Mastering Active and Passive Voice in English Grammar

1. The plane divides the clouds.

The plane divided the clouds. The clouds were divided by the plane.

The clouds divided the plane.

The plane dividing the clouds.

The divided plane clouds.

The correct answer should reflect the past tense as indicated by 'divided' in the original answer.

Explanation

The correct answer should reflect the past tense as indicated by 'divided' in the original answer.

2. My mother drank a cup of tea.

My mother is drinking a cup of tea.

My mother drank a cup of tea. A cup of tea was drunk by my mother.

My mother drinks a cup of tea.

My mother has drunk a cup of tea.

The correct sentence is in the past tense, 'drank' instead of 'drinks', 'is drinking', or 'has drunk'. Additionally, the correct passive construction 'A cup of tea was drunk by my mother' is used.

Explanation

The correct sentence is in the past tense, 'drank' instead of 'drinks', 'is drinking', or 'has drunk'. Additionally, the correct passive construction 'A cup of tea was drunk by my mother' is used.

3. The police caught the thief.

The thief caught the police.

The police catch the thief.

The police caught the thief. The thief was caught by the police.

The police catching the thief.

“The police caught the thief. The thief was caught by the police.” is a classic example of simple past active-to-passive conversion. The object “thief” becomes the subject in the passive form, and “was caught” correctly reflects the past tense of the action. The use of “by the police” clarifies agency, ensuring the meaning remains intact. This demonstrates precise voice transformation.

Explanation

“The police caught the thief. The thief was caught by the police.” is a classic example of simple past active-to-passive conversion. The object “thief” becomes the subject in the passive form, and “was caught” correctly reflects the past tense of the action. The use of “by the police” clarifies agency, ensuring the meaning remains intact. This demonstrates precise voice transformation.

4. The tree loses all leaves. The leaves are lost by the tree.

The tree lost all leaves. The leaves were lost by the tree.

The tree loses all leaves. The leaves lost the tree.

The tree losing all leaves. The leaves are lost by the tree.

The tree losing all leaves. The leaves lost the tree.

In the correct answer, the verb tenses are consistent and the passive voice is used correctly to show that the tree was the one losing the leaves.

Explanation

In the correct answer, the verb tenses are consistent and the passive voice is used correctly to show that the tree was the one losing the leaves.

5. The manager will announce the results tomorrow.

The results were announced by the manager.

The manager is announcing the results.

The manager announced the results.

The results will be announced by the manager.

“The manager will announce the results tomorrow. The results will be announced by the manager.” correctly shifts from future active to future passive voice. The auxiliary “will” remains unchanged, while the addition of “be” before the past participle “announced” forms the correct future passive structure. This construction maintains tense integrity while changing the focus from the manager to the results.

Explanation

“The manager will announce the results tomorrow. The results will be announced by the manager.” correctly shifts from future active to future passive voice. The auxiliary “will” remains unchanged, while the addition of “be” before the past participle “announced” forms the correct future passive structure. This construction maintains tense integrity while changing the focus from the manager to the results.

6. Jane and June rode the horses. The horses were ridden by Jane and June.

Jane and June rides the horses. The horses are riding by Jane and June.

Jane and June riding the horses. The horses ridden by Jane and June.

Jane and June ride the horse. The horse are ridden by Jane and June.

Jane and June rode the horses. The horses were ridden by Jane and June.

The correct answer uses the past tense to correctly reflect that the action of riding the horses has already occurred. In addition, the passive construction 'The horses were ridden by Jane and June' is used to indicate that the horses are the recipients of the action, rather than the subjects.

Explanation

The correct answer uses the past tense to correctly reflect that the action of riding the horses has already occurred. In addition, the passive construction 'The horses were ridden by Jane and June' is used to indicate that the horses are the recipients of the action, rather than the subjects.

7. The teacher writes on the blackboard. The blackboard is written on by the teacher.

The teacher wrote on the blackboard. The blackboard was written on by the teacher.

The teacher written on the blackboard. The blackboard is writes on by the teacher.

The teacher write on the blackboard. The blackboard is written on by the teacher.

The teacher wrote on the blackboard. The blackboard was writes on by the teacher.

In the sentence 'The teacher writes on the blackboard. The blackboard is written on by the teacher.', the tense consistency is maintained by using 'writes' and 'is written' for present tense and passive voice respectively.

Explanation

In the sentence 'The teacher writes on the blackboard. The blackboard is written on by the teacher.', the tense consistency is maintained by using 'writes' and 'is written' for present tense and passive voice respectively.

8. The gardener waters the plants.

The gardener watered the plants. The plants were watered by the gardener.

The gardener watering the plants.

The gardener water the plants.

The gardener has watered the plants.

“The gardener watered the plants. The plants were watered by the gardener.” illustrates past tense active-to-passive conversion. The main verb “watered” becomes “were watered” to emphasize the action received by the plants. The phrase “by the gardener” clarifies the agent performing the task, ensuring both grammatical correctness and logical meaning. This conversion maintains tense harmony and conveys information clearly.

Explanation

“The gardener watered the plants. The plants were watered by the gardener.” illustrates past tense active-to-passive conversion. The main verb “watered” becomes “were watered” to emphasize the action received by the plants. The phrase “by the gardener” clarifies the agent performing the task, ensuring both grammatical correctness and logical meaning. This conversion maintains tense harmony and conveys information clearly.

9. The students completed their assignments.

The students complete their assignments.

The students completed their assignments. Their assignments were completed by them.

The students completing their assignments.

The students has completed their assignments.

“The students completed their assignments. Their assignments were completed by them.” follows the correct transformation rule by using “were completed” to form passive voice in the past tense. The subject and object are inverted logically. The sentence accurately depicts the completion of work, and the inclusion of “by them” ensures clarity in who performed the task, maintaining grammatical precision.

Explanation

“The students completed their assignments. Their assignments were completed by them.” follows the correct transformation rule by using “were completed” to form passive voice in the past tense. The subject and object are inverted logically. The sentence accurately depicts the completion of work, and the inclusion of “by them” ensures clarity in who performed the task, maintaining grammatical precision.

10. The chef cooked a delicious meal.

The chef cooking a delicious meal.

The chef cooked a delicious meal. A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.

The chef cooks a delicious meal.

The chef has cooking a delicious meal.

“The chef cooked a delicious meal. A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.” keeps past tense agreement while shifting focus from the doer (chef) to the object (meal). The auxiliary “was” helps form the correct passive structure. The transformation preserves sentence meaning and introduces variety in sentence focus, showcasing how passive voice can emphasize the result rather than the performer.

Explanation

“The chef cooked a delicious meal. A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.” keeps past tense agreement while shifting focus from the doer (chef) to the object (meal). The auxiliary “was” helps form the correct passive structure. The transformation preserves sentence meaning and introduces variety in sentence focus, showcasing how passive voice can emphasize the result rather than the performer.