NCERT Textbook: Unit 12 - Active Passive, English Communicative, Class 10 | EduRev Notes

 Page 1


12
219
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
A. Introduction
A.1 Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs 
given in brackets.
A.2 When do we use the passive voice?
1. It is a big college.  More than a hundred teachers ____________________ (employ) 
there.
2. _________________________ (somebody/ clean) the office yesterday?
3. How much of our country's land area _______________________ (cover) by forest?
4. The hostel gates _______________ (lock) at 8.00 pm everyday.
5. The parcel _________________ (send) a month ago and it __________________ 
(arrive) only yesterday.
6. Where _______________________ (these photographs/take)? In Mumbai? 
______________________________ (you/ take) them,  or somebody else?
Did you use the same type of construction in your answers? 
What are the two types of construction called?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Example: Look at the following sentences:
a) My grandfather established this steel factory in 1940.
b) This steel factory was established in 1940 by my grandfather.
We use the passive voice when we are more interested in the action than the 
person who does it or when we do not know the active subject .
Read the following sentences and using the given clues, find out the reason for 
the use of the passive construction as in the Example above.
•
•
Page 2


12
219
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
A. Introduction
A.1 Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs 
given in brackets.
A.2 When do we use the passive voice?
1. It is a big college.  More than a hundred teachers ____________________ (employ) 
there.
2. _________________________ (somebody/ clean) the office yesterday?
3. How much of our country's land area _______________________ (cover) by forest?
4. The hostel gates _______________ (lock) at 8.00 pm everyday.
5. The parcel _________________ (send) a month ago and it __________________ 
(arrive) only yesterday.
6. Where _______________________ (these photographs/take)? In Mumbai? 
______________________________ (you/ take) them,  or somebody else?
Did you use the same type of construction in your answers? 
What are the two types of construction called?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Example: Look at the following sentences:
a) My grandfather established this steel factory in 1940.
b) This steel factory was established in 1940 by my grandfather.
We use the passive voice when we are more interested in the action than the 
person who does it or when we do not know the active subject .
Read the following sentences and using the given clues, find out the reason for 
the use of the passive construction as in the Example above.
•
•
CBSE
220
1. He was killed in the World War II.
Clue: Who must have killed him?  Is it obvious?
________________________________________________________________________
2. The Bank was looted last night.
Clue: Have the police caught the culprits?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Sachin Tendulkar is looked upon as a sporting icon.
Clue: By whom?
________________________________________________________________________
4. This sort of road-side restaurants can be seen everywhere in this city.
Clue: How will you write it in active voice?
_______________________________________________________________________
5. When he arrived at the airport, he was arrested.
Clue: Rewrite the sentence in active voice.  Is it a little awkward?
________________________________________________________________________
6. Employer: On account of tight financial condition, bonus will not be paid this 
year.
Clue: If it is some good news, what voice will the employer use?
________________________________________________________________________
7. I got my hair cut.
Clue: Look at the construction using 'got'.
________________________________________________________________________
Page 3


12
219
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
A. Introduction
A.1 Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs 
given in brackets.
A.2 When do we use the passive voice?
1. It is a big college.  More than a hundred teachers ____________________ (employ) 
there.
2. _________________________ (somebody/ clean) the office yesterday?
3. How much of our country's land area _______________________ (cover) by forest?
4. The hostel gates _______________ (lock) at 8.00 pm everyday.
5. The parcel _________________ (send) a month ago and it __________________ 
(arrive) only yesterday.
6. Where _______________________ (these photographs/take)? In Mumbai? 
______________________________ (you/ take) them,  or somebody else?
Did you use the same type of construction in your answers? 
What are the two types of construction called?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Example: Look at the following sentences:
a) My grandfather established this steel factory in 1940.
b) This steel factory was established in 1940 by my grandfather.
We use the passive voice when we are more interested in the action than the 
person who does it or when we do not know the active subject .
Read the following sentences and using the given clues, find out the reason for 
the use of the passive construction as in the Example above.
•
•
CBSE
220
1. He was killed in the World War II.
Clue: Who must have killed him?  Is it obvious?
________________________________________________________________________
2. The Bank was looted last night.
Clue: Have the police caught the culprits?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Sachin Tendulkar is looked upon as a sporting icon.
Clue: By whom?
________________________________________________________________________
4. This sort of road-side restaurants can be seen everywhere in this city.
Clue: How will you write it in active voice?
_______________________________________________________________________
5. When he arrived at the airport, he was arrested.
Clue: Rewrite the sentence in active voice.  Is it a little awkward?
________________________________________________________________________
6. Employer: On account of tight financial condition, bonus will not be paid this 
year.
Clue: If it is some good news, what voice will the employer use?
________________________________________________________________________
7. I got my hair cut.
Clue: Look at the construction using 'got'.
________________________________________________________________________
CBSE
221
We must remember that all active constructions cannot/ should not be transformed 
into passive constructions mechanically, even if such transformation is possible.  
Example: a) He is drinking water.
b) Water is being drunk by him
Though sentence (b) is grammatically correct, we do not write or speak such a 
sentence.  It is unnatural.
Hence it is necessary to keep in mind that the passive voice has certain legitimate 
uses as discussed in A.2
Excerpts
1. The tea leaves are picked and left to dry in the sun.
2. 20 ml of the salt is taken in a test tube and heated over the flame of a Bunsen 
burner.
3. Many villagers were adversely affected by the flash flood.  It is estimated that 
nearly half of the standing crop has been submerged in water.
Text Types
a) Newspaper (and formal) report _______________________________________
b) Description of processes _____________________________________________
c) Academic writings including reporting of scientific experiments
____________________________________________________________________
74 killed in Myanmar quake.
A.3 Match the excerpts below with the text types given in the box.
What are the text types in which we can expect to find frequent use of the 
passive?
A.4 Read the following excerpt from a news story and answer the questions 
given below the excerpt.
Page 4


