Active/Passive & Narration • Topic 2 of 4

Passive to Active

Reverse the process: find the doer (after 'by'), make it the subject, drop the 'be' helper, and use the correct active verb form in the same tense. If no doer is named, supply a sensible subject.

Run the swap backwards

  1. Find the doer (the word after "by") and make it the subject.
  2. Drop the "be" helper; use the active verb in the same tense.
  3. Move the old subject to the object position.

"A letter is written by Ram" → doer "Ram" becomes subject → "Ram writes a letter".

No doer? When the passive has no "by …", supply a general subject like people / one / they: "English is spoken here" → "People speak English here".

✅ Solved examples

1. Make active: "A letter is written by Ram."
Ram writes a letter.
2. Make active: "The wall was painted by her."
She painted the wall.
3. Make active: "The project has been completed by them."
They have completed the project.
4. Make active: "English is spoken here." (no doer)
People speak English here.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. Make active: "A mouse was caught by the cat."
Doer = cat.
—
—
The cat caught a mouse.
2. Make active: "You will be helped by him."
Doer = him.
—
—
He will help you.
3. Make active: "The apple has been eaten by him."
has eaten.
—
—
He has eaten the apple.
4. Make active: "A novel is being written by her."
is writing.
—
—
She is writing a novel.
5. Make active: "The bridge will be built by them."
will build.
—
—
They will build a bridge.

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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