Active & Passive Voice

Active & Passive Voice Basics

Voice shows whether the subject performs the action or receives the action. Active voice is when the subject does the action; passive is when the subject receives the action.

Active Structure: Subject + Verb + Object

  1. She writes a letter.
  2. The boy kicked the ball.
  3. They are reading a book.
  4. He repaired the car.
  5. We solved the problem.

Passive Structure: Object + form of BE + past participle (V3) + (by + Subject)

  1. A letter is written by her.
  2. The ball was kicked by the boy.
  3. The book is being read by them.
  4. The car was repaired by him.
  5. The problem was solved by us.
Subject → Object Pronouns
SubjectObject
Ime
Weus
Youyou
Hehim
Sheher
Theythem
Itit
When and Why Passive Voice Is Used
  1. When the doer is unknown: The window was broken.
  2. When the doer is unimportant: English is spoken worldwide.
  3. To emphasize the result: The project was completed successfully.
  4. In formal or scientific writing: The data was analyzed carefully.
  5. To sound polite or indirect: A mistake has been made.
Rules to Change Active into Passive
  1. Find the object of the active sentence.
  2. Make it the subject of the passive sentence.
  3. Use the correct form of be.
  4. Use V3 (past participle) of the verb.
  5. Change subject pronoun to object pronoun after by.
  6. By + doer is optional if the doer is unimportant or unknown.
Passive Voice in Tenses
Present Simple

Active: Subject + V₁(s/es) + Object
Passive: Object + am/is/are + V₃ + (by + Subject)

Active ExamplePassive Example
1. She cleans the room.1. The room is cleaned by her.
2. They sell cars.2. Cars are sold by them.
3. He teaches English.3. English is taught by him.
4. The manager approves the plan.4. The plan is approved by the manager.
5. She writes letters daily.5. Letters are written by her daily.
Present Continuous

Active: Subject + am/is/are + V-ing + Object
Passive: Object + am/is/are + being + V₃ + (by + Subject)

Active ExamplePassive Example
1. He is writing a report.1. A report is being written by him.
2. She is cooking food.2. Food is being cooked by her.
3. They are painting the wall.3. The wall is being painted by them.
4. I am reading the book.4. The book is being read by me.
5. We are solving the problem.5. The problem is being solved by us.
Present Perfect

Active: Subject + has/have + V₃ + Object
Passive: Object + has/have been + V₃ + (by + Subject)

Active ExamplePassive Example
1. They have completed the work.1. The work has been completed by them.
2. She has washed the clothes.2. The clothes have been washed by her.
3. He has fixed the car.3. The car has been fixed by him.
4. We have prepared dinner.4. Dinner has been prepared by us.
5. She has written a report.5. A report has been written by her.
Past Simple

Active: Subject + V₂ + Object
Passive: Object + was/were + V₃ + (by + Subject)

Active ExamplePassive Example
1. He repaired the car.1. The car was repaired by him.
2. They built a house.2. A house was built by them.
3. She wrote a letter.3. A letter was written by her.
4. We finished the project.4. The project was finished by us.
5. The teacher explained the lesson.5. The lesson was explained by the teacher.
Past Continuous

Active: Subject + was/were + V-ing + Object
Passive: Object + was/were + being + V₃ + (by + Subject)

Active ExamplePassive Example
1. She was teaching the class.1. The class was being taught by her.
2. They were painting the wall.2. The wall was being painted by them.
3. He was fixing the machine.3. The machine was being fixed by him.
4. We were cleaning the room.4. The room was being cleaned by us.
5. The chef was preparing food.5. Food was being prepared by the chef.
Past Perfect

Active: Subject + had + V₃ + Object
Passive: Object + had been + V₃ + (by + Subject)

Active ExamplePassive Example
1. He had finished the task.1. The task had been finished by him.
2. She had prepared dinner.2. Dinner had been prepared by her.
3. They had completed the project.3. The project had been completed by them.
4. We had read the book.4. The book had been read by us.
5. The students had solved the problems.5. The problems had been solved by the students.
Future Simple

