ACTIVE VOICE AND PASSIVE VOICE
In English, "Voice" expresses the relationship of the subject to the action. There are two types of voice. they are
- Active Voice.
- Passive voice.
The active voice is the "normal voice" which means we use most of the time. In active voice the subject is the doer of the action. The main focus is on the subject. Most of the time we use active voice in our speaking, which is very easy to understand. And it is very straightforward too. Before we move on, let us know about the three important term. They are,
- Subject (S) - a person or a thing that does the action.
- Verb (V) - main verb ( action ) or helping verb (be form of the verb)
- Object (O) - a person or a thing that receives the action.
Structure = Subject + Verb + Object
Examples :
The leopard chased the antelope
Subject - The leopard Action - Chased
Object - the antelope
Here, the subject is doing the action.
Passive voice :
Passive voice tells us what is done to someone or something. Mainly we use passive voice in the writing format. In passive voice, the object is more important than the subject. The "be" form of the verb is very important because it shows the importance of the object than the subject. In writings we use passive voice in the following situations. They are,
- The subject is less important.
- The subject is unknown.
- The subject is obvious.
- To develop a topic.
Structure = Object + Verb + Subject.
Example :
The antelope was chased by the leopard.
Here the object comes first,
Object - The antelope
Action - was changed
Subject - the leopard
Now lets see how to change the sentences from active voice to passive voice. there are some basic rules which we have to see while changing the sentences. They are,
Rule 1 : Find the Subject (S), Verb (V) and Object (O).
Subject - a person or a thing that receives the action.
Verb - action or be form of the verb.
Object - a person or a thing that receives the action.
Example : Anna painted the house.
According to rule 1, we have to identify the subject, verb and object.
Subject - Anna
Verb - painted
Object - the house.
Rule 2 : Convert Object into Subject.
Example : The house painted Anna.
Object Subject
Rule 3 : Use suitable helping verb along with subject.
Example : The house was painted Anna
helping verb
Rule 4 : Convert the main verb into Past Participle (3rd form of the verb)
Example : The house was painted Anna.
past participle
Rule 5: Use preposition "by".
Example : The house was painted by Anna.
preposition
By using the five main rules we changed the active voice into passive voice.
Tricks to change the active voice into passive voice
1. Active voice : Subject + first form of the verb (adding ''s'') +Object (Simple present tense)
Passive voice : O + "be verb" + past participle + by+ S
Example :
Active voice : He writes a letter. (Simple present tense)
Passive voice : A letter is written by him.
2. Active voice :Subject + is/ are/ am + -ing form of verb + Object. (Present Continuous tense)
Passive voice : Object + am/ is/ are + being + past participle + by + Subject.
Example :
Active voice: They are fighting with enemies (Present Continuous tense)
Passive voice: Enemies are being fought by them
3. Active voice : Subject + has/ have + past participle + Object (Present perfect tense)
Passive voice : Object + has/ have + been + past participle + by + Subject
Example :
Active voice: I have written a letter. (Present perfect tense)
Passive voice : A letter has been written by me.
4. Active voice :Subject + was / were + Object ( past tense )
Passive voice : S + was / were + Past participle + by + S
Example :
Active voice : I wrote a letter. (past tense)
Passive voice : A letter was written by me
5. Active voice : Subject + was / were + - ing form of verb + Object (Past continuous tense)
Passive voice : Object + was / were + being + past participle + by + Subject.
Example :
Active voice: She was writing a letter (Past continuous tense)
Passive voice: A letter was being written by her.
6. Active voice: Subject + had + Past perfect + Object. (Past perfect tense)
Passive voice : Object + had + been + Past participle + by + Subject.
Example :
Active voice: I had wore black shoes. (Past perfect tense )
Passive voice : Black shoes had been worn by me.
7. Active voice : Subject + will / shall + first form of the verb + Object. (Future tense)
Passive voice : Object + shall / will + be + past participle + by + Subject
Example :
Active voice : I will write a letter. (Future tense)
Passive voice : A letter will be written by me.
8. Active voice : Subject + shall / will + have + past participle + Object.(Future perfect tense).
Passive voice : O + shall / will + have been + past participle + by + S
Example :
Active voice: I will have written a letter. (Future perfect tense)
Passive voice: A letter will have been written by me.
9. Active voice : Imperative sentence
Passive voice : Let + subject + be + past participle
Example :
Active voice : Do not beat the dog.
Passive voice : Let the dog not be beaten
The above formula is very important. If you learn it, the active and passive voice is very easy for you.
