Understanding grammar becomes easier when we learn one step at a time. One important topic in English grammar is Active and Passive Voice. Students often see these in school textbooks, exam questions, homework, and worksheets. However, many children feel confused about how sentences change from active to passive or the other way around.
What Is Voice in a Sentence?
Voice is the way a sentence shows who does the action and who receives it.
We have only two voices in English:
Active Voice (the hero voice – strong and clear)
Passive Voice (the mystery voice – calm and hidden)
Think of it like a football match. In active voice, you clearly see who kicks the ball. In passive voice, you only see the ball flying – but you’re not sure who kicked it yet!
What Is Active Voice?
Active voice is when the subject does the action in the sentence.
This form is direct, simple, and easy to understand.
Simple Definition
The subject performs the action.
Example
Ria eats an apple.
Subject: Ria
Action (verb): eats
Object: apple
The sentence is clear — Ria is doing something.
Why Active Voice Is Useful
- Makes writing clear
- Easy to read
- Common in everyday conversations
- Sounds natural and direct
More Active Voice Examples
The cat chased the mouse.
The teacher teaches English.
The children played football.
When Should Students Use Active Voice?
Use active voice when:
- You want your writing clear and simple
- You want direct communication
- You want shorter sentences
- You want your reader to understand quickly
Active voice is common in:
- Stories
- Essays
- Letters
- Speeches
- Diaries
- Everyday conversation
What Is Passive Voice?
Passive voice is when the subject receives the action instead of doing it.
Simple Definition
The subject does not perform the action.
Something is done to the subject.
Example
An apple is eaten by Ria.
Here, the apple receives the action.
Why Passive Voice Is Useful
Passive voice is helpful when:
The doer is unknown
The action is more important than the doer
Writing needs to sound formal
More Passive Voice Examples
The homework was completed.
The letter is written by Amit.
The mouse was chased by the cat.
When Should Students Use Passive Voice?
Passive voice is helpful when:
The doer is unknown
Example:
The window was broken.
(We don’t know who broke it.)
The action is more important
Example:
The results will be announced tomorrow.
To sound formal
Example:
Attendance is taken daily.
Key Difference Between Active and Passive Voice
| Feature | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| Action | Done by the subject | Received by the subject |
| Style | Clear and direct | Formal and indirect |
| Focus | Doer | Object/action |
| Example | Rohan paints the wall | The wall is painted by Rohan. |
Let’s learn the secret recipe. Follow these four steps every time.
Take an active sentence: Riya paints the wall.
Step 1: Move the receiver (the wall) to the front.
→ The wall …
Step 2: Add correct form of “be” (is/are/was/were/will be etc.)
→ The wall was …
Step 3: Change the main verb to past participle (paint → painted)
→ The wall was painted …
Step 4: Add “by” + old doer (optional)
→ The wall was painted by Riya.
Boom! Active became passive!
Another example:
Active: Chefs cook tasty biryani.
Passive: Tasty biryani is cooked by chefs.
Birds build nests. → Nests are built by birds.
Virat hits sixes. → Sixes are hit by Virat.
How to Change Passive Back to Active (Reverse Magic)
Just do the steps backwards!
Passive: The song was sung by Arijit Singh.
Step 1: Find the doer → Arijit Singh
Step 2: Put the doer first → Arijit Singh …
Step 3: Use the correct tense of the verb → sings/sang
Step 4: Put the receiver at the end → Arijit Singh sang the song.
Why Should You Care About Active and Passive Voice?
Because they make you a better writer and reader!
Active voice makes your stories exciting.
“The brave knight defeated the dragon!” sounds way cooler than “The dragon was defeated by the brave knight.”
Passive voice helps when you want mystery or politeness.
“The vase was broken.” (No one gets blamed – perfect when your little brother did it!)
Teachers love when you use both correctly in exams.
Famous books mix both. Harry Potter uses tons of active voice for action scenes and passive for mystery parts.
Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
Mistake 1: Forgetting “by” phrase.
Wrong: The room was cleaned. (By whom?)
Right: The room was cleaned by Mom.
Mistake 2: Mixing tenses.
Wrong: The cake is baked by me yesterday.
Right: The cake was baked by me yesterday.
Fix: Always match the tense of “be” with the original sentence.
You’ll stop making these mistakes in no time!
Practice Worksheet – Change Active to Passive
She reads the book.
The children cleaned the room.
They sing a song.
The chef cooks dinner.
The cat chased the mouse.
He will repair the cycle.
The teacher praises Rohan.
She writes a letter.
The girls baked a cake.
The gardener waters the plants.
Practice Worksheet – Change Passive to Active
The homework was completed by the students.
A letter is written by Rita.
The room was cleaned by Rahul.
A picture was drawn by Maya.
The match was won by our team.
The plants are watered by mother.
The ball was kicked by Sam.
The story was written by Mira.
The movie was watched by the children.
The game will be played by the boys.
Also Read: Active Passive Voice Worksheet for Kids
Tips to Improve Active and Passive Voice Skills
- Practice daily
- Write short sentences
- Learn past participles
- Read stories and identify sentence types
- Solve worksheets regularly
- Change sentences from your textbook
The more you practice, the better your grammar becomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is it wrong to use passive voice?
No! Passive voice is not bad. It is just a different style. Use active voice for exciting stories and passive voice when the thing that receives the action is more important.
Q2. Which voice should I use in my school essays?
Use active voice most of the time. Teachers say active voice makes your writing strong and clear. Save passive voice for science reports or when you don’t want to blame anyone!
Q3. Can every active sentence become passive?
Almost every sentence! But if there is no receiver (object), you cannot change it.
Example: “I sleep.” → No object, so no passive form.
Q4. How do I know if a sentence is passive?
Look for these clues:
A form of “be” (is, are, was, were, been, being)
A past participle verb (eaten, written, broken)
Sometimes “by” someone/something
If you see these, it’s probably passive!
Q5. Why do news headlines use passive voice a lot?
Headlines are short. Passive voice helps hide the doer when it’s not important.
Example: “Prize Won by Class 5 Student!” (The prize is the star!)
Q6. Can I mix active and passive in the same story?
Yes! Good writers mix them. Use active for action scenes and passive for mystery or surprise.
Q7. What happens in questions?
Questions can be active or passive too!
Active: Who broke the glass?
Passive: By whom was the glass broken? (very formal – we usually say “Who was the glass broken by?”)
Q8. My teacher says “Don’t use passive voice in exams.” Is that true?
Many teachers prefer active voice because it sounds confident. But if the question asks you to write in passive, do it! Always read the instructions.
Q9. How can I practise every day?
Rewrite 5 sentences from your textbook in the opposite voice.
Play the “Flip Game” with your friend or parent.
Write your diary using only active voice one day and only passive the next – see the difference!
Summary – Key Takeaways
- Active voice: subject does the action.
- Passive voice: subject receives the action.
- Active is clearer and more direct.
- Passive is used for formality and when the doer is unknown.
Learning rules and practicing daily helps students master the topic quickly.
Conclusion
Grammar is not just a subject—it is a skill that helps you express your ideas clearly. Understanding active and passive voice makes you a stronger writer, speaker, and learner. With regular practice and School Dekho’s worksheets, every child can become confident in English.
Start learning today. Practice one worksheet daily and watch your grammar superpowers grow!
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