Active/Passive & Narration • Topic 1 of 4

Active to Passive

To make a passive: move the object to the front, add the correct form of 'be' in the same tense, then the past participle of the main verb, and put the doer after 'by'. Keep the tense.

The swap, in one picture

Ram writes a letter subject object A letter is written by Ram object moves to front · "be + V3" · doer after "by"
Object to the front, add be (same tense) + past participle, doer after "by".

The "be" form follows the original tense

TenseActive → Passive be-form
Present simpleis / are + V3
Past simplewas / were + V3
Present perfecthas / have been + V3
Futurewill be + V3
Keep the tense. The verb meaning never changes — only the "be" helper carries the tense. "They have completed it" → "It has been completed by them".

✅ Solved examples

1. Make passive: "Ram writes a letter."
A letter is written by Ram.
2. Make passive: "She painted the wall."
The wall was painted by her.
3. Make passive: "They have completed the project."
The project has been completed by them.
4. Make passive: "He will help you."
You will be helped by him.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. Make passive: "The cat caught a mouse."
Past → was + V3.
—
—
A mouse was caught by the cat.
2. Make passive: "People speak English here."
Present simple.
—
—
English is spoken here.
3. Make passive: "She is writing a novel."
is being + V3.
—
—
A novel is being written by her.
4. Make passive: "They will build a bridge."
will be + V3.
—
—
A bridge will be built by them.
5. Make passive: "He has eaten the apple."
has been + V3.
—
—
The apple has been eaten by him.

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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