Active/Passive Voice & Direct/Indirect Speech - Complete SSC CGL Guide
What are Active/Passive Voice & Direct/Indirect Speech? These are two fundamental grammar concepts that test your ability to transform sentences while maintaining correct meaning, tense, and grammatical structure. Mastery of these topics is crucial for SSC CGL English section.
Pro Tip – The 3-Step Transformation Method!
1. Identify: Recognize sentence type (voice/speech) and tense
2. Apply Rules: Use appropriate transformation rules step-by-step
3. Verify: Check meaning, tense, and grammatical correctness
Visit SKY Practice for 300+ Active/Passive & Direct/Indirect questions with detailed solutions.
Understanding grammar transformation rules is key to mastering voice and speech
1. Active & Passive Voice Basics
What is Voice? Voice indicates whether the subject performs the action (Active) or receives the action (Passive).
Understanding Voice in Grammar
Two Types of Voice
Active voice emphasizes the doer of action, while passive voice emphasizes the receiver of action. SSC tests your ability to convert between them correctly.
Active Voice
- Subject performs the action
- Structure: Subject + Verb + Object
- More direct and clear
- Preferred in most writing
- Example: The cat chased the mouse
- Subject = doer of action
(Doer) → (Action) → (Receiver)
Passive Voice
- Subject receives the action
- Structure: Object + Helping Verb + Past Participle + by + Subject
- Used when doer is unknown or unimportant
- Common in scientific/formal writing
- Example: The mouse was chased by the cat
- Object becomes subject
(Receiver) → (Action) → (Doer)
When to Use Passive
- When doer is unknown
- When doer is obvious
- When focus is on action/receiver
- In scientific reports
- In formal notices
- To be diplomatic/polite
- When doer is unimportant
SSC Shortcut: Identifying Passive Voice
Look for: Forms of "be" + past participle (V3)
Common helping verbs: is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being
Test: Can you add "by someone"? If yes, it's passive
Clue words: "by" often indicates passive voice
Object check: In passive, subject receives action
Tense check: Helping verb shows tense in passive
Solved Example: Basic Voice Transformation
Active: The children are playing football.
Subject: The children (doer)
Verb: are playing (present continuous)
Object: football (receiver)
Step 2: Determine passive structure
Passive formula: Object + helping verb + being + past participle + by + subject
For present continuous: is/am/are + being + V3
Step 3: Apply transformation
Object becomes subject: Football
Original helping verb "are" (plural because "children" plural)
Add "being" for continuous aspect
Past participle of "play": played
Add "by" + original subject: by the children
Step 4: Construct passive sentence
Football + are + being + played + by + the children
"Football are being played by the children"
But wait: "Football" is singular!
Step 5: Check subject-verb agreement
New subject: Football (singular)
So verb must be singular: is (not are)
Correct: Football + is + being + played + by + the children
Step 6: Verify
Original meaning preserved? ✓
Tense maintained? ✓ (present continuous)
Grammar correct? ✓
Final Answer: Football is being played by the children.
2. Voice Transformation Rules
Systematic Rules: Follow these step-by-step rules to transform sentences between active and passive voice.
Complete Voice Transformation Rules
The 5-Step Voice Transformation Method
Follow this systematic approach for accurate voice transformation every time.
SSC Shortcut: Quick Voice Transformation
Step 1: Move object to beginning (make it subject)
Step 2: Add appropriate form of "be" (match tense)
Step 3: Use past participle (V3) of main verb
Step 4: Add "by" + original subject (optional if unimportant)
Step 5: Adjust pronouns (I→me, he→him, etc.)
Step 6: Check subject-verb agreement (new subject controls verb)
1 Rule for Modal Verbs
Passive: Object + Modal + be + V3 + by + Subject
Examples:
• He can solve the problem → The problem can be solved by him
• She must complete the work → The work must be completed by her
• They should obey the rules → The rules should be obeyed by them
• We ought to help the poor → The poor ought to be helped by us
2 Rule for Imperative Sentences
Passive: Let + Object + be + V3
Examples:
• Open the door → Let the door be opened
• Do it at once → Let it be done at once
• Help the poor → Let the poor be helped
• Complete the work → Let the work be completed
For negative: Don't + V1 + Object → Let + Object + not + be + V3
• Don't waste time → Let time not be wasted
3 Rule for Questions
Passive: Helping Verb + Object + be + V3 + by + Subject?
