EnglishCBSE Class 8 · Bibha Chowdhuri: The Beam of Light that Lit the Path for Women in Indian Science

Active and Passive Voice, Class 8 English: Rules, Tenses and Solved Exercises

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

In the active voice the subject does the action (Schrödinger nominated Bibha). In the passive voice the subject receives the action (Bibha was nominated by Schrödinger). The passive is formed with a form of be plus the past participle. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject, the tense of be matches the original tense, and the doer is added with by only when it matters.

Notice the object (Bibha) jumps to the front, the verb becomes be + V3, and the old subject follows after by.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Active and Passive Voice: Conversions and Practice

The two voices. Active voice: the doer is the subject. Passive voice: the receiver of the action is the subject.

Steps to convert.
1. Find the subject, verb and object of the active sentence.
2. Move the object to the front as the new subject.
3. Use the correct form of be in the same tense as the original verb.
4. Add the past participle of the main verb.
5. Add by + doer if the doer is important; otherwise drop it.

Forms of be for each tense.

Simple present: is, am, are + V3. "The report is written."
Simple past: was, were + V3. "The report was written."
Present perfect: has been, have been + V3. "The report has been written."
Modals: modal + be + V3. "The report must be written."
Future: will be + V3. "The report will be written."
Present continuous: is being, are being + V3. "The report is being written."

Pronouns change form. I becomes me, he becomes him, they becomes them: "He nominated them" becomes "They were nominated by him".

When to use the passive.

When the action matters more than the doer: "A cure was discovered."
When the doer is unknown or obvious: "The anthem is sung every morning."
In formal and scientific writing and in newspaper or school-magazine reports: "A science exhibition was organised."

Questions. A "who" question changes to "by whom": "Who wrote this letter?" becomes "By whom was this letter written?"

Common errors. Using the base form instead of V3 (was write); forgetting be; using the wrong tense of be; keeping the doer even when it is unnecessary.

Answer pattern. Underline the object, mark the tense, write be in that tense and add V3.

Active and Passive Voice: Conversions and Practice: key facts

Basic rule: Object becomes subject
be in the same tense
past participle
by + doer if needed; The four steps.
Tenses: Present is/am/are + V3
Past was/were + V3
Perfect has/have been + V3
Future will be + V3; Match the tense of the original verb.
Modals: must be + V3
can be + V3
should be + V3
may be + V3; Modal + be + V3.
Use the passive when: Action matters more
Doer unknown
Doer obvious
Formal report; Reports in school magazines.

Present	is/am/are + V3
Past	was/were + V3
Perfect	has/have been + V3
Future	will be + V3

Active and Passive Voice: Conversions and Practice in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Choosing the passive in a news report

Suppose the school magazine reports a Science Day. The writer does not know who set up each stall, but knows what happened: "Twenty models were displayed, a quiz was conducted and prizes were awarded to the winners."

Why has the writer used the passive voice, and how would the same report sound in the active?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The doers are many or unknown, and the events are more important.
In active voice the writer would need to name who displayed, conducted and awarded each item.
The passive makes the report shorter and more formal.

Answer: The passive focuses on what was done, not on who did it. The active version would need the doers, for example "Students displayed twenty models", which is longer and less suitable for a short report.

Memory hook: Passive: the action matters, the doer may wait.

Tricks to remember Active and Passive Voice: Conversions and Practice

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

O-B-V3
Object first, be, V3.
Use it when: The order of the passive sentence.
Same tense
Passive keeps the tense, only the shape changes.
Use it when: Choosing be.
By whom
Who becomes by whom.
Use it when: Questions.

Active and Passive Voice: Conversions and Practice: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Identify the passive · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Which sentence is in the passive voice?
(a) Schrödinger nominated Bibha. (b) Bibha was nominated by Schrödinger. (c) Bibha worked in Manchester. (d) Bibha loved physics.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Was + nominated shows the passive voice (1 mark).

Answer: (b)

Example 2: Convert to the passive · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Change to the passive voice.
(i) The scientists discovered a new particle.
(ii) Students write the report.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) Simple past: was discovered by the scientists (1).
(ii) Simple present: is written by the students (1).

Answer: (i) A new particle was discovered by the scientists. (ii) The report is written by the students.

Example 3: Perfect tense, modal and question · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Change to the passive voice.
(i) The institute has appointed her.
(ii) Everyone must follow the rules.
(iii) Who wrote this letter?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) has been appointed (1).
(ii) must be followed (1).
(iii) By whom was this letter written (1).

Answer: (i) She has been appointed by the institute. (ii) The rules must be followed by everyone. (iii) By whom was this letter written?