Active: Subject + will/shall + V₁ + Object
Passive: Object + will/shall + be + V₃ + (by + Subject)

Active ExamplePassive Example
1. They will announce the result.1. The result will be announced by them.
2. He will open the shop.2. The shop will be opened by him.
3. She will write a letter.3. A letter will be written by her.
4. We will complete the project.4. The project will be completed by us.
5. The teacher will explain the lesson.5. The lesson will be explained by the teacher.
Future Perfect

Active: Subject + will/shall + have + V₃ + Object
Passive: Object + will/shall + have been + V₃ + (by + Subject)

Active ExamplePassive Example
1. She will have completed the project.1. The project will have been completed by her.
2. They will have cleaned the office.2. The office will have been cleaned by them.
3. He will have repaired the car.3. The car will have been repaired by him.
4. We will have prepared dinner.4. Dinner will have been prepared by us.
5. The manager will have approved the plan.5. The plan will have been approved by the manager.
Passive Voice with Modal Verbs

Structure: Modal + be + V₃ (present/future), Modal + have been + V₃ (past)

ActivePassive
1. He can solve the problem.1. The problem can be solved by him.
2. She must follow the rules.2. The rules must be followed by her.
3. They should have finished the work.3. The work should have been finished by them.
4. We may complete the task.4. The task may be completed by us.
5. He might write a letter.5. A letter might be written by him.
Passive Voice of Imperative Sentences

Structure: Let + Object + be + V₃

ActivePassive
1. Close the door.1. Let the door be closed.
2. Complete the form.2. Let the form be completed.
3. Do not waste time.3. Let time not be wasted.
4. Open the window.4. Let the window be opened.
5. Finish the task.5. Let the task be finished.
Tenses in Which Passive Cannot Be Formed
  1. Present Perfect Continuous – She has been teaching English. ❌ Passive not possible
  2. Past Perfect Continuous – They had been waiting for hours. ❌ Passive not possible
  3. Future Continuous – He will be driving the car. ❌ Passive not possible
  4. Future Perfect Continuous – She will have been studying all night. ❌ Passive not possible
Passive Voice Is Not Possible with Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs do not take an object, so passive voice cannot be formed.

  1. He sleeps. ❌
  2. The baby cried. ❌
  3. She laughed loudly. ❌
  4. They arrived late. ❌
  5. We ran fast. ❌
Active & Passive Voice Worksheet – Englivio

Active & Passive Voice Worksheet

Section A: Active → Passive (20 marks)

Change the following active sentences into passive. Some are tricky; identify if passive is not possible.
1. She writes a letter every day.
2. They are cleaning the classroom.
3. He has completed his homework.
4. The manager approved the plan yesterday.
5. We will finish the project tomorrow.
6. I can solve this problem.
7. She is going to submit the report.
8. Let the students complete the assignment.
9. Close the door.
10. Birds fly in the sky.
11. He had repaired the car before the trip.
12. We will have prepared dinner by 8 PM.
13. They must follow the rules.
14. She reads books daily.
15. I am solving the puzzle.
16. He will open the shop tomorrow.
17. She might write a letter tonight.
18. The sun rises in the east.
19. They have cleaned the office.
20. We were watching a movie last night.

Section B: Passive → Active (20 marks)

Rewrite the following passive sentences into active voice.
1. A letter is written by her.
2. The room is being cleaned by them.
3. The homework has been completed by him.
4. The plan was approved by the manager.
5. The project will be finished by us tomorrow.
6. This problem can be solved by me.
7. The door is to be closed by you.
8. The report is being written by her.
9. The car had been repaired by him.
10. Dinner will have been prepared by us by 8 PM.
11. The rules must be followed by them.
12. The assignment is to be completed by the students.
13. Books are read daily by her.
14. The puzzle is being solved by me.
15. The office has been cleaned by them.
16. The shop will be opened by him tomorrow.
17. A letter might be written by her.
18. A movie was being watched by us.
19. The problem should have been finished by them.
20. The lesson will be explained by the teacher.

