Voice (Active–Passive) for SSC CGL
Complete Grammar Guide
1. What is Voice?
Voice shows whether the subject performs the action or receives it.
Active Voice
Subject does the action
Example: Ravi eats an apple
Passive Voice
Subject receives the action
Example: An apple is eaten by Ravi
2. Basic Rules for Transformation
Rule 1: Tense Changes in Passive
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| Present Simple: S + V1(s/es) + O | O + is/are + V3 + by S |
| Present Continuous: S + is/are + V-ing + O | O + is/are being + V3 + by S |
| Present Perfect: S + has/have + V3 + O | O + has/have been + V3 + by S |
| Past Simple: S + V2 + O | O + was/were + V3 + by S |
| Past Continuous: S + was/were + V-ing + O | O + was/were being + V3 + by S |
| Past Perfect: S + had + V3 + O | O + had been + V3 + by S |
| Future Simple: S + will + V1 + O | O + will be + V3 + by S |
| Future Continuous: S + will be + V-ing + O | Rarely used; focus on SSC pattern |
| Future Perfect: S + will have + V3 + O | O + will have been + V3 + by S |
Rule 2: Object Becomes Subject
The object of active voice becomes the subject of passive
Active → Ram reads a book
Passive → A book is read by Ram
Rule 3: Subject Becomes Agent (optional)
- Use "by + subject" in passive
- He is respected by everyone
- Agent can be omitted if obvious
- The cake was eaten
Rule 4: Special Cases
1. Imperative Sentences
Active → Close the door
Passive → Let the door be closed
2. Modal Verbs
Active → She can solve the problem
Passive → The problem can be solved by her
3. Two Objects
Indirect object becomes subject:
Active → Ram gave Sita a gift
Passive → Sita was given a gift by Ram
Direct object becomes subject (optional, less common):
A gift was given to Sita by Ram
4. Questions
Active → Who wrote this book?
Passive → By whom was this book written?
3. Common SSC Error Patterns
1. Forgetting "be" in passive
The work done by Ram
The work is done by Ram
2. Wrong tense transformation
He eats an apple → An apple was eaten by him
Correct → An apple is eaten by him
3. Misplacing agent
The book is read Ram
The book is read by Ram
4. Modal verbs mistake
She must solve the problem → The problem must be solve by her
The problem must be solved by her
4. SSC CGL Previous Year Questions
Q1. Ram wrote a letter. (Change to Passive)
Answer: A letter was written by Ram
Q2. Who wrote this book? (Passive)
Answer: By whom was this book written?
Q3. She can solve the problem. (Passive)
Answer: The problem can be solved by her
Q4. Close the door. (Passive)
Answer: Let the door be closed
Q5. Ram gave Sita a gift. (Passive)
Answer: Sita was given a gift by Ram
5. Quick Recap
- Object → Subject, Subject → Agent (optional)
- Check tense and verb form
- Use by for agent (optional if obvious)
- Watch modals, imperatives, questions
- SSC traps: wrong tense, missing "be", incorrect participle
6. Practice Questions
(Attempt yourself – answers hidden below)
Q1. She writes a letter. (Passive)
Q2. The teacher will correct the papers. (Passive)
Q3. Who painted this picture? (Passive)
Q4. Close the windows. (Passive)
Q5. He has finished the work. (Passive)
Click for Answers
1. A letter is written by her
2. The papers will be corrected by the teacher
3. By whom was this picture painted?
4. Let the windows be closed
5. The work has been finished by him
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