Examples:
• Do you know him? → Is he known by you?
• Did she write this? → Was this written by her?
• Has he finished the work? → Has the work been finished by him?
• Will they help us? → Will we be helped by them?
Wh-questions: Keep wh-word at beginning
• Why did you beat him? → Why was he beaten by you?
Solved Example: Complex Voice Transformation
Passive: The building will have been constructed by the workers by next month.
Subject: The building (receiver)
Verb: will have been constructed (future perfect passive)
Agent: by the workers (doer)
Time phrase: by next month
Step 2: Determine active structure
Active formula for future perfect: Subject + will have + V3 + Object
Need to make agent (the workers) the subject
Need to make subject (the building) the object
Step 3: Apply transformation
New subject: The workers (from "by the workers")
Tense: future perfect → will have + V3
Main verb: construct (V3 = constructed)
New object: the building
Time phrase stays: by next month
Step 4: Construct active sentence
The workers + will have + constructed + the building + by next month
"The workers will have constructed the building by next month."
Step 5: Verify
Original meaning preserved? ✓
Tense maintained? ✓ (future perfect)
Grammar correct? ✓
Active voice structure: Subject (doer) + Verb + Object (receiver) ✓
Step 6: Check for common errors
No unnecessary "by" phrase ✓
Subject-verb agreement: workers (plural) + will have (correct) ✓
Word order correct ✓
Final Answer: The workers will have constructed the building by next month.
Mastering direct and indirect speech requires understanding reporting and reported speech
3. Direct & Indirect Speech Basics
What is Narration? Direct speech quotes exact words, while indirect speech reports what someone said without quoting exactly.
Understanding Speech/Narration
Two Types of Speech
Direct speech uses quotation marks and reports exact words. Indirect speech reports the meaning without quotation marks, with necessary grammatical changes.
Direct Speech
- Exact words of speaker
- Enclosed in quotation marks
- Reporting verb + comma + quoted speech
- Tense remains original
- Pronouns remain original
- Example: He said, "I am tired."
Example:
She said, "I like apples."
He asked, "Are you coming?"
Indirect Speech
- Reports meaning, not exact words
- No quotation marks
- Often uses "that" after reporting verb
- Tense changes (usually backshift)
- Pronouns change according to context
- Example: He said that he was tired.
(with tense & pronoun changes)
Example:
She said that she liked apples.
He asked if I was coming.
Key Changes Required
- Tense backshift (present→past)
- Pronoun changes (I→he, my→his)
- Time expressions (now→then)
- Place expressions (here→there)
- Demonstratives (this→that)
- Question/command structure changes
SSC Shortcut: Identifying Speech Type
Direct speech clues: Quotation marks (" "), comma after reporting verb, exact words
Indirect speech clues: No quotation marks, "that" conjunction, tense usually past
Reporting verbs: said, told, asked, replied, exclaimed, ordered, requested
Tense check: If reporting verb is past, tense usually changes in indirect
Pronoun check: In indirect, pronouns change to reflect reporter's perspective
Question check: Direct questions have question mark, indirect use "if/whether"
Solved Example: Basic Speech Transformation
Direct: Rohan said, "I am going to the market."
Reporting verb: said (past tense)
Reporting speech: "I am going to the market."
Tense in quoted speech: present continuous (am going)
Step 2: Determine changes needed
Since reporting verb is past (said), tense changes:
Present continuous → Past continuous
Pronouns: I (Rohan) → he
No changes to place (the market) unless context requires
Step 3: Apply tense change rule
Present continuous (am/is/are + V+ing) → Past continuous (was/were + V+ing)
"am going" → "was going"
Step 4: Apply pronoun change
"I" refers to Rohan (speaker)
In indirect speech, from reporter's perspective: I → he
(Assuming reporter is not Rohan)
Step 5: Construct indirect speech
Remove quotation marks
Add "that" (optional but common)
Change "I am going" → "he was going"
Result: Rohan said that he was going to the market.
