What is Voice in English Grammar | Voice Change Rules
Compare the following sentences.:
(a)
Ram writes a letter
(b) A letter is written by Ram.
The sentence (a) and (b) have the same meaning.
But in the first sentence the subject Ram' does something. That is to say that
the subject acts. Now when the subject acts, the verb is saic to be in the
active voice. Thefore, the verb 'writes' is in the active voice.
In the second sentence, the verb 'is writen' shows
tha something is done to A letter', the subject. Thus when the subjec is acted
upon i.e., something is done to the person or thing denotec by the subject, the
verb is said to be in the passive voice.
Voice is that form of a verb which shows whether
its subjec acts or receives action.
Examine the changes from the active voice to the
passive voice in the following sentences…
Active Voice
(i) He wrote a letter.
(ii) Rina will not open the door, (ii) Why have
you done this?
(iv) He has done the exercise.
(v) He teaches English.
Passive Voice
(i) A letter was written by him.
(fi) The door will not be opened by Rina.
(iii) Why has this been done by you?
(iv) The exercise has been done by him (v) English
is taught by him.
The above sentences show that when the verb is
changed from the active voice to the passive voice, the óbject of the verb in
the active voice becomes the subject o. the verb in the passive voice and the
subject of the verb in the activc voice becomes the object of some preposition
(usually by)
What is Voice in English Grammar | Voice Change Rules
Since the objcet is to take the place of the
subject, it is only a transitive verb which can be changed into passive voice.
An intransitive verb will not be changed into passive voice becauso it has no
object.
Study the following examples: (a) Present, Past,
Future Indefinite Tense
Active He writes a letter
Passive - A letter is written by him
Active -He wrote a letter Passive A letter was
written by him
Active- He will write a letter
Passive-A letter will be written by him.
(b) Present Progressive Tense or Past Progressive
Tense.
Active -He is writing a letter.
Passive -A letter is being written by him.
Active- He was writing a letter
Passive- A letter was being written by him.
Active -He has written a letter
Passive- A letter has heen writen by him.
Active- He had written a letter
Passive -A letter had been written by him
(II) In some cases preposition "by' is not
mentioned. It may be kept so because such an addition may not provide any
significant information or may appear superfluous, such as:
(A) Potatoes are eaten all over the world.
(Here if we add the preposition "by' ie.
"by people' it will be superfluous)
(B) Our house has been repaired.
('by someone' is not added because it is vague).
Sentence with two objects.
(III) If a transitive verb has two objects, cither
of them may be made the subject in the passive voice.
Active:- He gave me a pen.
Passive:- I was given a pen by him
Or
A pen was given to me by him.
(IV) When a transitive verb is followed by two
nouns referring to the same person or thing, the first noun becomes the
subject, as:
Active-They proclaimed him king.
Passive:- He was proclaimed king by them
(V) Some intransitive verbs with preposition added
after them may be changed into passivc, as
Active- They were laughing at the old man..
Passive:- The old man was being laughed at by them.
Active They listened to his speech.
Passive:- His speech was listened to by them.
(VII) Sentence containing can, could, may, might,
must should, would etc. may be changed from the active voice into the passive
voice as follows:
Active -I can solve this sum.
Passive:- This sum can be solved by me.
Active- We should help the poor.
Passive:- The poor should be helped by us.
Active- He could do this work better than all of
us)
Passive:- This work could be done by him better
than all of us.
Active- God might help us now.
Passive: -We might be helped by God now.
Active -You must do your duty.
Passive: -Your duty must be done by you.
What is Voice in English Grammar | Voice Change Rules
(VIID) Imperative sentences may be changed from
the active voice into the passive voice as follows :
Active -Bring me a glass of water.
Active- Do not disturb the class
Passive:- Let the class be not disturbed.
(IX) Interrogative sentences are changed from the
active into passive voice, as
Active -Who broke the window pane?
Passive:- By whom was the window pane broken?
Active -Have they decided anything?
Passive -Has anything been decided by them?
Active- Can you help me in this matter?
Passive:- Can I be helped in this matter by you?
Active: -Will you do me this favour?
Passive:- Will this favour be done to me by you?
Active: -How did you like the performance?
Passive:- How was the performance liked by you?
(X) Note how in the following examples the subject
of the active verb becomes an object of a proposition other than 'by
Active- Your behaviour greatly astonishes me.
Passive:- I am greatly astonished at your
behaviour.
Active -Iknow him.
Passive:- He is known to me.
Active -This box contains ice.
Passive:- Ice is contained in this box.
(XI) In sentences where the infinitive and the
participate are used, the verbs remain unchanged. The infinitive and the
participle are changed, as:
Active- I want to buy an umbrella.
Passive-I want an umbrella to be bought.
Active -It is time to revise our lessons.
Passive:- It is time for our lessons to be revised.
Active -You have to do it.
Passive: -It has to be done by you.
Active -Women like men to flatter them.
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