12
219
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
A. Introduction
A.1 Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs 
given in brackets.
A.2 When do we use the passive voice?
1. It is a big college.  More than a hundred teachers ____________________ (employ) 
there.
2. _________________________ (somebody/ clean) the office yesterday?
3. How much of our country's land area _______________________ (cover) by forest?
4. The hostel gates _______________ (lock) at 8.00 pm everyday.
5. The parcel _________________ (send) a month ago and it __________________ 
(arrive) only yesterday.
6. Where _______________________ (these photographs/take)? In Mumbai? 
______________________________ (you/ take) them,  or somebody else?
Did you use the same type of construction in your answers? 
What are the two types of construction called?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Example: Look at the following sentences:
a) My grandfather established this steel factory in 1940.
b) This steel factory was established in 1940 by my grandfather.
We use the passive voice when we are more interested in the action than the 
person who does it or when we do not know the active subject .
Read the following sentences and using the given clues, find out the reason for 
the use of the passive construction as in the Example above.
•
•
CBSE
220
1. He was killed in the World War II.
Clue: Who must have killed him?  Is it obvious?
________________________________________________________________________
2. The Bank was looted last night.
Clue: Have the police caught the culprits?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Sachin Tendulkar is looked upon as a sporting icon.
Clue: By whom?
________________________________________________________________________
4. This sort of road-side restaurants can be seen everywhere in this city.
Clue: How will you write it in active voice?
_______________________________________________________________________
5. When he arrived at the airport, he was arrested.
Clue: Rewrite the sentence in active voice.  Is it a little awkward?
________________________________________________________________________
6. Employer: On account of tight financial condition, bonus will not be paid this 
year.
Clue: If it is some good news, what voice will the employer use?
________________________________________________________________________
7. I got my hair cut.
Clue: Look at the construction using 'got'.
________________________________________________________________________
CBSE
221
We must remember that all active constructions cannot/ should not be transformed 
into passive constructions mechanically, even if such transformation is possible.  
Example: a) He is drinking water.
b) Water is being drunk by him
Though sentence (b) is grammatically correct, we do not write or speak such a 
sentence.  It is unnatural.
Hence it is necessary to keep in mind that the passive voice has certain legitimate 
uses as discussed in A.2
Excerpts
1. The tea leaves are picked and left to dry in the sun.
2. 20 ml of the salt is taken in a test tube and heated over the flame of a Bunsen 
burner.
3. Many villagers were adversely affected by the flash flood.  It is estimated that 
nearly half of the standing crop has been submerged in water.
Text Types
a) Newspaper (and formal) report _______________________________________
b) Description of processes _____________________________________________
c) Academic writings including reporting of scientific experiments
____________________________________________________________________
74 killed in Myanmar quake.
A.3 Match the excerpts below with the text types given in the box.
What are the text types in which we can expect to find frequent use of the 
passive?
A.4 Read the following excerpt from a news story and answer the questions 
given below the excerpt.
CBSE
222
MAESAI (THAILAND).  At least 74 people were killed in a strong earthquake 
that struck Myanmar, state media said on Friday, while a series of aftershocks 
have caused panic but only limited damage in Thailand and Laos.
The death toll from Thursday's 6.8 mgnitude tremor was expected to rise 
slightly in Myanmar after 225 homes and nine government buildings were 
destroyed.  Over 100 people were injured, according to state television.
The quake sparked panic, but no major damage in other countries across 
southeast Asia has been reported.  An aftershock of an estimated magnitude of 
5.5 rattled Thailand on Friday but caused limited damage, although residents 
living in properties close to the epicentre were advised to leave their homes.
- Hindustan Times - March 26, 2011 
1. Are all the verbs in the passage in passive voice?  What do you infer from this?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. Underline the passive constructions in the passage and comment on why the 
passive is more appropriate than the active in these.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. Rewrite the second paragraph, keeping all the verbs in active voice.  Begin like 
this…….
Authorities expect the death toll …………………………………………………...
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
4. Does the re-written paragraph read well or is it a little awkward?  Give reasons 
for your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Page 5


