Now that you’ve learned about the parts of speech in English, it’s time to dive into the active and passive voice. In this article, we’ll explain what active and passive voice are, their definitions, and how to use them. With clear examples and an explanation of the differences between the two, you’ll be able to understand and use active and passive voice confidently and correctly.
Introduction to ‘Voice’ in English Grammar
In English grammar voice refers to the way a sentence is structured to show who is doing the action and who is receiving it. There are two main types of voice: active voice and passive voice. Understanding these helps you communicate more clearly and effectively. In the active voice, the subject performs the action, while in the passive voice, the subject receives the action. Both voices are important, and knowing when to use each one can make your writing or speaking stronger and more precise.
Types of Voices in English Grammar
In English grammar, there are two main types of voices: active voice and passive voice.
Active Voice: In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. It’s direct and straightforward, making it easy to understand. For example: The dog chased the ball.
- Passive Voice: In passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. For example: The ball was chased by the dog.
How to Use Active and Passive Voice: Key Points to Remember
To get a good grip on using active and passive voice, it’s important to understand their basic structures. Here’s a simple way to remember:
Active Voice – Subject + Verb + Object
Example: The teacher (subject) explains (verb) the lesson (object).
Passive Voice – Object + Verb + Subject
Example: The lesson (object) is explained (verb) by the teacher (subject).
Key Points to Remember:
- Active voice focuses on who is doing the action (the subject).
- Passive voice focuses on who is receiving the action (the object).
- Use active voice for clarity and when you want to emphasize the doer.
- Use passive voice when you want to emphasize the action or when the doer is unknown or unimportant.
Rules for Converting Active Voice to Passive Voice
Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object:
- In the active voice, the subject performs the action, and the object receives it.
- Example: The teacher (subject) explains (verb) the lesson (object).
Switch the Subject and Object:
- In passive voice, the object becomes the subject of the sentence, and the subject (the doer) often comes at the end, introduced by ‘by’ (optional).
- Example: The lesson (subject) is explained (verb) by the teacher (doer).
Use the Correct Form of the Verb ‘To Be’:
- In passive voice, you need the correct form of the verb to be (am, is, are, was, were, etc.), based on the tense of the sentence.
- Example: If the sentence is in the present tense (explains), you use is or are with the past participle (explained).
Change the Verb to Its Past Participle:
- The main verb in the active voice is changed to its past participle in passive voice.
- Example: The verb explain becomes explained.
Adjust the Tense Accordingly:
- Keep the tense of the sentence the same, but make sure the auxiliary verb changes to match the tense.
- Example:
- Present Simple: She writes a letter. → A letter is written by her.
- Past Simple: He built a house. → A house was built by him.
The Doer (Subject) Is Optional in Passive Voice:
- You can leave out the doer if it’s not important or if you don’t know who did the action.
- Example: The house was built. (No mention of who built it.)
10+Examples for Better Understanding
1. Simple Present Tense
Active: She writes a letter.
Passive: A letter is written by her.
2. Present Continuous Tense
Active: They are watching a movie.
Passive: A movie is being watched by them.
3. Present Perfect Tense
Active: He has completed the project.
Passive: The project has been completed by him.
4. Simple Past Tense
Active: The chef cooked a delicious meal.
Passive: A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.
5. Past Continuous Tense
Active: The kids were playing football.
Passive: Football was being played by the kids.
6. Past Perfect Tense
Active: She had finished the homework.
Passive: The homework had been finished by her.
7. Simple Future Tense
Active: They will complete the project soon.
Passive: The project will be completed soon.
8. Future Perfect Tense
Active: He will have sent the email by evening.
Passive: The email will have been sent by evening.
9. Modals (Can, Should, Must, etc.)
Active: She can solve the problem.
Passive: The problem can be solved by her.
Active: You should follow the rules.
Passive: The rules should be followed by you.
10. Imperative Sentences (Commands)
Active: Close the door.
Passive: Let the door be closed.
Active: Call the doctor immediately.
Passive: Let the doctor be called immediately.
Here’s how pronouns change when converting from active voice to passive voice:
- I becomes me
- We becomes us
- He becomes him
- She becomes her
- They becomes them
- It stays it
Quick Practice: Test Your Understanding
Let’s test your understanding with a quick practice! Try converting these active voice sentences into passive voice.
Practice Sentences
- Active: The dog chased the cat.
- Active: She writes beautiful poems.
- Active: The team won the game.
- Active: They are making a cake.
- Active: He repaired the car.
Answers
- Passive: The cat was chased by the dog.
- Passive: Beautiful poems are written by her.
- Passive: The game was won by the team.
- Passive: A cake is being made by them.
- Passive: The car was repaired by him.
FAQs About Active and Passive Voice
1. When should I use active voice instead of passive voice?
Active voice is best when you want your writing to be clear, direct, and engaging. It makes sentences stronger and easier to understand. Passive voice is useful when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer.
2. Can all sentences be changed from active to passive voice?
No, not all sentences can be changed into passive voice. Only sentences with transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be converted. For example, “He sleeps early” cannot be changed into passive voice because “sleeps” has no object.
3. Is passive voice always wrong?
No, passive voice is not always wrong. It is useful in situations where the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or when the focus should be on the action itself. For example, in scientific writing, passive voice is often preferred: The experiment was conducted successfully.