Are there sentences that cannot be changed to passive or active?

In one line

The rule

Only sentences with a clear object (the thing receiving the action) can usually be changed from active to passive, or vice versa.

Let's understand it simply

Imagine you are playing cricket. If you say, “Rahul hit the ball,” you can also say, “The ball was hit by Rahul.” Here, the ball is the object. But if you say, “Rahul ran,” there is no object. You cannot say, “Was run by Rahul.”

So, only sentences where someone does something to something (subject + verb + object) can be changed to passive or active. If there is no object, you cannot change the voice.

How it works

1. Check if the sentence has an object (someone or something receiving the action).
2. If yes, you can change the sentence from active to passive or passive to active.
3. If no object is present, you cannot change the voice.
4. Some sentences, like those with 'be', 'seem', or 'exist', do not have objects and cannot be changed.

The story behind it

English teachers and grammarians noticed that not all sentences could be changed to passive or active. They found that the key is the presence of an object. This rule helps us write clear and correct sentences.

Where you see it in real life

• "The chef cooked the meal." → Can change: "The meal was cooked by the chef."
• "The sun rises." → Cannot change: There is no object.
• "She sings a song." → Can change: "A song is sung by her."
• "He slept." → Cannot change: No object present.

Why it matters

• Helps you write correct English in exams and letters.
• Makes your sentences clear and easy to understand.
• Saves you from making grammar mistakes in essays and speeches.
• Important for translation and formal writing.

Common mistakes

• Trying to change sentences without objects ("He laughed.") to passive. This is not possible.
• Forgetting to check for the object before changing the voice.
• Thinking every sentence can be changed to passive or active. Only transitive verbs (verbs that need an object) can do this.

Remember it

If a sentence has no object, you cannot change its voice.