How does tense change when you switch from passive to active voice?

In one line

The rule

The tense of the verb does not change when converting between active and passive voice; only the verb form and structure change to suit the voice.

• Active: Subject + Verb (tense) + Object
• Passive: Subject + form of 'to be' (tense) + Past Participle (V3) + (by + Agent)

Let's understand it simply

Imagine you are playing cricket. You hit the ball (active voice: you do the action). Now, think of the ball being hit by you (passive voice: the ball receives the action). Whether you say, "I hit the ball" or "The ball was hit by me," the time when the action happened (tense) does not change. Only the way you say it changes.

How it works

1. Identify the tense of the original sentence (present, past, future, etc.).
2. Change the subject and object places: the doer becomes the receiver, and vice versa.
3. Keep the tense the same, but adjust the verb form:

• In active, use the normal tense form of the verb.
• In passive, use the correct 'to be' verb for the tense + past participle (V3).

1. Add 'by' before the agent (the doer) in passive, if needed.

The story behind it

English grammar rules for voice were made to help us focus on what is important in a sentence: the doer or the action. The rule about keeping the tense the same helps us avoid confusion about when something happened, no matter how we write the sentence.

Where you see it in real life

• School homework: "The homework was completed by Raju." (passive) → "Raju completed the homework." (active)
• Kitchen: "The tea is made by Amma." (passive) → "Amma makes the tea." (active)
• Cricket commentary: "The ball was caught by the fielder." (passive) → "The fielder caught the ball." (active)
• Market: "The vegetables are sold by the vendor." (passive) → "The vendor sells the vegetables." (active)

Why it matters

• Helps you write clear and correct sentences in English exams.
• Makes your writing more direct and powerful.
• Needed for letter writing, reports, and notices.
• Important for understanding instructions and news headlines.

Common mistakes

• Changing the tense by mistake: Students often change the tense instead of just the voice. Remember, tense stays the same.
• Wrong 'to be' form: Using the wrong form of 'to be' for the tense in passive sentences.
• Forgetting the past participle: In passive, always use the past participle (V3) of the verb.

Remember it

When changing voice, keep the tense the same—just change the verb form and word order.