Conditional Sentences

Conditionals Guide
Conditionals
0

Zero Conditional

1

First Conditional

2

Second Conditional

3

Third Conditional

M

Mixed Conditional

2-Event structure in Tenses

Two-Event Structures
In English, we often talk about two actions happening at different times. One action happens first and the other happens after. Sometimes they happen at the same time. This is called the two event structure. Let’s see how it works in a clear and easy way. Here are the most common situations where we use it.
Past

Action 1 Happens Before Action 2

Shows which action occurred first in the past.

Past

Action 1 Interrupted by Action 2

Shows a longer action being interrupted by a shorter one.

Past

Two Actions at the Same Time

Use when two actions occur simultaneously in the past.

Future

Future Action Completed Before Another

Shows one future action finished before the next starts.

Present

Past Event Affecting Present

Connects a past experience or event to the present.

Modal Verbs

Definition

Modal Verbs are special auxiliary verbs that express the speaker’s attitude or mood toward an action. They show possibility, ability, necessity, permission, obligation, certainty, and more.

  • She can swim very well. (ability)
  • It might rain later. (possibility)
  • You must wear a seatbelt. (obligation)
Structure of Modal Verbs
Key Features of Modal Verbs
  • They never take -s in the third person (❌ He cans, ✅ He can).
  • They are followed by a bare infinitive (base verb without “to”).
  • They do not have all verb forms (no past participle, infinitive, etc.).
  • They express the speaker’s attitude or opinion.
Major Modal Verbs and Their Uses
Modal Verbs in the Past
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Quick Recap
  • Can/Could → Ability, Permission, Possibility
  • May/Might → Permission, Possibility
  • Must → Necessity, Deduction
  • Shall/Will → Future, Willingness
  • Should/Ought to → Advice, Duty
  • Would → Politeness, Imaginary Situations
  • Modals + Base Verb → Always rule of thumb ✅

Causative Verbs

Definition

Causative Verbs are verbs that show someone or something causes another person to perform an action. In other words, the subject doesn’t perform the action directly but causes it to happen.

  • She had her car washed. (She didn’t wash it herself; someone else did it.)
  • The teacher made the students clean the board. (The teacher caused them to act.)
Basic Structure of Causative Verbs

Active Causative: Subject + Causative Verb + Object + Base Verb

Example: I had him paint the wall.

Passive Causative: Subject + Causative Verb + Object + Past Participle

Example: I had the wall painted.

Major Causative Verbs

1. Have

Used when someone arranges for another person to do something.

Active: have + person + base verb

Passive: have + object + past participle

  • I had my assistant book the tickets. (Active)
  • I had my hair cut yesterday. (Passive)

2. Get

Similar to have but slightly more informal. It often implies persuasion or effort.

Structure: get + person + to + base verb / get + object + past participle

  • He got his brother to repair the car. (Persuaded)
  • She got her phone fixed. (Arranged for)

3. Make

Used when someone forces another person to do something.

Structure: make + person + base verb

  • The teacher made the students stay late.
  • His parents made him apologize.

No “to” is used after “make.”

4. Let

Used to express permission — to allow someone to do something.

Structure: let + person + base verb

  • She let the kids play outside.
  • My boss let me leave early.

No “to” is used after “let.”

5. Help

Used when someone assists another in doing something.

Structure: help + person + (to) + base verb

  • She helped me (to) prepare the report.
  • He helped the team (to) win the match.

“To” is optional after “help.”

Active vs. Passive Causative

Active Causative

The subject causes another person to do the action.

  • I had my brother wash the car.
  • She got the technician to fix the computer.

Passive Causative

The subject arranges for the action to be done (focus on the result, not the doer).

