Transformation of Interrogative sentences into Passive voice
There are three categories of interrogative sentences from active-passive perspective:
Type 1: interrogative sentence of ‘wh family’ - ‘why’, ‘when’, ‘where’, ‘how’ and ‘what’
Type 2: interrogative sentence of ‘wh family’ – ‘who’, ‘whom’ and ‘whose’.
Type 3: interrogative sentence of ‘non-wh family’
Type 1 ‘wh family’
Concept 1
To make passive of an interrogative sentence of ‘wh family’ - ‘why’, ‘when’, ‘where’, ‘how’ and ‘what’ :
Active voice: Question word + Helping verb + Doer + Main verb + Object + ……..?
Passive voice: Question word + Helping verb + Passive subject + (some form of be) + $V_3$ + Preposition + Doer + ………. ?
Just add the ‘wh’ word at the start.
Active voice: Why have you injured this puppy?
Passive voice: Why has the puppy been injured by you?
Active voice: How can he love you?
Passive voice: How can you be loved by him?
Concept 2
We follow the following structure in case of active voice interrogative sentences that start with Question word + do/does/did:
Active voice: Question word + do/does/did (Helping verb) + Doer + $V_1$ (Main verb) + Noun/Pronoun + ……..?
Passive voice: Question word + is/am/are/was/were (Helping verb) + Noun/Pronoun + $V_3$ + Preposition + Doer + ………. ?
That is, when the helping verb in active voice is do/does/did, we use is/am/are/was/were as helping verb in passive voice (and not do/does/did).
Active voice: Why did you hit her?
Passive voice: Why was she hit by you?
Type 2 ‘wh family’
To make passive of an interrogative sentence of ‘wh family’ – ‘who’, ‘whom’ and ‘whose’, we follow different rules, because in these cases question word is the subject of active voice.
In case of ‘Who’
In case there is a helping verb in the active voice:
Active voice: Who + Helping verb + Main verb + Noun/Pronoun …….. ?
Passive voice I: Preposition + whom + Helping verb + Noun/Pronoun + (some form of be) + $V_3$ + ……..?
Passive voice II: Who + Helping verb + Noun/Pronoun + (some form of be) + $V_3$ + Preposition + ………………. ?
Active voice: Who has beaten you?
Passive voice I: By whom have you been beaten?
Passive voice II: Who have you been beaten by?
In case there is no helping verb in the active voice:
Active voice: Who + Main verb ($V_1/V_2$) + Noun/Pronoun …….. ?
Passive voice I: Preposition + whom + is/am/are/was/were + Noun/Pronoun + $V_3$ + ……..?
Passive voice II: Who + is/am/are/was/were + Noun/Pronoun + $V_3$ + Preposition + ………………. ?
Active voice: Who knows Mr. Costanza?
Passive voice I: To whom is Mr. Costanza known?
Passive voice II: Who is Mr. Costanza known to?
Type 3: ‘non-wh family’
Concept 1
In the passive voice of ‘non-wh family’ interrogative sentences, we start the sentence with the helping verb that goes with the passive subject.
Active voice: Helping verb + Doer + Main verb + Noun/Pronoun + …….. ?
Passive voice: Helping verb + Noun/Pronoun + (some form of be) + $V_3$ + Preposition + Doer …… ?
Active voice: Have you stolen the diamond?
Passive voice: Has the diamond been stolen by you?
Active voice: Are you repairing the car?
Passive voice: Is the car being repaired by you ?
Active voice: Will you post this letter?
Passive voice: Will this letter be posted by you?
Concept 2
We follow the following structure in case of active voice interrogative sentences that start with do/does/did:
Active voice: Do/Does/Did + Doer + $V_1$ + Noun/Pronoun + …… ?
Passive voice: Is/Am/Are/Was/Were + Noun/Pronoun + $V_3$ + Preposition + Doer ……. ?
Active voice: Do they beat you everyday?
Passive voice: Are you beaten by them everyday?
Active voice: Did she abuse you?
Passive voice: Were you abused by her?
Sectional Quiz
Active-Passive Quiz
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Extra Books and Tools
If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.