Active & Passive Voice
Full Lesson - SSC GD English Section
Introduction
Voice shows whether the subject is doing the action or receiving the action.
Active Voice
Subject does the action
Ram writes a letter.
Passive Voice
Subject receives the action
A letter is written by Ram.
Exam Tip: SSC GD asks only very basic voice questions — mostly transforming simple sentences.
How to Identify Active & Passive Voice
Active Voice
Subject performs action
Structure → Subject + Verb + Object
Example: He cleaned the room.
Passive Voice
Subject receives action
Structure → Object + be verb + V3 + by + subject
Example: The room was cleaned by him.
Key Rules for SSC GD
Rule 1: Convert V2/V1 → V3 in Passive
ate → eaten
write → written
make → made
Rule 2: Add correct "be verb" (is/am/are/was/were/be/been)
Present:
writes → is written
write → are written
Past:
wrote → was/were written
Future:
will write → will be written
Rule 3: "By" + Doer (optional)
If doer is unimportant, don't use "by".
Active:
Someone stole my bag.
Passive:
My bag was stolen. ✔
Rule 4: Pronouns change
I → me
We → us
He → him
She → her
Active:
He helps me.
Passive:
I am helped by him.
Voice Conversion Table (Super Shortcuts)
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| writes | is written |
| write | are written |
| wrote | was/were written |
| has/have written | has/have been written |
| will write | will be written |
| is writing | is being written |
| was writing | was being written |
Note: This covers 100% SSC GD questions.
Active → Passive Examples (SSC GD Level)
Active: She sings a song.
Passive: A song is sung by her.
Active: He helped me.
Passive: I was helped by him.
Active: They are watching the match.
Passive: The match is being watched by them.
Active: The teacher will check the papers.
Passive: The papers will be checked by the teacher.
Active: They have completed the work.
Passive: The work has been completed by them.
Sample Questions (SSC GD Style)
Change into passive voice: He writes a letter.
Options: (a) A letter was written by him (b) A letter is written by him (c) A letter has been written (d) A letter will be written
View Answer
A letter is written by him
Choose the correct passive form: She helped the poor.
Options: (a) The poor are helped by her (b) The poor were helped by her (c) The poor is helped by her (d) The poor will be helped
View Answer
The poor were helped by her
Change into passive voice: They will build a house.
Options: (a) A house will be built (b) A house is built (c) A house was built (d) A house has been built
View Answer
A house will be built
Choose the passive form: He is cooking food.
Options: (a) Food is cooked (b) Food was cooking (c) Food is being cooked (d) Food has been cooked
View Answer
Food is being cooked
Identify the sentence in passive voice:
Options: (a) He wrote the letter (b) The letter was written (c) He is writing a letter (d) They have written letters
View Answer
The letter was written
Quick Recap
Active → Subject does action
Passive → Subject receives action
Always use V3 in passive
"Be verbs" change according to tense
"By" + subject (him, her, them)
SSC GD mostly asks simple conversions:
writes → is written
wrote → was written
will write → will be written
is writing → is being written
Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
SSC GD 2022 — "He broke the window" → "The window was broken"
SSC GD 2021 — "She is reading a book" → "A book is being read"
SSC GD 2020 — "They will finish the work" → "The work will be finished"
SSC GD 2019 — Identify passive form of "He writes a letter"
SSC GD 2018 — Simple past → passive transformation
You've completed Active & Passive Voice Lesson!
Courage Tip: Master the voice conversion table as it covers all SSC GD patterns. Remember the key rules: always use V3 in passive, choose the correct 'be verb' based on tense, and use 'by' only when the doer is important. Practice simple conversions regularly to build speed and accuracy.
Master Voice for SSC GD Exam!
Join Courage Library for comprehensive study materials and expert guidance.
Be a Couragian!