Active vs Passive Voice in SPM English: When to Use Each

What Are Active and Passive Voice?

In active voice, the subject performs the action: “The student wrote the essay.”

In passive voice, the subject receives the action: “The essay was written by the student.”

The meaning is the same, but the focus shifts. Active voice emphasises who did it. Passive voice emphasises what was done. Both are correct — the skill is knowing when to use each.

Why SPM Tests This Topic

Active and passive voice appear in SPM English in two main ways:

1. Paper 1 Section A — Grammar questions asking you to transform sentences between active and passive
2. Essay writing — Using appropriate voice to create variety and emphasis in your writing

Students who master voice transformation pick up reliable marks in Section A and write more sophisticated essays.

The Transformation Formula

Active to Passive

Active: Subject + Verb + Object Passive: Object + be (conjugated) + Past Participle + by Subject

Step-by-step example:

• Active: The teacher explains the lesson.
• Step 1: Move the object to subject position → The lesson
• Step 2: Add the correct form of “be” → The lesson is
• Step 3: Change the verb to past participle → The lesson is explained
• Step 4: Add “by” + original subject → The lesson is explained by the teacher.

Tense Transformations

Key pattern: The tense always stays in the “be” verb. The main verb always becomes past participle in passive.

When to Use Active Voice

Active voice is generally stronger and more direct. Use it when:

• The doer is important: “Dr. Ahmad discovered a new treatment method.”
• You want directness: “We must reduce plastic waste.” (stronger than “Plastic waste must be reduced”)
• In narrative essays: “She grabbed her bag and rushed out the door.”
• In argumentative essays: “The government should invest more in education.”

Rule of thumb: Default to active voice in your essays. It makes your writing clearer and more engaging.

When to Use Passive Voice

Passive voice is useful in specific situations:

• The doer is unknown: “My bicycle was stolen last night.” (We don’t know who stole it)
• The doer is obvious: “The criminal was arrested.” (Obviously by police)
• The action matters more than the doer: “The school was built in 1985.”
• In formal writing: “Applications must be submitted by 30 June.”
• In reports: “The experiment was conducted over three weeks.”
• To avoid blaming: “Mistakes were made.” (diplomatic way of not pointing fingers)

Passive Voice in SPM Directed Writing

Certain directed writing formats use passive voice heavily:

Reports

“A survey was conducted among 200 students. It was found that 75% preferred online learning. The results were presented to the school board.”

Formal Letters

“I was informed that the library will be closed for renovations. Students are requested to return all books by Friday.”

Notices

“Students are reminded that the school canteen will be closed on Monday. Food is to be brought from home.”

Recognising which format calls for passive voice helps you match the expected tone and register — this is what examiners look for in directed writing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Double passive

Wrong: “The book was been read by everyone.” Right: “The book was read by everyone.” OR “The book has been read by everyone.”

2. Missing “be” verb

Wrong: “The homework submitted yesterday.” Right: “The homework was submitted yesterday.”

3. Wrong past participle

Wrong: “The window was broke by the ball.” Right: “The window was broken by the ball.”

Common irregular past participles to memorise:

• break → broken
• choose → chosen
• give → given
• speak → spoken
• steal → stolen
• write → written
• take → taken

4. Making intransitive verbs passive

Wrong: “The accident was happened yesterday.” Right: “The accident happened yesterday.”

Verbs like happen, occur, arrive, die, sleep cannot be made passive because they don’t take objects.

5. Unnecessary “by” phrases

Weak: “The Merdeka celebration was attended by many people.” Better: “The Merdeka celebration was well attended.”

Drop the “by” phrase when the agent adds no useful information.

Practice Exercise

Transform these active sentences to passive:

1. The students cleaned the classroom.
2. She is reading an interesting novel.
3. They have completed the project.
4. The principal will announce the results tomorrow.
5. Someone stole my wallet.

Answers:

1. The classroom was cleaned by the students.
2. An interesting novel is being read by her.
3. The project has been completed by them.
4. The results will be announced by the principal tomorrow.
5. My wallet was stolen. (No “by someone” needed — it adds nothing)

How to Use Voice for Better Essay Writing

The best essays mix both voices strategically:

“The school organised a charity drive last month (active). Over RM5,000 was collected from students and parents (passive — the amount matters more than who collected it). The funds were donated to a local orphanage (passive — formal report style). The experience taught me that small contributions, when combined, can make a real difference (active — personal reflection).”

Notice how switching between voices creates rhythm and emphasis. This is the kind of writing sophistication that pushes essays into the A range.

Want Help Strengthening Your Grammar?

If active and passive voice still trip you up in exams, personalised practice with targeted feedback can help you master transformations quickly. At SPMEnglish.com.my, we identify your specific grammar gaps and build exercises around them. WhatsApp us to discuss how we can help.

Related Resources

• Grammar & Sentence Structure — Complete grammar improvement guide
• Common Grammar Mistakes in SPM — Avoid frequent errors
• Tenses Complete Guide — Master all 12 tenses
• SPM English Report Writing — Apply passive voice in reports