Theory & Concepts
Master Active & Passive Voice for SSC CGL
Get comprehensive theory, expert shortcuts, and hand-picked practice questions for Active & Passive Voice specifically designed for the SSC CGL 2025-26 pattern.
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Active & Passive Voice transformations are major score-boosters in the SSC CGL exam, carrying substantial weightage in both Tier 1 and Tier 2. Unlike other grammar rules, voice changes require you to re-arrange sentence subjects and objects while strictly maintaining the original tense. This module covers precise transformation formulas for all 12 tenses, imperatives, and advanced rules.
Learning path
- Tense Transition Formulas
- Imperative Sentence Structures
- Stative Verbs & Special Prepositions
- 20 Practice Questions
1. Tense-Wise Voice Transformation Formulas
The fundamental rule of voice conversion is: The tense of the sentence never changes. If a sentence is in the present continuous, its passive form must remain in the present continuous, using the appropriate auxiliary verb and V3.
| Tense | Active Voice Formula | Passive Voice Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | Sub + V1/V5 + Obj | Obj + is/am/are + V3 + by + Sub |
| Present Continuous | Sub + is/am/are + V4(ing) + Obj | Obj + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + Sub |
| Present Perfect | Sub + has/have + V3 + Obj | Obj + has/have + been + V3 + by + Sub |
| Simple Past | Sub + V2 + Obj | Obj + was/were + V3 + by + Sub |
| Past Continuous | Sub + was/were + V4(ing) + Obj | Obj + was/were + being + V3 + by + Sub |
| Past Perfect | Sub + had + V3 + Obj | Obj + had + been + V3 + by + Sub |
| Simple Future | Sub + will/shall + V1 + Obj | Obj + will/shall + be + V3 + by + Sub |
| Future Perfect | Sub + will + have + V3 + Obj | Obj + will + have + been + V3 + by + Sub |
💡 NOTE ON UNCHANGEABLE TENSES: Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect Continuous, Future Continuous, and Future Perfect Continuous tenses have no standard passive voice structures under typical CGL exam patterns. If asked to convert, they are classified as "No Passive Voice".
2. Imperatives & Complex Passive Structures
Imperatives express command, request, advice, or suggestions and demand unique transformations:
1
Commands & Orders
Structure: Let + Object + be + V3 or You are ordered to + V1.
Active: "Shut the door." → Passive: "Let the door be shut."
2
Advice & Suggestions
Structure: Object + should + be + V3 or You are advised to + V1.
Active: "Help the poor." → Passive: "The poor should be helped."
3
Requests
Structure: Replace 'Please' or 'Kindly' with You are requested to + V1.
Active: "Please sit down." → Passive: "You are requested to sit down."
4
Prepositional Stative Verbs
Some verbs take standard prepositions instead of 'by' (e.g. known to, surprised at, pleased with, interested in).
Active: "I know him." → Passive: "He is known to me." (NOT 'known by me')
3. 20 Practice Questions (Solved)
Question 01Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "The chef prepares a delicious meal every evening."
A) A delicious meal is prepared by the chef every evening.
B) A delicious meal was prepared by the chef every evening.
C) A delicious meal has been prepared by the chef every evening.
D) A delicious meal is preparing by the chef every evening.
Correct answer: A) A delicious meal is prepared by the chef every evening.
Solution
Step 1: Identify the tense: 'prepares' is simple present (V5).
Step 2: Passive formula for simple present: is/am/are + V3 ('is prepared').
Step 3: Object 'A delicious meal' is singular, so it takes 'is prepared'.
Conclusion: Option A.
Question 02Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "The government has launched a new education policy."
A) A new education policy was launched by the government.
B) A new education policy is launched by the government.
C) A new education policy has been launched by the government.
D) A new education policy had been launched by the government.
Correct answer: C) A new education policy has been launched by the government.
Solution
Step 1: Identify the tense: 'has launched' is present perfect.
Step 2: Present perfect passive formula: has/have + been + V3.
Step 3: 'A new education policy' (singular) demands 'has been launched'.
Conclusion: Option C.
Question 03Exam Pattern
Convert to Active: "The house was being painted by the workers when it started raining."
A) The workers painted the house when it started raining.
B) The workers were painting the house when it started raining.
C) The workers had been painting the house when it started raining.
D) The workers are painting the house when it started raining.
Correct answer: B) The workers were painting the house when it started raining.
Solution
Step 1: Note the passive structure: 'was being painted' is past continuous passive.
Step 2: Active formula for past continuous: was/were + V-ing.