  • I had the car washed.
  • He got his roof repaired.
Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Wrong: I made him to do it.

✅ Correct: I made him do it.

Do not use “to” after make.

❌ Wrong: I got him do it.

✅ Correct: I got him to do it.

Use “to” after get in active causatives.

❌ Wrong: I had my brother to paint the wall.

✅ Correct: I had my brother paint the wall.

No “to” after have in active causative.

Quick Recap
  • Have → Arrange for someone to do something.
  • Get → Persuade or arrange (informal).
  • Make → Force someone to act (no “to”).
  • Let → Give permission (no “to”).
  • Help → Assist (with or without “to”).
  • Active: Subject causes the person to do the action.
  • Passive: Subject causes the action to be done.

Articles

Definition

An Article is a word placed before a noun to indicate whether it refers to something specific or general. Articles are essential in English grammar as they define the definiteness of a noun.

  • I saw a dog in the street. (Any dog — not specific)
  • I saw the dog that chased me. (A particular dog — specific)
Types of Articles

1. Indefinite Articles (a / an)

Used before singular countable nouns when referring to something for the first time or when it is not specific.

  • a book (any book)
  • an apple (any apple)
  • I saw a man walking down the road.

‘A’ is used before words beginning with a consonant sound. ‘An’ is used before words beginning with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).

Examples:

  • a car, a dog, a university (sound of ‘yu’)
  • an umbrella, an hour (silent ‘h’)

2. Definite Article (the)

Used before nouns that are known to both the speaker and listener or when referring to something unique or previously mentioned.

  • the sun, the earth, the sky
  • the book on the table (specific one)

“The” can be used with singular, plural, or uncountable nouns.

Usage Rules of Articles

Rule 1 – First vs. Second Mention

Use “a/an” when mentioning something for the first time, and “the” when mentioning it again.

  • I saw a cat. The cat was sleeping.

Rule 2 – Use of “A” and “An” Based on Sound

  • a university (sound: “yu”)
  • an MBA student (sound: “em”)

Rule 3 – With Unique Things

  • the sun, the moon, the Taj Mahal

Rule 4 – With Superlatives & Ordinals

  • the best player, the first prize

Rule 5 – With Names of Rivers, Oceans & Ranges

  • the Ganga, the Himalayas, the Pacific Ocean

Rule 6 – With Inventions, Musical Instruments & Newspapers

  • She plays the violin.
  • The telephone was invented by Bell.
  • I read the Times of India.

Rule 7 – With Nationalities & Groups

  • The French are famous for fashion.
  • The British ruled India.

Rule 8 – Before Nouns Representing Whole Classes

  • The lion is a brave animal. (Refers to all lions)

Rule 9 – With Proper Nouns Used as Common Nouns

  • He is the Shakespeare of our college.
Omission of Articles (Zero Article)

Sometimes, no article is used before nouns. This is called the Zero Article case. Below are common situations where articles are omitted:

1. Before Proper Nouns

  • India is a beautiful country.
  • Rahul is my friend.

2. Before Abstract Nouns (Used Generally)

  • Honesty is the best policy.
  • Beauty fades with time.

3. Before Names of Meals (General Sense)

  • We have breakfast at 8.
  • Dinner is ready.

But: “The dinner we had last night was delicious.”

4. Before Languages, Subjects, Sports

  • She speaks English fluently.
  • He loves Mathematics.
  • They play cricket daily.

5. Before Plural Countable Nouns (General Sense)

  • Cats are playful animals.
  • Books give us knowledge.

6. Before Uncountable Nouns Used Generally

  • Water is essential for life.
  • Information is power.
Quick Recap
  • A / An → Non-specific, singular, countable nouns.
  • The → Specific, known, or unique nouns.
  • Zero Article → Before general, abstract, proper, or plural nouns.
  • Remember: The choice of article depends on context and meaning, not just grammar rules.

