Page 103 - English Grammar - 7
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Rules of formation of Interrogative in the Passive Voice
The interrogative sentences retain their interrogative form when they are changed from
active to passive or vice versa. Some rules of changing interrogative sentences from active
to passive are as follows.
When an interrogative sentence is changed from active to passive voice.
Primary auxiliary verbs do, does and did are not used when an interrogative sentence is
changed from active to passive voice. For example:
Do the children play football? (active voice)
O
Is football played by the children? (passive voice)
Did she invite you? (active voice)
O
Were you invited by her? (passive voice)
Verbs has, have, had, will, shall, can, may, etc. do not change their position, i.e. they remain
at the beginning of the sentences when an interrogative sentence is changed from active
to passive voice.
For example:
Have you spoken to them? (active voice)
O
Have they been spoken to by you? (passive voice)
Will you accompany him? (active voice)
O
Will he be accompanied by you? (passive voice)
Question words when, why, where, how and what do not change their position, i.e. they
remain at the beginning of the interrogative sentences. For example:
When will they celebrate the victory? (active voice)
O
When will the victory be celebrated (by them)? (passive voice)
What did he report? (active voice)
O
What was reported by him? (passive voice)
Who changes to by whom and whom changes to who when an interrogative sentence gets
changed from active to passive voice. For example: Active and Passive Voice
Who threw that ball? (active voice)
O
By whom was that ball thrown? (passive voice)
Whom did you tell? (active voice)
O
Who was told by you? (passive voice)
Use of let in changing from active to passive voice.
For commands: Let is used in imperative sentences with a sense of command.
For example:
Open the door. (active voice)
O
Let the door be opened. (passive voice)
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