12
219
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
A. Introduction
A.1 Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs 
given in brackets.
A.2 When do we use the passive voice?
1. It is a big college.  More than a hundred teachers ____________________ (employ) 
there.
2. _________________________ (somebody/ clean) the office yesterday?
3. How much of our country's land area _______________________ (cover) by forest?
4. The hostel gates _______________ (lock) at 8.00 pm everyday.
5. The parcel _________________ (send) a month ago and it __________________ 
(arrive) only yesterday.
6. Where _______________________ (these photographs/take)? In Mumbai? 
______________________________ (you/ take) them,  or somebody else?
Did you use the same type of construction in your answers? 
What are the two types of construction called?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Example: Look at the following sentences:
a) My grandfather established this steel factory in 1940.
b) This steel factory was established in 1940 by my grandfather.
We use the passive voice when we are more interested in the action than the 
person who does it or when we do not know the active subject .
Read the following sentences and using the given clues, find out the reason for 
the use of the passive construction as in the Example above.
•
•
CBSE
220
1. He was killed in the World War II.
Clue: Who must have killed him?  Is it obvious?
________________________________________________________________________
2. The Bank was looted last night.
Clue: Have the police caught the culprits?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Sachin Tendulkar is looked upon as a sporting icon.
Clue: By whom?
________________________________________________________________________
4. This sort of road-side restaurants can be seen everywhere in this city.
Clue: How will you write it in active voice?
_______________________________________________________________________
5. When he arrived at the airport, he was arrested.
Clue: Rewrite the sentence in active voice.  Is it a little awkward?
________________________________________________________________________
6. Employer: On account of tight financial condition, bonus will not be paid this 
year.
Clue: If it is some good news, what voice will the employer use?
________________________________________________________________________
7. I got my hair cut.
Clue: Look at the construction using 'got'.
________________________________________________________________________
CBSE
221
We must remember that all active constructions cannot/ should not be transformed 
into passive constructions mechanically, even if such transformation is possible.  
Example: a) He is drinking water.
b) Water is being drunk by him
Though sentence (b) is grammatically correct, we do not write or speak such a 
sentence.  It is unnatural.
Hence it is necessary to keep in mind that the passive voice has certain legitimate 
uses as discussed in A.2
Excerpts
1. The tea leaves are picked and left to dry in the sun.
2. 20 ml of the salt is taken in a test tube and heated over the flame of a Bunsen 
burner.
3. Many villagers were adversely affected by the flash flood.  It is estimated that 
nearly half of the standing crop has been submerged in water.
Text Types
a) Newspaper (and formal) report _______________________________________
b) Description of processes _____________________________________________
c) Academic writings including reporting of scientific experiments
____________________________________________________________________
74 killed in Myanmar quake.
A.3 Match the excerpts below with the text types given in the box.
What are the text types in which we can expect to find frequent use of the 
passive?
A.4 Read the following excerpt from a news story and answer the questions 
given below the excerpt.
CBSE
222
MAESAI (THAILAND).  At least 74 people were killed in a strong earthquake 
that struck Myanmar, state media said on Friday, while a series of aftershocks 
have caused panic but only limited damage in Thailand and Laos.
The death toll from Thursday's 6.8 mgnitude tremor was expected to rise 
slightly in Myanmar after 225 homes and nine government buildings were 
destroyed.  Over 100 people were injured, according to state television.
The quake sparked panic, but no major damage in other countries across 
southeast Asia has been reported.  An aftershock of an estimated magnitude of 
5.5 rattled Thailand on Friday but caused limited damage, although residents 
living in properties close to the epicentre were advised to leave their homes.
- Hindustan Times - March 26, 2011 
1. Are all the verbs in the passage in passive voice?  What do you infer from this?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. Underline the passive constructions in the passage and comment on why the 
passive is more appropriate than the active in these.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. Rewrite the second paragraph, keeping all the verbs in active voice.  Begin like 
this…….
Authorities expect the death toll …………………………………………………...
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
4. Does the re-written paragraph read well or is it a little awkward?  Give reasons 
for your answer.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
CBSE
223
A.5    Now read the following extracts from a passage about a diamond:  
a.     The Jacob Diamond is believed to have been mined in Africa and was       
bought in London by Shimla-based trader called A.M. Jacob, after whom it  is 
named.
b. Weighing 184.75 carats, it was reckoned to be the world's seventh largest 
diamond.
c. The Jacob Diamond was bought by the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mahbub Ali 
Khan. 
d. It was considered to be such a lucky stone that when the Nizam was offered 
Rs. 1 million by the Agha Khan, he spurned the offer. 
e.   The famous diamond was later purchased by the Indian Government for Rs. 40 
crore.
1. Give the article a title (use not more than three words) ________________  
__________________________________________________
2. Underline all the verb forms in the extracts above. What is the most common 
verb form in the passage called? ____________
3. Write the appropriate newspaper headline for extract c. above. Use the jumbled 
words given in the box below:
           bought - diamond - sixth - Jacob - Hyderabad - by - of - Nizam
________________________________________________________________
4. Now write a headline for extract e. above.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________