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Adverb

Definition

An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It tells us how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. Many adverbs end in “-ly”.

Examples
  • She runs quickly.
  • He speaks softly.
  • They will arrive tomorrow.
  • It is very cold today.
  • The teacher explained it clearly.
Types of Adverbs

1. Adverbs of Manner

Show how an action is done.

Examples: quickly, slowly, beautifully, badly, happily

Example Sentence: She sang beautifully.

2. Adverbs of Time

Tell when an action happens.

Examples: now, yesterday, today, soon, later

Example Sentence: We will leave tomorrow.

3. Adverbs of Place

Tell where an action happens.

Examples: here, there, inside, outside, everywhere

Example Sentence: Please sit here.

4. Adverbs of Frequency

Show how often an action occurs.

Examples: always, often, sometimes, rarely, never

Example Sentence: He always arrives on time.

5. Adverbs of Degree

Show the intensity or extent of an action, adjective, or another adverb.

Examples: very, extremely, almost, completely, quite

Example Sentence: The movie was extremely interesting.

Common Adverbs and Their Usage
#AdverbTypeExample
Position of Adverbs
  • Start: Often used to emphasize time or manner at the beginning.
    Quickly, she ran to the park.
  • Middle: Common for frequency and degree adverbs; usually placed before the main verb or after “to be”.
    She has always been kind.
    They are very happy today.
  • End: Typical for manner, place, or time adverbs; emphasizes how, where, or when.
    He finished his homework quickly.
    We will meet tomorrow.
    Please sit here.

Adverbs Worksheet

Choose the best answer for each question. Your answers and the correct answer key will be revealed after you submit or check the worksheet.

10 MCQs • Auto-check
1
Identify the adverb of manner:
2
Choose the correct placement:
3
Which word functions as an adverb in: “He arrived late”?
4
Which sentence is correct?
5
Which adverb does NOT take comparison?
6
Identify the adverb of place:
7
Which sentence uses “hard” correctly as an adverb?
8
Identify the superlative adverb:
9
Choose the correct placement:
10
Identify the correlative adverb structure:

Your Score: 0 / 10

The answer key and your selected answers are shown below.

Interjection

Definition

An interjection is a word or short phrase that expresses sudden emotion or reaction. It can show surprise, joy, anger, disgust, or any strong feeling. Interjections are often followed by an exclamation mark (!).

Examples
  • Wow! That’s a beautiful painting.
  • Ouch! That really hurt.
  • Hurray! We won the match!
  • Oh no! I forgot my keys.
  • Alas! The hero died in the story.
Types of Interjections

1. Interjections of Joy

Used to express happiness or delight.

Examples: Hurray!, Yay!, Wow!, Bravo!, Great!

Example Sentence: Hurray! We finally won the trophy!

2. Interjections of Surprise

Used to express astonishment or wonder.

Examples: Oh!, What!, Really!, Gosh!, Aha!

Example Sentence: Oh! You’re already here!

3. Interjections of Sorrow

Used to express sadness, grief, or pity.

Examples: Alas!, Oh no!, Poor me!, Too bad!

Example Sentence: Alas! We lost our way in the storm.

4. Interjections of Anger

Used to express annoyance or frustration.

Examples: Damn!, Hey!, Shut up!, Stop!

Example Sentence: Hey! Watch where you’re going!

5. Interjections of Greeting

Used while meeting or welcoming someone.

Examples: Hello!, Hi!, Hey!, Good morning!

Example Sentence: Hi! How are you today?

6. Interjections of Approval

Used to show agreement or appreciation.

Examples: Bravo!, Well done!, Excellent!, Great!

Example Sentence: Bravo! That was an amazing performance!

Common Interjections and Their Usage
# Interjection Emotion Example

Conjunction

Definition

A conjunction is a word used to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. Conjunctions help to form complex ideas without repeating information.

