Today, we're going to learn about two exciting ways to build sentences: the Active Voice and the Passive Voice. Think of it as telling a story from two different points of view. One focuses on the hero doing the action, and the other focuses on what happened to the object. Let's dive in and become voice-changing experts!
Active and Passive Voice for Class 4 | Examples and Exercises
Lesson Plan on Active and Passive Voice for Class 4
- What is Active Voice? (The 'Doer' is the Hero)
- What is Passive Voice? (The 'Receiver' is the Focus)
- Active and Passive Voice Rules Chart
- How to Change the Voice: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Active and Passive Voice in the CBSE and ICSE Syllabus
- Active and Passive Voice Exercises with Answers
- Online Quiz on Active and Passive Voice
- Fun Activity Ideas
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Active Voice? (The 'Doer' is the Hero)
In the Active Voice, the subject of the sentence is the one who performs the action. The subject is the 'doer' or the hero of the sentence. This is the most direct and common way we speak and write.
The formula is simple: Subject (Doer) + Verb (Action) + Object (Receiver).
Examples of Active Voice:
- The painter paints the wall. (The painter is the subject and is doing the action of painting.)
- A monkey ate the banana. (The monkey is the subject doing the eating.)
- Children fly kites. (The children are the subjects doing the flying.)
- The teacher teaches the students. (The teacher is the subject performing the action.)
- My father fixed the car. (My father is the doer.)
- Birds build nests. (Birds are the subjects doing the building.)
- She writes a letter. (She is the subject performing the action of writing.)
What is Passive Voice? (The 'Receiver' is the Focus)
In the Passive Voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. The focus shifts from the 'doer' to the 'receiver' of the action. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
The formula changes to: Object (Receiver) + Helping Verb + Past Participle of Verb (Action) + by + Subject (Doer).
Examples of Passive Voice:
- The wall is painted by the painter. (The wall is the subject, and it is receiving the action.)
- The banana was eaten by a monkey. (The banana is the subject that received the action.)
- Kites are flown by children. (Kites are the subject, receiving the action of flying.)
- The students are taught by the teacher. (The students are the subject receiving the teaching.)
- The car was fixed by my father. (The car is the focus.)
- Nests are built by birds. (Nests are the subject, receiving the action.)
- A letter is written by her. (The letter is the subject that is being acted upon.)
Active and Passive Voice Rules Chart for Class 4
Here is a simple chart to help you remember the rules for changing sentences from active to passive voice, especially for the tenses you need in Class 4.
| Tense | Active Voice Structure | Passive Voice Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | Subject + Verb (s/es) + Object | Object + is/are + Past Participle + by + Subject |
| Simple Past | Subject + Past Tense Verb + Object | Object + was/were + Past Participle + by + Subject |
How to Change the Voice: A Step-by-Step Guide
Changing from active to passive voice is like solving a fun puzzle! Just follow these three simple steps.
Active Sentence: The postman delivers the letters.
- Swap the Subject and Object: The object ('the letters') becomes the new subject, and the subject ('The postman') moves to the end.
Becomes: The letters ... by the postman. - Add a Helping Verb: Look at the tense. 'Delivers' is simple present. For plural 'letters', we use 'are'. (If it was 'delivers' for a singular object, we'd use 'is'. If it was 'delivered' (past), we'd use 'were'.)
Becomes: The letters are ... by the postman. - Change the Main Verb: Change the main verb to its third form (past participle). The third form of 'deliver' is 'delivered'.
Becomes: The letters are delivered by the postman.
✨ You did it! The passive sentence is: The letters are delivered by the postman.
Active and Passive Voice in the Class 4 CBSE and ICSE Syllabus
The topic of Active and Passive Voice is a fundamental concept in the English grammar curriculum for Class 4 students under both the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) and ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) boards. This lesson, including the rules for simple tenses, exercises, and examples, is designed to align perfectly with the learning objectives set by the NCERT and these major educational boards in India.
Active and Passive Voice Exercises for Class 4 with Answers
Exercise 1: Identify the Voice (Active or Passive)
This first exercise is all about the basics. In this worksheet on identifying active and passive voice for class 4, your goal is to read each sentence and decide who is performing the action. It's the perfect introduction to the difference between active and passive voice with examples.
Read the sentences below and identify whether they are in the Active Voice or Passive Voice.
- The chef prepares the meal.
- A beautiful song was sung by the choir.
- The students completed the assignment.
- The mouse was chased by the cat.
- He writes amazing stories.
- The ball was kicked by the player.
- My mother baked a delicious cake.
- The plants are watered by the gardener every day.
- The lion roared loudly.
- The prize was won by our team.
- She painted a masterpiece.
- The car is being washed by my father.
- They built a new house.
- The letter will be sent tomorrow.
- I am reading a fascinating book.
Exercise 2: Change into Passive Voice
Now it's time to practice conversion. This active to passive voice converter exercise for class 4 will test your ability to change the structure of a sentence. Follow the rules you've learned to successfully complete this active and passive voice worksheet with answers.
Rewrite the following sentences from Active Voice to Passive Voice.
- The boy eats an apple.
- The teacher praised the student.
- The gardener waters the plants.
- She wrote a letter.
- They play cricket in the park.
- The carpenter made a table.
- He helps his friends.
- The police caught the thief.
- We celebrate Diwali every year.
- The mechanic repaired the car.
- She sings a lovely song.
- The author wrote many books.
- Farmers grow crops.
- The cat drank the milk.
- My friend gave me a gift.
