How to Change Active Voice to Passive Voice in Past Simple Tense

The simple past tense is used to describe actions that were completed in the past at a definite or indefinite time. When a sentence is changed from active voice to passive voice in the simple past tense, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. The main verb is changed into its past participle form (V3), and the helping verbs was or were are used according to the new subject.

Structure of Active to Passive Voice Sentences in Past Simple Tense

• Active Voice:

Subject + Verb (V2) + Object

• Passive Voice:

Object + was / were + Verb (V3) (+ by + Subject)

Helping Verbs in Simple Past Passive

• was → used with singular subjects (he, she, it, singular nouns)
• were → used with plural subjects (we, you, they, plural nouns)

Positive Sentence Examples – Past Simple Tense (Active to Passive)

• Active: She wrote a letter.
• Passive: A letter was written by her.
• Active: They built a house.
• Passive: A house was built by them.
• Active: He cleaned the room.
• Passive: The room was cleaned by him.

Negative Sentences Examples – Past Simple Tense (Active to Passive)

To make a negative passive sentence, add not after was / were.

• Active: She did not write a letter.
• Passive: A letter was not written by her.
• Active: They did not build a house.
• Passive: A house was not built by them.
• Active: He did not clean the room.
• Passive: The room was not cleaned by him.

Interrogative Sentences Examples – Past Simple Tense (Active to Passive)

To make interrogative sentences in passive voice, place was / were at the beginning of the sentence.

• Active: Did she write a letter?
• Passive: Was a letter written by her?
• Active: Did they build a house?
• Passive: Was a house built by them?
• Active: Did he clean the room?
• Passive: Was the room cleaned by him?

More Examples for Better Understanding

• Active: The teacher explained the lesson.
• Passive: The lesson was explained by the teacher.
• Active: The chef cooked the food.
• Passive: The food was cooked by the chef.
• Active: The teacher did not explain the lesson.
• Passive: The lesson was not explained by the teacher.
• Active: The chef did not cook rice.
• Passive: Rice was not cooked by the chef.
• Active: Did the teacher explain the lesson?
• Passive: Was the lesson explained by the teacher?
• Active: Did the chef cook the food?
• Passive: Was the food cooked by the chef?

Key Points to Remember

• Passive voice in the simple past tense uses was / were + past participle (V3).
• This tense is used for actions completed in the past.
• The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
• For negative sentences, place not after was / were.
• For interrogative sentences, place was / were at the beginning of the sentence.
• “By + subject” can be omitted if the doer is unknown or not important.