Bihar Board Class 11 English – Active and Passive Voice

Bihar Board Class 11 English Active and Passive Voice is an important grammar topic. Voice shows whether the subject performs an action or receives the action.

What Is Active Voice?

In active voice, the subject performs the action.

Example: Ram writes a letter.

Here, Ram performs the action.

What Is Passive Voice?

In passive voice, the focus is placed on the person or thing receiving the action.

Example: A letter is written by Ram.

Basic Structure

Active: Subject + Verb + Object

Passive: Object + suitable form of be + V3 + by + Subject

Simple Present

Active: She writes a letter.

Passive: A letter is written by her.

Present Continuous

Active: She is writing a letter.

Passive: A letter is being written by her.

Present Perfect

Active: She has written a letter.

Passive: A letter has been written by her.

Simple Past

Active: She wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by her.

Past Continuous

Active: She was writing a letter.

Passive: A letter was being written by her.

Past Perfect

Active: She had written a letter.

Passive: A letter had been written by her.

Simple Future

Active: She will write a letter.

Passive: A letter will be written by her.

Modal Auxiliary

Active: You must obey the rules.

Passive: The rules must be obeyed by you.

Important Rules

1. The object of the active sentence generally becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
2. Use the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb.
3. Use the third form of the main verb in passive voice.
4. The original subject can be introduced with by when necessary.
5. Only transitive verbs generally form passive constructions because they take an object.

Imperative Sentences

Active: Open the door.

Passive: Let the door be opened.

Active: Do not waste water.

Passive: Let water not be wasted.

Interrogative Sentences

Active: Did he write a letter?

Passive: Was a letter written by him?

Practice Examples

1. They built a bridge. → A bridge was built by them.
2. She is reading a book. → A book is being read by her.
3. He has completed the work. → The work has been completed by him.
4. They will organise the event. → The event will be organised by them.
5. You should follow the rules. → The rules should be followed by you.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong form of be.
• Forgetting V3.
• Changing the tense incorrectly.
• Using by unnecessarily in every sentence.
• Trying to make an intransitive verb passive.

Previous Topic

Bihar Board Class 11 English Modal Auxiliaries

Conclusion

Bihar Board Class 11 English Active and Passive Voice becomes easier when students understand the role of the subject, object, auxiliary verb and V3 form of the main verb.