simply adopt a 'modal + be + V3' format structure.
Correct: can be solved. Modal helpers like 'can' do not change tense during voice switching. They simply adopt a 'modal + be + V3' format structure.
5
The gardener waters the plants every morning. → The plants .......... watered every morning by the gardener. (fill in the missing plural auxiliary verb)
Correct! The active habit indicator 'waters' (V5) changes to the plural helper 'are' because the incoming subject 'the plants' is plural.
Correct: are. The active habit indicator 'waters' (V5) changes to the plural helper 'are' because the incoming subject 'the plants' is plural.
6
Someone has stolen my bag. (rewrite the entire sentence in its correct agentless passive structure)
Correct! The direct object 'My bag' becomes the new subject. The perfect verb adjusts to 'has been stolen' and the vague word 'Someone' is left out.
Correct: My bag has been stolen.. The direct object 'My bag' becomes the new subject. The perfect verb adjusts to 'has been stolen' and the vague word 'Someone' is left out.
7
They will organize a meeting. → A meeting .......... (will organized / will be organized) by them. (choose the correct verbal group)
Correct! The baseline future blueprint converts using the passive formula rule 'will + be + V3' ('will be organized').
Correct: will be organized. The baseline future blueprint converts using the passive formula rule 'will + be + V3' ('will be organized').
8
The students are writing the exam. → The exam is being .......... (write) by the students. (provide the correct morphological format of the main verb)
Correct! The action verb must show its past participle form 'written' alongside the progressive helping group 'is being'.
Correct: written. The action verb must show its past participle form 'written' alongside the progressive helping group 'is being'.
9
People know that water is essential for life. → It .......... (is known / was known / has been known) that water is essential for life. (choose the correct impersonal passive opener)
Correct! The active general truth marker 'know' is simple present, which translates into an impersonal layout using 'It is known'.
Correct: is known. The active general truth marker 'know' is simple present, which translates into an impersonal layout using 'It is known'.
10
Parents gave children chocolates. (convert to passive voice prioritizing 'Chocolates' as the primary subject position)
Correct! The simple past verb 'gave' turns into 'were given' to match the plural object 'Chocolates', adding 'to' before the secondary object.
Correct: Chocolates were given to children by parents.. The simple past verb 'gave' turns into 'were given' to match the plural object 'Chocolates', adding 'to' before the secondary object.
Hard Level Practice
Hard Level
1
Did they confess the crime? → .......... (Was the crime confessed / Did the crime be confessed) by them? (select the correct interrogative passive format)
Correct! To turn a simple past question into the passive voice, the sentence must start with the past helper 'Was' followed by the object and V3 verb form.
Correct: Was the crime confessed. To turn a simple past question into the passive voice, the sentence must start with the past helper 'Was' followed by the object and V3 verb form.
2
People consider that exercise is good for health. (rewrite the sentence utilizing the formal 'Impersonal Passive' framework configuration)
Correct! The active phrase 'People consider' translates into the formal impersonal layout 'It is considered', leaving the trailing clause as it was.
Correct: It is considered that exercise is good for health.. The active phrase 'People consider' translates into the formal impersonal layout 'It is considered', leaving the trailing clause as it was.
3
The company will have completed the project by next month. → The project .......... completed by next month by the company. (fill in the missing future perfect passive helper block)
Correct! Complex future perfect milestones are shifted using the precise passive formula group 'will have been' right before the V3 main verb.
Correct: will have been. Complex future perfect milestones are shifted using the precise passive formula group 'will have been' right before the V3 main verb.
4
The teacher was explaining the lesson when I entered. → The lesson .......... explaining by the teacher when I entered. (correct the invalid verb segment to 'was being explained')
Correct! Past progressive environments must be converted using 'was/were being + V3' to align with the singular target 'The lesson'.
Correct: was being explained. Past progressive environments must be converted using 'was/were being + V3' to align with the singular target 'The lesson'.
5
Someone will finish this work before noon. (rewrite the absolute sentence, making sure to drop any unnecessary agents)
Correct! The direct item 'This work' is placed at the front. The future verb switches to 'will be finished', and the vague word 'Someone' is removed.
Correct: This work will be finished before noon.. The direct item 'This work' is placed at the front. The future verb switches to 'will be finished', and the vague word 'Someone' is removed.
6
People reported that the flood destroyed many houses. → It .......... (is reported / was reported / had been reported) that the flood destroyed many houses. (select the correct historical impersonal option)
Correct! Because the active framing verb 'reported' is simple past (V2), the impersonal sentence must start with the past form 'It was reported'.
Correct: was reported. Because the active framing verb 'reported' is simple past (V2), the impersonal sentence must start with the past form 'It was reported'.
7
The students had completed the project before the deadline. → The project had been completed .......... (before the deadline by the students). (rearrange or state the final closing passive block cleanly)
Correct! The past perfect verb becomes 'had been completed', keeping the original phrase elements organized around the action context.
Correct: before the deadline by the students or by the students before the deadline. The past perfect verb becomes 'had been completed', keeping the original phrase elements organized around the action context.
8
I want my students to respect me. → I want .......... (to respect / to be respected) by my students. (choose the correct passive infinitive layout option)
Correct! Active infinitive objectives like 'to + V1' require a passive transformation using the 'to be + V3' pattern ('to be respected').
Correct: to be respected. Active infinitive objectives like 'to + V1' require a passive transformation using the 'to be + V3' pattern ('to be respected').
9
People suppose that he is the best singer. → It .......... (is supposed / was supposed) that he is the best singer. (pick the correct current opinion tracking choice)
Correct! The present active reporting verb 'suppose' calls for the matching present tense impersonal intro 'It is supposed'.
Correct: is supposed. The present active reporting verb 'suppose' calls for the matching present tense impersonal intro 'It is supposed'.
10
She was cooking dinner when I arrived. (rewrite the clause group entirely in its clean passive configuration format)
Correct! The progressive clause changes to 'Dinner was being cooked by her', while the secondary background clause ('when I arrived') stays unchanged.
Correct: Dinner was being cooked by her when I arrived.. The progressive clause changes to 'Dinner was being cooked by her', while the secondary background clause ('when I arrived') stays unchanged.