2. VOICE
Voice is what that shows relationship between VERB and SUBJECT.
Sentence generally begins with performer of the action (subject), then
(verb), then (object), then it is called active voice.
Exp:
1. Ali writes a letter,
2. You started lecture
A voice that begin a sentence with the object or the the person that the
action is performed on, it is called passive voice.
Exp:
1.letter is written by him
2. Lecture is started by you.
ACTIVE VOICE:
A voice that shows that subject appears to be doing an action.
PASSIVE VOICE:
A voice that shows subject appears to be receiving an action.
3. Active voice is used when the agent( i.e doer
of an action) is made prominent.
Exp: professor teaches maths.
Passive voice is used when the object is made
prominent.
Exp: math is taught by professor.
4. When should we use the passive
voice?
When we do not know who the subject is,
Exp:
Active voice: somebody cleaned room.
Passive voice: the room was cleaned.
Active voice: somebody stole my pen.
Passive voice: my pen was stolen.
5. When it is clear to the listener who the
subject is, because he is the person who
usually does it.
Active voice: sweeper swept the department.
Passive voice: the department was swept.
Active voice: police imprisoned the thief.
Passive voice: the thief was imprisoned.
6. Advanced rules of passive
1.To change the voice of a sentence starting with
‘let’:
Exp:
Active voice: let me finish my presentation.
Let me explain my topic.
Let her draw the figure.
Passive voice: let my presentation be finished.
Let my topic be finished.
Let a figure be drawn by her.
7. To change the voice of infinitive:
It is a none-finite verb having ‘to + verb’.
Active voice: you have to finish the work.
Passive voice: the work has to be finished.
Active voice: He is to send the mail.
Passive voice: the mail is to be sent by him.
Active voice: The police is to catch the criminal.
Passive voice: the criminal is to be caught(by the
police)
Active voice: He is to play volley ball.
Passive voice: volley ball is to be played by him.
8. To change the voice of a sentence
having preposition
Active voice: I bought a pen for my brother.
Passive voice: (1).A pen was bought by me for
my brother.
(2). A pen was bought for my brother by me.
Active voice: he played football to earn money.
Passive voice: (1).football was played by him to
earn money.
(2). Football is played to earn money by him.
9. To change the voice of a sentence with
a direct and indirect object
Active voice: I gave him a book.
Passive voice: (1).A book was given to him by
me.
(2). A book was given by me to him.
Active voice: you repaid me loan.
Passive voice(1). Loan was repaid by you to me.
(2). Loan was repaid to me by you.
10. NOTE
Sentence with a transitive verb can not be changed into
passive form.
Exp: she laughed
You slept.
We use with (not by) to talk about an instrument used
by the agent.
Active voice: somebody hit the dog with a stick.
Passive voice: The dog was hit with a stick.
Active voice: smoke fills the room.
Passive voice: the room was filled with a smoke.
Some sentences carry preposition ‘to’ at the place of ‘by’.
Active voice: I know you.
Passive voice: you were known to me.