Example 4: Leave out the doer · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice and drop the doer where it is unnecessary.
(i) People organised a science exhibition at school.
(ii) The teachers will announce the results tomorrow.
(iii) They are repairing the road.
(iv) Someone has stolen my bicycle.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) was organised (1).
(ii) will be announced (1).
(iii) is being repaired (1).
(iv) has been stolen (1).

Answer: (i) A science exhibition was organised at school. (ii) The results will be announced tomorrow. (iii) The road is being repaired. (iv) My bicycle has been stolen.

Example 5: A report using the passive · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Write a report of 60-80 words on a "Book Fair" held in your school last week, using the passive voice in at least five sentences. Underline or mark each passive verb with brackets.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Headline and byline (1).
Five passive sentences (2).
Details of what, when and where (1).
Language and order (1).

Answer: Book Fair at Green Valley School
By Meera, Class 8
A Book Fair [was held] in the school hall last Friday. Over three hundred books [were displayed] by two local publishers. Stories, science books and magazines [were arranged] on long tables, and a reading corner [was created] for younger students. Discounts [were offered] to the children, and a quiz [was conducted] by the librarian. The fair [was inaugurated] by the principal, who said that reading must be encouraged.

Where students lose marks in Active and Passive Voice: Conversions and Practice

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Using the base verb after was
Passive needs the past participle.
Wrong working
The letter was write by him.
Right working
The letter was written by him.
Do this: Use V3 after be.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Changing the tense
The tense must not change.
Wrong working
Active: She writes a poem. Passive: A poem was written by her.
Right working
A poem is written by her.
Do this: Match the tense of be to the original.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Forgetting to change pronouns
Subject and object forms differ.
Wrong working
They helped he.
Right working
He was helped by them.
Do this: Use me, him, them as objects.
Usually costs: 0.5 to 1 mark.

Exam tips

Mark the tense first, then choose the form of be.
Never change the tense when converting.
Use "by whom" for a "who" question.
Use the passive in reports and formal writing, with past tense for events.
Check that your main verb is in the past participle form.

Practice questions on Active and Passive Voice: Conversions and Practice

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
The passive form of "She wrote a letter" is
(a) A letter is written by her. (b) A letter was written by her. (c) A letter has been written by her. (d) A letter is being written by her.
Hint
Simple past becomes was + V3.
Answer
(b)
Q2 · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level
Change to the passive voice: (i) The farmer ploughs the field. (ii) They closed the gate.
Hint
Present and past tense.
Answer
(i) The field is ploughed by the farmer. (ii) The gate was closed by them.
Q3 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level
Assertion (A): "The rules must be followed" is a passive sentence.
Reason (R): It uses a modal with be and the past participle.
(a) Both A and R are true and R explains A
(b) Both are true but R does not explain A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Hint
Check the structure.
Answer
(a)
Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Change to the active voice: (i) The match was won by India. (ii) A letter has been sent by the principal. (iii) By whom was the window broken?
Hint
Move the doer to the front.
Answer
(i) India won the match. (ii) The principal has sent a letter. (iii) Who broke the window?
Q5 · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Explain, with two examples of your own, why a writer might choose the passive voice instead of the active. Then rewrite one of your examples in the active voice. Answer in 60-80 words.
Hint
Unknown doer, more important action.
Answer
A writer chooses the passive when the action matters more than the doer or when the doer is unknown. For example, "The window was broken during the match" does not need the name of the person who broke it. In a notice, "Students are requested to assemble in the hall" sounds polite and formal. The active version of the first sentence would be "Someone broke the window during the match", which sounds less formal and gives attention to an unknown person.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.What forms the passive voice?Show answer
A form of be plus the past participle.
2.What is the passive of "Who broke the glass?"Show answer
By whom was the glass broken?
3.What does the object of an active sentence become?Show answer
The subject of the passive sentence.
4.What is the passive of a present perfect verb?Show answer
has/have been + past participle.
5.What is the pattern for modals?Show answer
modal + be + past participle.
6.When is by + doer omitted?Show answer
When the doer is unknown or unimportant.

Active and Passive Voice: Conversions and Practice: frequently asked questions

Can every active sentence be changed to the passive?

Only sentences with an object; verbs without an object, such as sleep or arrive, cannot be made passive.

Is the passive wrong in school essays?

No, but overuse makes writing heavy; use it for reports and formal tone.

Why is this grammar linked with the Bibha Chowdhuri lesson?

The lesson has many passive sentences, such as "she was nominated", and reports use the passive.

What tasks come in exams?

Changing sentences between voices and writing reports.