Active and Passive Voice - English Grammar Lesson
This lesson explains active and passive voice in simple English, with rules and examples for students and exam preparation.
Rule
In active voice the subject does the action; in passive voice the subject receives it. Form the passive with be plus the past participle.
Examples
- The cat chased the mouse. / The mouse was chased by the cat.
- Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. / Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
Common Mistake
| Incorrect | The letter was wrote |
|---|---|
| Correct | The letter was written |
Practice Tip
Write three original sentences about this topic, then check each one against the rule above.
Related: Parts of Speech and English Tenses.