Exercise 3: Change into Active Voice
Let's go the other way! This section will help you practice how to change passive voice to active voice for class 4. Making the sentence active often makes it shorter and more direct. Use these solved exercises to become an expert.
Rewrite the following sentences from Passive Voice to Active Voice.
- The ball was thrown by the child.
- The car is driven by my father.
- The story was told by the grandmother.
- The windows are cleaned by the janitor.
- The cake was baked by Sarah.
- Homework is done by the students.
- The field was ploughed by the farmer.
- A song is sung by the singer.
- The plants were watered by me.
- The door was opened by the watchman.
- The truth is always spoken by him.
- The bridge was built by the engineers.
- The food is being cooked by my mother.
- A picture was drawn by her.
- The race was won by the fastest runner.
Active and Passive Voice Quiz for Class 4 (MCQ Online Test)
Quiz 1: Choose the Correct Voice (MCQ)
Take this active and passive voice quiz online to quickly test your identification skills. This English grammar active and passive voice for class 4 test uses a multiple-choice format, making it a fast and fun way to learn.
Choose the correct option for each sentence.
- The gardener planted a new tree.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - The cookies were eaten by the children.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - The dog barks at the stranger.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - A story is being read by the teacher.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - He kicked the football.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - The room was cleaned by her.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - The sun gives us light.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - The match was won by the blue team.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - She is writing a poem.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - The glass was broken by someone.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - The birds are chirping.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - The homework was finished on time.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - My dad fixed the broken chair.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - The invitation was sent by email.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice - The artist is painting a portrait.
(a) Active Voice (b) Passive Voice
Quiz 2: Convert the Sentence (MCQ)
Choose the correct passive or active form for the given sentence.
This is the ultimate challenge! This set of MCQ questions for active and passive voice for class 4 with answers asks you to choose the correctly converted sentence. This online test for class 4 CBSE students will help you master the conversion rules perfectly.
- Active: The girl reads the book.
(a) The book was read by the girl. (b) The book is read by the girl. (c) The book is reads by the girl. - Active: The masons built the house.
(a) The house is built by the masons. (b) The house were built by the masons. (c) The house was built by the masons. - Passive: The food was cooked by the chef.
(a) The chef cooked the food. (b) The chef cooks the food. (c) The chef is cooking the food. - Passive: The plants are watered by him.
(a) He watered the plants. (b) He is watering the plants. (c) He waters the plants. - Active: The dog chased the cat.
(a) The cat is chased by the dog. (b) The cat was chased by the dog. (c) The cat were chased by the dog. - Active: She helps the poor.
(a) The poor are helped by her. (b) The poor is helped by her. (c) The poor was helped by her. - Passive: The lesson was taught by the teacher.
(a) The teacher teach the lesson. (b) The teacher taught the lesson. (c) The teacher teaches the lesson. - Passive: A picture is drawn by me.
(a) I draw a picture. (b) I drew a picture. (c) I am drawing a picture. - Active: The peon rings the bell.
(a) The bell was rung by the peon. (b) The bell are rung by the peon. (c) The bell is rung by the peon. - Active: He broke the window pane.
(a) The window pane is broken by him. (b) The window pane was broken by him. (c) The window pane were broken by him. - Passive: The floor was cleaned by the maid.
(a) The maid cleans the floor. (b) The maid cleaned the floor. (c) The maid is cleaning the floor. - Passive: The kites are flown by the boys.
(a) The boys flew the kites. (b) The boys are flying the kites. (c) The boys fly the kites. - Active: The hen lays eggs.
(a) Eggs were laid by the hen. (b) Eggs are laid by the hen. (c) Eggs is laid by the hen. - Active: The police arrested the robbers.
(a) The robbers were arrested by the police. (b) The robbers was arrested by the police. (c) The robbers are arrested by the police. - Passive: A new car was bought by them.
(a) They buy a new car. (b) They are buying a new car. (c) They bought a new car.
Worksheet Ideas for Practice on Active and Passive Voice
Here are some fun activity ideas to practice active and passive voice:
- Voice-Changing Race: Write active sentences on flashcards. Have two teams race to write the correct passive form on a board.
- Storytelling Twist: Read a short paragraph from a storybook. Ask your child to retell a few sentences by changing their voice (active to passive or vice-versa).
- Picture Prompts: Show a picture (e.g., a boy eating an apple). Ask the child to describe it in both active voice ("The boy is eating an apple.") and passive voice ("An apple is being eaten by the boy.").
- Newspaper Hunt: Look at newspaper headlines. Many headlines use the passive voice (e.g., "Three Robbers Arrested"). Find them and try to change them to the active voice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Active and Passive Voice
Q1: What is the easiest way to spot a passive voice sentence?
Look for two clues! First, check for a helping verb like 'is', 'are', 'was', or 'were'. Second, see if the main verb is in its third form (past participle, like 'eaten', 'broken', 'seen'). If you see both, it's very likely a passive sentence. Also, the word 'by' is a big hint!
Q2: Why is active voice used more often than passive voice?
Active voice is generally more direct, clearer, and stronger. It tells us exactly who is doing the action, which makes sentences easier to understand. For example, "Tom hit the ball" is clearer than "The ball was hit by Tom."
Q3: Can every active sentence be changed to passive?
No, only active sentences that have an object (a receiver of the action) can be changed to passive voice. For example, "The bird sings" is active, but it has no object, so it cannot be changed to passive. However, "The bird sings a song" has an object ('a song'), so it can be changed to "A song is sung by the bird."
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