We need to understand the active and passive voice meaning before spotting errors in the sentence. So, Active and passive voice is saying the same thing but in different manners. In an active voice, the subject acts on the object. It expresses what a person or thing does. Whereas, In passive voice, the subject is being acted upon. It expresses what is done by someone or something. Thus, students make silly mistakes while changing from active voice to passive or from passive to active voice. So, let us know the common errors and rules to rectify in the voices. It will help you to avoid mistakes. 

Active to Passive voice changing structure of all tenses

Let us know the active to passive voice changing structure of all tenses. It will help you to rectify active and passive transition errors. Also, you understand the active and passive voice meaning. 

Simple Present tense

Active voice – Subject + V1+s/es + object

Passive voice – Object + is/am/are+ V3+ by + subject

Present continuous tense

Active voice structure – S + is/am/are+ v1+ ing + O. 

Passive voice – O + is/am/are+ being+ V3+ by + S. 

Present perfect tense

Active voice- Subject + has/have+ v3+ object. 

Passive voice- Object + has/have+ been+ V3+ by + subject. 

Simple past tense

Active voice – Subject + V2+ object. 

Passive voice – Object + was/were V3+ by + subject. 

Past continuous tense

Active voice – S + was/were + v1+ing+ O. 

Passive voice – O+ was/were +being+V3+ by + S. 

Past perfect tense

Active voice – Subject + had + v3+ object.

Passive voice – Object + had+been +V3+ by + subject

Simple Future tense

Active voice structure – Subject + will+ v1+ object.

Passive voice structure – Object + will + be +V3+ by + subject

Future perfect tense 

Active voice – S + will + have +v3+ O. 

Passive voice – O + will + have + been +V3+ by + S. 

Notes:-

  • Remember that some tenses are not changed into passive voice, such as Present perfect continuous tense, Past perfect continuous tense, Future continuous tense, Future perfect continuous tense, and sentences containing intransitive verbs. 
  • Sometimes sentences in the active voice are shorter than those in the passive voice. We prefer reading and writing in an active voice, but the passive voice is preferred in the following situations. 
  1. When we do not know the dour of the action.

 Example: My book was stolen.

Some examples 

Some solved questions help to understand active and passive voice meaning better. 

1. He has not finished his work. 

  • He has not finished his work. 

2. Will she buy a house? 

  • Will she buy a house? 

3. He sings a song. 

  • He sings a song. 

Some common errors in the active and passive voice

Here we discuss the common errors in active and passive voice. 

  • Using the wrong form of the verb

The common error while changing active to passive voice is choosing the wrong form. We always use verbs’ past participle forms (V3) while changing active to passive voice. 

  • Using the wrong subject

While changing active to passive voice, the object of the sentence is performed as the subject. 

Some exceptions in the active and passive voice

We find some exceptions, active and passive voices in some factors. Such as the type of verbs used, gerunds, prepositions, etc. For example:-

  1. Rita completed the homework. 
  • Rita completed the homework. 

2. Rita knew Mohan. 

  • Mohan was known to Rita. 

Here, we can see that ‘by’ is not used in the 2nd sentence. Because some verbs use different prepositions, let us know active and passive transition errors. 

  • Use of ‘to’ instead of ‘by.’

We use ‘to’ instead of ‘by’ when the main verb is ‘married, obliged, known.’ 

  • Use of ‘At’ instead of ‘by.’

We use ‘at’ instead of ‘by’ when the main verb is shocked, distressed, alarmed, disappointed, surprised, etc. 

  • Use of ‘with’ instead of ‘by.’

We use ‘with’ instead of ‘by’ when the main verb is pleased, charmed, disgusted, impressed, etc. 

  • Use of ‘in’ instead of ‘by.’

We use ‘in’ instead of ‘by’ when the main verb is like ‘consisted, absorbed, interested, etc.’

  • Use of ‘When’

Sometimes we use ‘when’; the main verb is felt, taste, and small. 

So, these are the common active and passive transition errors

Conclusion

Here, we discussed all the rules of changing active to passive voice. Also, we understand the active and passive voice meaning. When the subject of the verb is the doer, the verb is in active voice. Whereas when the subject of the verb is acted upon, the verb is in passive voice.

Moreover, while changing active to passive voice, the object in the active voice becomes the subject in the passive voice. We need to learn all the rules carefully to avoid mistakes. Also, it helps you to spot errors in active-passive voice exercises where the wrong structure is used.