This grammar exercise tests your ability to change sentences in the present continuous tense into passive voice.

In the present continuous tense, we make passive verb forms by putting is / am / are + being before the past participle form of the verb.

• We use ‘is’ when the subject of the passive verb is a singular noun or pronoun.
• We use ‘are’ when the subject of the passive verb is a plural noun or pronoun.
• We use ‘am’ when the subject of the passive verb is the first person singular pronoun I.

Study the examples given below.

• She is drawing a picture. (active voice)
• A picture is being drawn by her. (passive voice)

Here we used ‘is’ because the subject is the singular pronoun picture.

• She is writing letters. (active voice)
• Letters are being written by her.

Here we use are because the subject is the plural noun letters.

• They are threatening me. (active voice)
• I am being threatened by them. (passive voice)

Here we use am because the subject is the first person singular pronoun I.

Passive voice exercise 1 (present continuous tense)

Sentences are given in the active voice. Change them into the passive voice.

1. She is reading a novel.

2. I am writing a story.

3. Mother is planting a few saplings.

4. She is drawing a picture.

5. Raju is learning his lessons.

6. The students are writing the exam.

7. Sushmita is feeding the cats.

8. Dd is singing a song.

9. I am cooking dinner.

10. She is eating breakfast.

11. He is driving the car.

12. She is cleaning the cupboard.

Answers

1. A novel is being read by her.

2. A story is being written by me.

3. A few saplings are being planted by mother.

4. A picture is being drawn by her.

5. His lessons are being learned / learnt by Raju.

6. The exam is being written by the students.

7. The cats are being fed by Sushmita.

8. A song is being sung by dad.

9. Dinner is being cooked by me.

10. Breakfast is being eaten by her.

11. The car is being driven by him.

12. The cupboard is being cleaned by her.

Exercise 2

Change the following sentences from active voice to passive voice.

1. He is singing a song.

2. They are repairing the roof.

3. Mother is watering the plants.

4. I am cooking dinner.

5. She is editing the document.

6. I am translating this letter from English to French.

7. Raju is doing his homework.

8. They are drafting the report.

9. The students are writing the exam.

10. The cat is chasing the mouse.

11. They are now blaming us for their failure.

12. The media is criticizing the Prime Minister.

13. The child is assembling the Lego bricks.

14. He is washing the car.

15. They are digging a well.

Answers

1. A song is being sung by him.

2. The roof is being repaired by them.

3. The plants are being watered by mother.

4. Dinner is being cooked by me.

5. The document is being edited by her.

6. This letter is being translated from English to French (by me).

7. His homework is being done by Raju.

8. The report is being drafted by them.

9. The exam is being written by the students.

10. The mouse is being chased by the cat.

11. We are now being blamed for their failure.

12. The Prime Minister is being criticized by the media.

13. The Lego bricks are being assembled by the child.

14. The car is being washed by him.

15. A well is being dug by them.