Step 6: Verify
Meaning preserved? ✓
Tense changed correctly? ✓ (present→past continuous)
Pronoun changed correctly? ✓ (I→he)
No unnecessary changes? ✓ (market remains market)
Step 7: Consider alternatives
Without "that": Rohan said he was going to the market. (also correct)
If reporter is Rohan himself: Rohan said that he was going to the market. (still correct)
Final Answer: Rohan said that he was going to the market.
4. Speech Transformation Rules
Complete Rule Set: These rules cover all types of sentences - statements, questions, commands, exclamations.
Comprehensive Speech Rules
The 4-Step Speech Transformation Method
1. Identify sentence type 2. Change pronouns 3. Change tense 4. Change time/place expressions
1 Pronoun Change Rules
• Change according to subject of reporting verb
• Example: He said, "I am busy" → He said that he was busy
Second person (you, your):
• Change according to object of reporting verb
• Example: He told me, "You are right" → He told me that I was right
Third person (he, she, they, his, her):
• Usually no change
• Example: He said, "She is clever" → He said that she was clever
2 Time & Place Changes
today → that day
tomorrow → the next day / following day
yesterday → the previous day / day before
last night → the previous night
next week → the following week
ago → before
here → there
this → that
these → those
come → go (if change in location)
bring → take (if change in location)
3 Questions in Indirect Speech
• Use "if" or "whether"
• Question word order changes to statement order
• Example: He asked, "Are you coming?" → He asked if I was coming
Wh-questions:
• Keep the question word (what, when, why, etc.)
• Change word order to statement order
• Example: She asked, "What are you doing?" → She asked what I was doing
No question mark in indirect speech
4 Commands & Requests
• Use "to" + infinitive (affirmative)
• Use "not to" + infinitive (negative)
• Reporting verb: ordered, commanded, told
• Example: He said, "Open the door." → He ordered to open the door.
Better: He ordered me to open the door.
Requests:
• Use "to" + infinitive
• Reporting verb: requested, asked, begged
• Example: She said, "Please help me." → She requested me to help her.
Advice:
• Use "to" + infinitive
• Reporting verb: advised
• Example: He said, "You should study." → He advised me to study.
SSC Shortcut: Speech Transformation Flowchart
Step 1: Identify reporting verb tense (if past, change tense)
Step 2: Change pronouns (I→he/she, you→I/he/she based on object)
Step 3: Change tense (present→past, past→past perfect, will→would)
Step 4: Change time/place words (now→then, here→there)
Step 5: For questions: add if/whether, change to statement order
Step 6: For commands: use "to" infinitive, change reporting verb
Step 7: Remove quotation marks, add appropriate conjunctions
Solved Example: Complex Speech Transformation
Direct: The teacher said to Rohan, "Why didn't you complete your homework yesterday?"
Type: Wh-question (why)
Reporting verb: said to (past)
Object: Rohan
Tense in quoted speech: past simple negative (didn't complete)
Step 2: Determine changes needed
Since reporting verb is past (said), tense changes needed
Question needs transformation to indirect form
Pronouns: you → he (referring to Rohan)
Time expression: yesterday → the previous day / day before
Wh-word "why" retained
Step 3: Apply question transformation rule
For Wh-questions: Keep wh-word, change to statement order
Remove auxiliary "did" (past simple becomes past perfect in indirect)
Negative: didn't complete → had not completed
Step 4: Apply tense change
Past simple (didn't complete) → Past perfect (had not completed)
Rule: When reporting verb is past, past simple often becomes past perfect
Step 5: Apply pronoun changes
"you" refers to Rohan (object of reporting verb)
Change to third person: you → he
"your" → his
Step 6: Apply time expression change
yesterday → the previous day / the day before
Step 7: Construct indirect speech
Reporting verb: said to → asked (more appropriate for questions)
Structure: asked + object + wh-word + statement order
The teacher asked Rohan why he had not completed his homework the previous day.
