Verbs are either in active or passive voice. We use Active Voice most of the time. Active Voice has subject first and object second. In the Active Voice, the object receives the action of the verb. In Passive Voice it is the opposite. In the Passive Voice, the subject receives the action of the verb. In the Active Voice, the subject and verb relationship is straightforward; the subject is the do-er (of the action). In the Passive Voice, the subject of the sentence is not a do-er (of the action). Passive voice is used when the action is the focus, not the subject.
By Arundathie Abeysinghe
Lecturer in English
International Aviation Academy (IAA)
SriLankan Airlines
1. By Arundathie Abeysinghe
Lecturer in English
International Aviation Academy
SriLankan Airlines
1Arundathie Abeysinghe
See more at :
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC
WLbMisHAavDNRpbX4Kv0sg
2. What is Active Voice?
Describes a sentence where the subject performs
the action stated by the verb
The voice that we use often
In the active voice, the object receives the action of
the verb
e.g. Children eat apples.
2Arundathie Abeysinghe
3. What is Passive Voice?
Describes a sentence where the subject is acted upon by
the verb
In the passive voice, the subject receives the action of the
verb
The object of the active verb becomes the subject of the
passive verb
e.g. Apples are eaten by children.
3Arundathie Abeysinghe
4. How to rewrite Active Voice
sentences in Passive Voice?
In Passive Voice, the object of the active sentence
becomes the subject
In Passive Voice, the subject of the active sentence
becomes the object
The finite form of the verb is changed
e.g. to be + past participle
4Arundathie Abeysinghe
5. In Passive Voice, the object of the active verb
becomes the subject of the passive verb
Subject Verb Object
Active Children eat apples
Passive Apples are eaten by children
5Arundathie Abeysinghe
6. How are passive forms made?
Made up of the verb be with a past participle:
Verb ‘ be’ Past
participle
Apples are eaten by children
The shop will be opened at 9.00 a.m.
She has been called for the interview
6Arundathie Abeysinghe
7. Examples of Passive Voice
Tense Subject Verb Object
Simple Active Brian writes an article.
Present Passive An article is written by Brian.
Simple Active Brian wrote an article.
Past Passive An article was written by Brian.
Simple Active Brian will write an article.
Future Passive An article will be written by Brian.
7Arundathie Abeysinghe
8. Tense Subject Verb Object
Present Active Brian has written an article.
Perfect Passive An article has been written by Brian.
Present Active Brian is writing an article.
Progressive Passive An article is being written by Brian.
8Arundathie Abeysinghe
9. Tense Subject Verb Object
Past Active Brian was writing an article.
Progressive Passive An article was being written Brian.
Past Active Brian has written an article.
Perfect Passive An article had been written by Brian.
9Arundathie Abeysinghe
10. Tense Subject Verb Object
Simple Active Brian will write an article.
future Passive An article will be written by Brian.
Future Active Brian will have written the article.
Perfect Passive An article will have been written by Brian.
10Arundathie Abeysinghe
11. Tense Subject Verb Object
Conditional Active Brian would write an article.
Sentence I Passive An article would be written by Brian.
Conditional Active Brian would have written an article.
Sentence II Passive An article would have been written by Brian.
11Arundathie Abeysinghe
12. Following tenses cannot be changed into Passive Voice
Present perfect continuous tense
Past perfect continuous tense
Future continuous tense
Future perfect continuous tense
Sentences having Intransitive verbs
12Arundathie Abeysinghe