Step 3: 'workers' (plural) takes 'were painting'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 04Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "Do not insult the poor."
A) Let the poor not to be insulted.
B) Let not the poor be insulted.
C) Let the poor not be insulted.
D) The poor should not to be insulted.
Correct answer: C) Let the poor not be insulted.
Solution
Step 1: This is a negative imperative command.
Step 2: Standard negative imperative passive template: 'Let + object + not + be + V3'.
Step 3: Applying formula: 'Let' + 'the poor' + 'not' + 'be insulted'.
Conclusion: Option C.
Question 05Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "The noise of the traffic surprised us."
A) We were surprised by the noise of the traffic.
B) We were surprised at the noise of the traffic.
C) We had been surprised by the noise of the traffic.
D) We are surprised at the noise of the traffic.
Correct answer: B) We were surprised at the noise of the traffic.
Solution
Step 1: Identify the verb: 'surprised' (V2 - Simple Past).
Step 2: Stative/action exceptions: 'surprise' takes the preposition 'at', not 'by'.
Step 3: Apply simple past passive with 'at': 'We were surprised at...'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 06Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "Someone had already cleaned the room before we arrived."
A) The room has already been cleaned before we arrived.
B) The room was already cleaned before we arrived.
C) The room had already been cleaned before we arrived.
D) The room is already cleaned before we arrived.
Correct answer: C) The room had already been cleaned before we arrived.
Solution
Step 1: Identify tense: 'had already cleaned' (Past Perfect).
Step 2: Past perfect passive formula: had + been + V3.
Step 3: Active subject 'Someone' is indefinite, so it can be omitted in the passive agent phrase.
Conclusion: Option C.
Question 07Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "She will write a novel next year."
A) A novel will be written by her next year.
B) A novel would be written by her next year.
C) A novel will have been written by her next year.
D) A novel is written by her next year.
Correct answer: A) A novel will be written by her next year.
Solution
Step 1: Identify tense: 'will write' (Simple Future).
Step 2: Simple future passive formula: will/shall + be + V3.
Step 3: Apply: 'A novel will be written by her'.
Conclusion: Option A.
Question 08Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "Why did you break the window pane?"
A) Why was the window pane broken by you?
B) Why did the window pane broken by you?
C) Why the window pane was broken by you?
D) Why was the window pane break by you?
Correct answer: A) Why was the window pane broken by you?
Solution
Step 1: Note the interrogative simple past question ('did... break').
Step 2: Passive question maintains inversion: 'Why' + was/were + object + V3 + by + subject.
Step 3: Singular 'window pane' takes 'was... broken'.
Conclusion: Option A.
Question 09Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "The judge ordered the release of the prisoner."
A) The prisoner's release was ordered by the judge.
B) The release of the prisoner was ordered by the judge.
C) The prisoner was ordered to be released by the judge.
D) Both B and C are correct.
Correct answer: D) Both B and C are correct.
Solution
Step 1: The sentence can be transformed using two valid grammatical pathways.
Step 2: Path 1: treat 'the release of the prisoner' as the noun phrase object → 'The release of the prisoner was ordered...'.
Step 3: Path 2: treat it as an objective complement construction → 'The prisoner was ordered to be released...'. Both are perfectly accurate.
Conclusion: Option D.
Question 10Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "His behavior highly pleased me."
A) I was highly pleased by his behavior.
B) I was highly pleased with his behavior.
C) I was highly pleased at his behavior.
D) I had been highly pleased with his behavior.
Correct answer: B) I was highly pleased with his behavior.
Solution
Step 1: Identify verb and tense: 'pleased' (Simple Past).
Step 2: Preposition rule: 'pleased' takes 'with' when denoting satisfaction with behavior/person.
Step 3: Apply: 'I was highly pleased with...'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 11Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "Open the window."
A) Let the window opened.
B) Let the window be opened.
C) You are ordered to opening the window.
D) Let be the window opened.
Correct answer: B) Let the window be opened.
Solution
Step 1: This is an imperative command.
Step 2: Imperative passive template: Let + Obj + be + V3.
Step 3: Applying: 'Let' + 'the window' + 'be opened'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 12Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "The security guard is checking the visitors' bags."
A) The visitors' bags were checked by the security guard.
B) The visitors' bags are checking by the security guard.
C) The visitors' bags are being checked by the security guard.
D) The visitors' bags have been checked by the security guard.
Correct answer: C) The visitors' bags are being checked by the security guard.
Solution
Step 1: Identify tense: 'is checking' (Present Continuous).
Step 2: Present continuous passive formula: is/am/are + being + V3.
