CBSE Class 7 English Grammar Active and Passive Voice

There are two types of voice:(i) Active voice – when the subject in the sentence acts; as:
I read a lesson.
(ii) Passive voice – when the subject in the sentence is acted upon; as:
A lesson is read by me.

For changing of voice, always remember:

• Change the subject into object and object into subject. Make the subject of active voice the object of passive voice and vice-versa.
• Always use the III form of the verb in passive voice. ;
• Use ‘by’ before the object in passive voice.

 

Change of Person

Active                                                                                 Passive

• I                                                                                                Me
• you                                                                                       You
• he                                                                                          Him
• she                                                                                            Her
• they                                                                                          Them
• any name (Nikhil)                                                                 Name as it is (Nikhil)

 

Exercise 1

Put the verb into the correct form, present simple or past simple, active or passive:

1.  It’s a big company. Four hundred people …………….. (employ) there.
2.  Water ……………… (cover) most of the Earth’s surface.
3. Most of the Earth’s surface ………………. (cover) by water.
4. The park gates ………………. (lock) at 7 p.m. daily.
5.  The letter………………… (post) a week ago and it (arrive) yesterday.
6.  The boat ………………….. (sink) quickly but fortunately everybody………… (rescue).
7. Raman’s parents………………. (die) when he was very young. He and his sister ……………….. (bring) up by their grandparents.
8. I was born in Mumbai but I ………………. (grow) up in Delhi.
9.  While I was on holiday, my camera ………………….. (steal) from my hotel room.
10. While I was on holiday, my camera………………… (disappear) from my hotel room.
11. Why ……………….. (Sita / resign) from her job?
12. Why ……………. (Sohan / sack) from his job?

Answers

1. are employed.
2.  covers.
3.  is covered.
4. are locked.
5. was posted, arrived.
6. sank, was rescued.
7.  died. were brought.
8. grew.
9. was stolen.
10. disappeared.
11. did Sita resign.
12.  was Sohan sacked.

Exercise 2

Complete the sentences using one of these verbs in the correct form:

cause          damage      hold          include         invite    make      overtake         show        translate      write

1.  Many accidents ……… by dangerous driving.
2.  Cheese ………………… from milk.
3. The roof of the building ……….. in a storm a few days ago.
4. There is no need to leave a tip. Service …………… in the bill.
5.  You ………………… to the wedding. Why didn’t you go?
6. A cinema is a place where …………….films
7.  In the United States, elections for President…………….. every four years.
8.  Originally the book…………….. in Spanish and a few years ago it………. into English.
9.  We were driving along quite fast but we …………..

Answers

1.  are caused.
2.  is made.
3.  was damaged.
4.  is included.
5.  were invited.
6.  are shown.
7.  are held.
8. was written, was translated.
9. were overtaken.

Exercise 3

Complete these sentences with one of the following verbs (in the correct form):

carry        cause          do              make          repair            send           spend              wake up

1. The situation is serious. Something must …….. ‘ before it’s too late.
2.  I have not received the letter. It might……………. to the wrong address.
3. A decision will not …………. until the next meeting.
4. I told the hotel receptionist that I wanted to …………. at 8 a.m. the next morning.
5. Do you think that less money should ……….. on ornaments.
6. This road is in very bad condition. It should …………. a long time ago.
7. The injured man couldn’t walk and had to ………
8. It is not certain how the fire started but it might…………… by an electrical fault.

Answers

1. 1. be done.
2.  have been sent.
3.  be made.
4.  be woken up.
5. be spent
6.  have been repaired.
7.  be carried.
8.  have been caused.

Exercise 4

Change the following sentences from the active voice to the passive voice:

1. The man cut down the tree.
2.  Columbus discovered America.
3.  His teacher praised him.
4.  The boy teased the dog.
5.  The police arrested him.
6.  Rama was making a kite.
7.  The boy caught the ball.
8.  My father will write a letter.
9.  I will defeat him.
10.  He kept me waiting.
11.  He scored twenty runs.
12.  manners reveal character.
13. Everyone loves him.
14.  We expect goog news.
15.  I have sold my bicycle.
16.  We must write to him.
17.  They are doing the work.
18.  The car hit the man.
19.  Shyam eats an apple.
20.  I had posted the letter before i meet him
21.  How do they make coffee?
22.  Rachna had made tea.
23.  Abdul was watering the plants.
24.  Surabhi will write a letter.
25. Mala has broken the window.

Answers

1. 1. The tree was cut down by the man.
2. . America was discovered by Columbus
3. He was praised by his teacher.
4. The dog was teased by the boy.
5.  He was arrested.
6.  A kite was being made by Rama.
7.  The ball was caught by the boy.
8.  A letter will be written by my father.
9.  He will be defeated by me.
10.  I was kept waiting.
11. Twenty runs were scored by him.
12.  Character is revealed by manners. ‘
13. He is loved by everyone.
14.  Good news is expected.
15.  My bicycle has been sold.
16.  He must be written to by us.
17. The work is being done by them.
18. The man was hit by the car.
19. An apple is eaten by Shyam.
20.  The letter had been posted (by me) before I met him.
21. How is coffee made?
22. Tea had been made by Rachna.
23. Plants were being watered by Abdul.
24.  A letter will be written by Surabhi.
25. The window has been broken by Mala.

Exercise 5

Write these sentences in another way as shown in the following example:

• They didn’t give me the money.
• I was not given the money.

1. 1. They asked me some difficult questions at the interview.
2.  Janaki’s colleagues gave her a present when she retired.
3. Nobody told me that Jagdish was ill.
4.  How much will they pay you?
5. I think they should have offered Om the job.
6. Has anybody shown you what to do?

Answers

1. I was asked some difficult questions at the interview.
2. Janaki was given a present (by her colleagues) when she retired.
3.  I was not told that Jagdish was ill.
4. How much will you be paid?
5.  I think Om should have been offered the job.
6.  Have you been shown what to do?