Step 8: Verify
Meaning preserved? ✓
Question transformed correctly? ✓ (wh-word kept, statement order)
Tense changed correctly? ✓ (past simple → past perfect)
Pronouns changed correctly? ✓ (you→he, your→his)
Time expression changed? ✓ (yesterday→the previous day)
Appropriate reporting verb? ✓ (said to→asked)
Step 9: Check alternatives
Could use "the day before" instead of "the previous day" ✓
Could use "why he didn't complete" (past simple retained) - sometimes acceptable if time is clear
But SSC prefers proper tense change: "why he had not completed"
Final Answer: The teacher asked Rohan why he had not completed his homework the previous day.
5. SSC Shortcuts & Common Errors
Exam-Focused Strategies: These shortcuts help solve questions quickly and avoid common traps.
Time-Saving Techniques
Speed vs Accuracy
In SSC exams, you need both speed and accuracy. These shortcuts help achieve that balance.
Do's for SSC
- Do check reporting verb tense first
- Do change pronouns systematically
- Do maintain original meaning
- Do verify tense sequence
- Do check subject-verb agreement
- Do read completed transformation
Don'ts for SSC
- Don't change universal truths tense
- Don't ignore time/place changes
- Don't mix active/passive rules
- Don't forget question mark removal
- Don't change reported verb unnecessarily
- Don't ignore pronoun agreement
SSC Shortcut: Universal Truth Exception
Rule: Universal truths, scientific facts, habitual actions don't change tense in indirect speech
Example: He said, "The sun rises in the east." → He said that the sun rises in the east. (NOT rose)
Other examples:
• He said, "I wake up at 6 AM daily." → He said that he wakes up at 6 AM daily.
• Teacher said, "The Earth revolves around the Sun." → Teacher said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
• They said, "We go for a walk every evening." → They said that they go for a walk every evening.
Test: If statement is always true regardless of time, don't change tense
SSC Shortcut: Common Error Spotting
Error 1: Wrong pronoun change - "He told me, 'You are wrong'" → He told me that I was wrong (NOT he was wrong)
Error 2: Unnecessary tense change - "She said, 'I may come'" → She said that she might come (NOT may come when reporting verb is past)
Error 3: Missing time change - "He said, 'I saw her yesterday'" → He said that he had seen her the previous day (NOT yesterday)
Error 4: Wrong question transformation - "She asked, 'Are you ready?'" → She asked if I was ready (NOT She asked was I ready)
Error 5: Passive voice error - "The work will be done by me" → I will do the work (NOT The work will be done by me in active)
Error 6: Double negation - "He said, 'Don't go'" → He told me not to go (NOT He told me to not go / don't go)
Voice Shortcut Formula
1. Object becomes subject
2. Add be + V3 (match tense)
3. Add by + original subject
4. Adjust pronouns
Passive → Active:
1. Remove by phrase
2. Make object subject
3. Remove be + V3
4. Use appropriate verb form
5. Check tense consistency
Speech Shortcut Formula
1. Remove quotes, add that/if
2. Change pronouns (I→he, you→I)
3. Change tense (present→past)
4. Change time (now→then)
5. For questions: add if, statement order
Indirect → Direct:
1. Add quotes
2. Reverse pronoun changes
3. Reverse tense changes
4. Add question mark if needed
5. Use exact words
Time Management
- Simple transformation: 30 seconds
- Complex transformation: 45 seconds
- Error spotting: 20 seconds
- Double check: 10 seconds
- Skip if stuck > 60 seconds
- Return to skipped questions
- Practice with timer
- Learn to recognize patterns
Solved Example: SSC Pattern Question
Direct: My father said to me, "You should respect your elders."
Options:
(a) My father said to me that I should respect my elders.
(b) My father told me that I should respect my elders.
(c) My father said to me that you should respect your elders.
(d) My father told me that you should respect your elders.
Reporting verb: said to
Object: me
Quoted speech: "You should respect your elders."
Type: advice (should)
Step 2: Apply pronoun change rule
"You" refers to "me" (object of reporting verb)
In indirect: you → I
"your" → my
So: "You should respect your elders" → "I should respect my elders"
Step 3: Check modal verb "should"
Modal "should" doesn't change in indirect speech
Same for: could, would, might, ought to, must (when meaning necessity)
Step 4: Evaluate options
(a) My father said to me that I should respect my elders.