Examples
  • I wanted to go for a walk, but it started to rain.
  • She likes coffee and tea.
  • He will come if he finishes his work.
  • We can go out or stay home.
  • She worked hard because she wanted to succeed.
Types of Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions

Join two equal parts of a sentence — words, phrases, or independent clauses.

Examples: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Example Sentence: She wanted to go out, but it was raining.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Connect a dependent clause to an independent clause and show the relationship between them.

Examples: because, although, since, unless, when, if, while, before, after.

Example Sentence: I stayed home because I was tired.

Correlative Conjunctions

Used in pairs to join equal sentence elements that are grammatically similar.

Examples: either…or, neither…nor, both…and, not only…but also, whether…or.

Example Sentence: Either you start working now or you’ll miss the deadline.

Conjunctive Adverbs

Act as transitions between independent clauses, showing contrast, cause, or sequence.

Examples: however, therefore, moreover, consequently, furthermore, meanwhile.

Example Sentence: She was tired; however, she continued working.

Common Conjunctions and Their Usage
#ConjunctionTypeExample

Conjunctions Worksheet

Choose the best answer for each question. Your answers and the correct answer key will be revealed after you submit or check the worksheet.

10 MCQs • Auto-check
1
Which of the following is a coordinating conjunction?
2
Choose the correct conjunction: She was tired, ___ she kept working.
3
Which of the following is a subordinating conjunction?
4
Identify the correlative conjunction pair:
5
Choose the correct conjunction: ___ he studied hard, he failed the exam.
6
Which sentence uses a conjunction correctly?
7
Identify the type of conjunction in: “She left early because she was sick.”
8
Choose the correct conjunction: You must study hard, ___ you will fail.
9
Which of the following is a conjunctive adverb?
10
Choose the correct sentence:

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Preposition

Definition

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. It tells us about time, place, direction, cause, manner, or possession.

Examples
  • The book is on the table.
  • She walked to the park.
  • The cat jumped over the wall.
  • We will meet after lunch.
  • He sat beside his friend.
Types of Prepositions

Prepositions of Time

Show the relationship of time between nouns or events. They answer “When?”.

Examples: at, on, in, before, after, during, since, until.

Example Sentence: She wakes up at 6 a.m. every day.

Prepositions of Place

Show the physical location or position of a noun. They answer “Where?”.

Examples: in, on, at, under, between, among, over, behind.

Example Sentence: The cat is sleeping under the chair.

Prepositions of Direction or Movement

Indicate motion or direction from one place to another.

Examples: to, into, towards, through, across, along, over, up, down.

Example Sentence: She walked through the garden.

Prepositions of Manner

Show the manner or method in which something happens or is done.

Examples: by, with, like, as, in.

Example Sentence: He solved the problem with ease.

Prepositions of Agent or Instrument

Show the agent performing an action or the tool used to perform it.

Examples: by, with.

Example Sentence: The poem was written by Shakespeare.

Prepositions of Cause, Reason, or Purpose

Indicate why something happens or the purpose behind it.

Examples: for, from, because of, due to, owing to.

Example Sentence: She was late because of traffic.

Prepositions of Possession

Show that something belongs to someone or something.

Examples: of, with.

Example Sentence: A friend of mine called yesterday.

Compound Prepositions

Formed by prefixing a preposition with a word like “according”, “apart”, or “close”.

Examples: according to, along with, apart from, because of.

Example Sentence: According to the report, sales increased by 20%.

Common Prepositions and Their Usage
#PrepositionUsageExample

Prepositions Worksheet 1

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition. Your answers and the answer key will appear after checking.

30 blanks

Your Score: 0 / 30

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Prepositions Worksheet 2

Choose the best answer for each question. Your answers and the correct answer key will be revealed after you submit or check the worksheet.

40 MCQs

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Prepositions Worksheet 3

Choose the best answer for each question. Your answers and the correct answer key will be revealed after you submit or check the worksheet.

10 MCQs

Your Score: 0 / 10

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