Active & Passive Voice (Advanced): HSC 12th Board English Grammar PYQs
Welcome to one of the most essential grammar topics for your 12th Board Exams (HSC / ISC)! In the 12th grade, Change the Voice goes beyond simple sentences. You will face complex structures involving double objects, modal verbs, imperatives (commands), and interrogatives. Many students lose marks by messing up the helping verbs. Master our advanced golden cheat sheet below, practice the top 20 Previous Year Questions (PYQs), and challenge yourself with the interactive Self-Test!
🔥 Exam Tip & The Advanced Voice Cheat Sheet:
- Rule 1 (The 'Being' & 'Been' Trap):
👉 Continuous Tenses (ing) → Add being + V3 (e.g., is eating → is being eaten).
👉 Perfect Tenses (has/have/had) → Add been + V3 (e.g., has eaten → has been eaten).- Rule 2 (Double Objects): If a sentence has two objects (e.g., He gave me a pen), you can start the passive voice with EITHER object. Starting with the person (me → I) is usually easier and sounds better.
- Rule 3 (Advanced Modals):
👉 Modals (can, must, should) → Modal + be + V3 (must do → must be done).
👉 Past Modals (should have) → Modal + have been + V3 (should have done → should have been done).- Rule 4 (Imperatives / Commands): Start commands with "Let".
Formula: Let + Object + be + V3 (e.g., Open the door → Let the door be opened).
Top 20 Board Exam Questions: Active & Passive Voice
Part 1: The 'Being' and 'Been' Traps (Tenses)
Watch how continuous and perfect tenses are carefully transformed using 'being' and 'been'.
- Question: The government is taking strict measures to control pollution. (Change the Voice) - HSC March 2019
Answer: Strict measures are being taken by the government to control pollution. - Question: They had already completed the assignment before the deadline.
Answer: The assignment had already been completed by them before the deadline. - Question: The mechanic was repairing my car when I reached the garage. (HSC July 2022)
Answer: My car was being repaired by the mechanic when I reached the garage. - Question: The committee has approved the new proposal.
Answer: The new proposal has been approved by the committee. - Question: People are watching the final match all over the world.
Answer: The final match is being watched by people all over the world.
Part 2: Double Objects & Fixed Prepositions
When bringing the object forward, do not forget the preposition attached to the verb!
- Question: The principal awarded him a gold medal. (Change the Voice) - HSC March 2022
Answer: He was awarded a gold medal by the principal. (OR: A gold medal was awarded to him by the principal). - Question: The nurses take good care of the patients.
Answer: The patients are taken good care of by the nurses. (Do not drop 'of'). - Question: My grandfather told me a fascinating story. (HSC March 2020)
Answer: I was told a fascinating story by my grandfather. - Question: Everyone laughed at the poor beggar.
Answer: The poor beggar was laughed at by everyone. - Question: They offered the job to the most deserving candidate.
Answer: The most deserving candidate was offered the job by them.
Part 3: Advanced Modals & Infinitives
- Question: You must complete this task by tomorrow. (Change the Voice) - HSC March 2023
Answer: This task must be completed by you by tomorrow. - Question: The doctor should have warned the patient about the side effects.
Answer: The patient should have been warned about the side effects by the doctor. (should have → should have been). - Question: Nobody can solve this complex puzzle.
Answer: This complex puzzle cannot be solved by anybody. - Question: We expect the government to reduce the taxes. (HSC March 2024 Pattern)
Answer: It is expected by us that the government will reduce the taxes. (OR: The government is expected to reduce the taxes). - Question: She has to submit the documents today.
Answer: The documents have to be submitted by her today.
Part 4: Imperatives (Commands) & Interrogatives (Questions)
For commands, use 'Let'. For questions, the sentence structure must remain a question!
- Question: Shut the window immediately. (Change the Voice)
Answer: Let the window be shut immediately. - Question: Who wrote this beautiful poem?
Answer: By whom was this beautiful poem written? - Question: Did the noise frighten you?
Answer: Were you frightened by the noise? (Did + frighten → Were + frightened). - Question: Please give me some more time.
Answer: You are requested to give me some more time. - Question: Why are they destroying the old building?
Answer: Why is the old building being destroyed by them?
📝 Test Yourself: Guess the Transformation!
Have you mastered the advanced voice rules? Try transforming these 5 tricky 12th board-level sentences. Click on "Show Answer" to check your accuracy!
-
Question: Change the Voice: They were interviewing the candidates.
👉 Click here to Show Answer
Answer: The candidates were being interviewed by them. (Continuous tense requires 'being').
-
Question: Change the Voice: Someone has stolen my purse.
👉 Click here to Show Answer
Answer: My purse has been stolen. (Note: 'by someone' can be omitted as it is understood).
-
Question: Change the Voice: Send the email right now.
👉 Click here to Show Answer
Answer: Let the email be sent right now. (Imperative rule: Let + Object + be + V3).
-
Question: Change the Voice: Who painted the Mona Lisa?
👉 Click here to Show Answer
Answer: By whom was the Mona Lisa painted?
-
Question: Change the Voice: He could have won the match.
👉 Click here to Show Answer
Answer: The match could have been won by him. (Modal perfect 'could have' takes 'been').
The secret to scoring full marks in Active and Passive Voice is identifying the exact Tense and strictly following its helping verb rule (being/been/be). Bookmark this page, practice the cheat sheet formulas, and secure your marks in the HSC / ISC English paper!