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The auxiliary verbs do, does, did in the active voice change to is, are, were in the passive voice.

• Did she congratulate you? (active) • Were you congratulated by her? (passive)
The auxiliary verbs has, have in the active voice change to have been followed by the past participle
form of the main verb.
• Have they spoken to you? (active)

• Have you been spoken to by them? (passive)

The question words what, which, when in the active voice do not change their positions in the
passive voice.
• Which room did they decorate for the party? (active)

• Which room was decorated for the party by them? (passive)

Formation of Imperatives in Passive Voice
Commands, suggestions, and requests are imperative sentences.

In imperative sentences (command), the active voice is changed into passive voice by using let +
object + be + past participle form of the main verb.

• Carry the bag home. (active) • Let the bag be carried home. (passive)
In imperative sentences (suggestion), the active voice is changed into passive voice by using
subject + must/should + be + past participle form of the main verb.

• Take meals at regular intervals. (active)

• Meals should be taken at regular intervals. (passive)
In imperative sentences (request), the active voice is changed into passive voice by replacing
please with you are requested. For example:
• Please lend me your book. (active)

• You are requested to lend me your book. (passive)

Verbs that cannot be used in Passives
The sentences having intransitive verbs cannot be converted into passive voice. The only reason
for this is that such a sentence has no object. When a sentence has no object, it cannot be changed
into passive voice. Generally, they are followed by adjectives, adverbs, verb complements or
prepositions at phrases.

• Five children died of malaria. • The car arrived late, so we got late.
Some common intransitive verbs that are not followed by objects are:

arrive cough act come
rise die cry excel

swim go laugh respond
emigrate immigrate sit run
smile lie

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