Step 3: Plural object 'bags' requires 'are being checked'.
Conclusion: Option C.
Question 13Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "Who wrote this beautiful poem?"
A) By whom was this beautiful poem written?
B) By who was this beautiful poem written?
C) By whom this beautiful poem was written?
D) Whom was this beautiful poem written by?
Correct answer: A) By whom was this beautiful poem written?
Solution
Step 1: The interrogative pronoun 'Who' converts to 'By whom' at the start of a passive sentence.
Step 2: Apply simple past question inversion: 'By whom + was/were + Obj + V3'.
Step 3: Choose option A.
Conclusion: Option A.
Question 14Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "They are to build a new flyover here."
A) A new flyover is to build here by them.
B) A new flyover is to be built here.
C) A new flyover has to be built here.
D) A new flyover was to be built here.
Correct answer: B) A new flyover is to be built here.
Solution
Step 1: The active sentence uses the infinitive 'to build' along with present linking verb 'are'.
Step 2: Passive infinitive structure: 'to + be + V3' ('to be built').
Step 3: singular 'flyover' takes 'is to be built'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 15Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "People say that honesty is the best policy."
A) Honesty is said to be the best policy.
B) It is said that honesty is the best policy.
C) It is said by people that honesty is the best policy.
D) Both A and B are correct.
Correct answer: D) Both A and B are correct.
Solution
Step 1: This represents a collective opinion passive transformation.
Step 2: Method 1: 'It is said that honesty is...' (impersonal passive).
Step 3: Method 2: 'Honesty is said to be...' (infinitive conversion). Both are highly acceptable in CGL patterns.
Conclusion: Option D.
Question 16Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "The doctor advised me to take a complete rest."
A) I was advised by the doctor to take a complete rest.
B) I had been advised by the doctor to take a complete rest.
C) Complete rest was advised to me by the doctor.
D) I was advised to be taken complete rest by the doctor.
Correct answer: A) I was advised by the doctor to take a complete rest.
Solution
Step 1: Identify the main verb and object: 'advised' (Simple Past), 'me' (Indirect Object).
Step 2: Converting indirect object 'me' to subject 'I' gives: 'I was advised...'.
Step 3: Keep the infinitive modifier intact: 'to take a complete rest'.
Conclusion: Option A.
Question 17Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "We must respect our elders."
A) Our elders must respected.
B) Our elders must be respected.
C) Our elders should be respected.
D) Our elders must be respecting by us.
Correct answer: B) Our elders must be respected.
Solution
Step 1: Locate the modal auxiliary: 'must'.
Step 2: Modal passive formula: modal + be + V3 ('must be respected').
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 18Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "His friends laughed at him."
A) He was laughed by his friends.
B) He was laughed at by his friends.
C) He was being laughed at by his friends.
D) He had been laughed at by his friends.
Correct answer: B) He was laughed at by his friends.
Solution
Step 1: Note the phrasal verb: 'laughed at'.
Step 2: Under preposition retention rules, the preposition 'at' must stay locked to the verb 'laughed' in the passive form.
Step 3: Apply: 'He was laughed at' + 'by his friends'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 19Exam Pattern
Convert to Passive: "He handed me a secret letter."
A) A secret letter was handed to me by him.
B) I was handed a secret letter by him.
C) A secret letter had been handed to me by him.
D) Both A and B are correct.
Correct answer: D) Both A and B are correct.
Solution
Step 1: The verb 'handed' has double objects: 'me' (indirect object) and 'a secret letter' (direct object).
Step 2: Passive conversion can elevate either object.
Step 3: Both sentences are grammatically immaculate and standard CGL variations.
Conclusion: Option D.
Question 20Exam Pattern
Convert to Active: "A grand party is being planned by the students."
A) The students planned a grand party.
B) The students are planning a grand party.
C) The students were planning a grand party.
D) The students have planned a grand party.
Correct answer: B) The students are planning a grand party.
Solution
Step 1: Identify passive tense: 'is being planned' (Present Continuous Passive).
Step 2: Convert to active present continuous: is/am/are + V-ing.
Step 3: Plural 'students' takes 'are planning'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Strategy errors to avoid
!
Tense Shift Confusions
Unlike Direct/Indirect speech, Active/Passive Voice NEVER shifts tenses. Do not change a simple past to a past perfect. Ensure a 'was/were V3' matches a simple past V2 active.
!
Preposition Omissions
When converting verbs linked with prepositions (e.g. 'look after', 'laugh at'), always retain the preposition inside the passive clause right after the verb.