Pronoun correct (I, my), but "said to" is less natural than "told"
Grammatically correct but could be better
(b) My father told me that I should respect my elders.
Pronoun correct (I, my), "told" is more appropriate than "said to"
Natural and grammatically perfect ✓
(c) My father said to me that you should respect your elders.
Pronoun wrong (still you, your) → no change made ✗
(d) My father told me that you should respect your elders.
"told" is good but pronoun wrong (you, your) ✗
Step 5: Determine best answer
Between (a) and (b), both are grammatically correct
But (b) uses "told" which is more appropriate with indirect object "me"
"Said to" is acceptable but "told" is preferred in indirect speech
SSC often prefers the more natural/idiomatic option
Step 6: Verify with complete sentence
"My father told me that I should respect my elders."
Meaning preserved? ✓
Pronouns correct? ✓ (you→I, your→my)
Modal unchanged? ✓ (should remains should)
Natural English? ✓
Final Answer: (b) My father told me that I should respect my elders.
6. Practice Exercises
Hands-on Practice: Apply what you've learned with these SSC-level transformation questions.
Interactive Practice Questions
Practice Approach
Time yourself: 45 seconds per question. Apply the rules systematically. Check explanations to understand reasoning.
Practice Question 1: Voice Transformation
Someone has stolen my bicycle.
Options:
(a) My bicycle has been stolen by someone.
(b) My bicycle was stolen by someone.
(c) My bicycle is stolen by someone.
(d) My bicycle had been stolen by someone.
Practice Question 2: Speech Transformation
She said, "I will help you with your project tomorrow."
Options:
(a) She said that she will help me with my project tomorrow.
(b) She said that she would help me with my project the next day.
(c) She said that she would help me with my project tomorrow.
(d) She said that she will help me with my project the next day.
Practice Question 3: Error Spotting
Direct: The scientist said, "Water freezes at 0°C."
Indirect: The scientist said that water froze at 0°C.
What is the error?
Practice Question 4: Mixed Transformation
They are building a new bridge across the river.
Options:
(a) A new bridge is built across the river by them.
(b) A new bridge is being built across the river by them.
(c) A new bridge was being built across the river by them.
(d) A new bridge has been built across the river by them.
SSC Shortcut: Practice Strategy
Daily practice: 10 voice + 10 speech questions daily
Error log: Maintain error notebook with corrections
Rule revision: Weekly revision of all transformation rules
Mock tests: Practice full English sections with time limit
Previous papers: Solve last 5 years' SSC questions
Speed building: Gradually reduce time per question
Ready to Master Voice & Speech Transformations?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How many voice/speech questions in SSC CGL?
Answer: Typically 4-5 questions in Tier I and 6-8 questions in Tier II. These include both active/passive voice transformations and direct/indirect speech conversions.
Q2: What's the most common mistake in voice transformation?
Answer: Incorrect tense change is the most common error. Students often forget to match the helping verb with the new subject in passive voice or use wrong tense form.
Q3: When should we NOT change tense in indirect speech?
Answer: Three situations: 1) Universal truths/scientific facts, 2) When reporting verb is present/future tense, 3) When the statement is still true at time of reporting.
Q4: How to handle modal verbs in transformations?
Answer: Most modals change: will→would, can→could, may→might, shall→should. But "must" can become "had to" or remain "must" depending on context. "Could, would, should, might" usually don't change.
Q5: What's the fastest way to check passive voice?
Answer: Look for "be" + past participle (V3). If you can add "by someone" to the sentence, it's probably passive. Also check if subject is receiving action rather than doing it.
Q6: How to improve transformation speed for SSC?
Answer: Practice pattern recognition, memorize common transformation formulas, work on timed sets, learn to identify sentence type quickly, and practice previous year questions to understand SSC patterns.
Final Exam Strategy for Voice & Speech
Time Allocation: Simple transformation: 30 seconds, Complex transformation: 45 seconds, Error spotting: 20 seconds.
Priority Order: 1) Error spotting (quickest), 2) Active/Passive (usually straightforward), 3) Direct/Indirect (may require more steps).
Accuracy Check: Always verify: 1) Tense consistency, 2) Pronoun agreement, 3) Time/place changes, 4) Meaning preservation.
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