3.

5 ACTIVE/PASSIVE VoiCE

Read the following sentences:

1. The committee cut the budget. 2. The budget was cut by the comrmittee
Of course, you can make out that the second sentence is the passive form of the first sentence
As you must know, we make the passive voice of a sentence by interchanging the position o
the subject and the object in the sentence. In the above sentence, the commiltee 15 in the wuh
ject position, whereas the budget is in the object position. The case is reversed in the second
sentence.
What else is done? The agent of the action has been shown with the help of the preposition
by. Further, the simple past cut becomes was cut in the passive form.
Let us first see how to convert the active voice into the passive in Table 3.5.

Table 3.5 Converting Active Voice into Passive Voice

Active Form Tense Original Structure Passive Form Recast Focuses on

Employed Structure
Geeta Present Base form of A letter is Is/Am/Are+ A letter
writes a indefinite/ the verb+ s/es written by Past participle is
letter simple with III Person Geeta form of the written
present tense singular verb

Geeta is Present Is/Am/Are+ A letter Is/Am/Are+ A letter

writing a progressive/ Baseformof is being Being+Past is being
letter Continuous the verb + ing written by participle written
tense Geeta form of the
verb

Geeta Present Has/Have+ Past A letter Has been+ A letter

has perfect tense participle form has been Past participle has
written a ofthe verb written by form of the been
letter verb
Geeta written

Geeta Past Past form of the A letter Was/Were + A letter

wrote a indefinite verb was Past participle was
letter Simple past written bby form of the written
tense Geeta verb

Geeta Past Was/Were+ A letter Was/Were + A letter

was continuous/ Base form of was being9 Being+Past was
writing a Past the verb+ ing written by participle being
letter progressive Geeta form of the written
tense verb
(Contd)
 APPLIED GRAMMAR AND USAGE 105
Table 3.5 (Contd)

Actlve Form Tense Orlglnal Structure Passlve Form Recast Focuses on

Employed Structure
Geeta Past perfect Had+ Past A letter Had been+ A letter
had tense particlple form had been Past particlple had
written a of the verb written by form of the been
letter Geeta verb written

Geeta Simple Shall/Wll A letter WIll be + Past A letter

will write future/Future Base form of will be partlciple will be
a letter Indefinlte the verb wrltten by form of the written
tense Geeta verb

Geeta Future Wll have/ A letter Will have A letter

will perfect Shall have+ will have been + Past wll
have tense Past participle been participle have
written form of the wrltten form of the been
a letter verb by Geeta verb written

Apart from the other struetural changes, an important change in passive from active is the shift
of emphasis. The last column in the above table illustrates how the focus in the passive shitts
from the doer or agent ofthe action to the action itsclf. That is why, in many passive forms, we
see the agent of the action being dropped altogether.
Going back to the opening sentence, can you now figure out the difference between these two
versions of the same sentence? Look at them once more:
1. The committee cut the budget. 2. The budget was cut by the committee.
(The focus is on who cut the budget.) (The focus is on what was done.)
Actually, the focus in the passive is generally on the action part. Therefore, in most cases, it can
be written without mentioning the agent.
Since this aspect is not usually stressed, we end up using active voice where the passive
would be most suitable.

PRACTICE TEST 3.17

Look at the sentences given below and suggest whether it is an active or a passive that is required to suit the
occasion:
1. We are sorry to inform you that we cannot do anything about your problem.
(Sounds like a real bad news; prefer passive voice in case the activesounds too blunt)
2. Accidents kill thousands of people every year.
(Normally what happens should be more important in such statements;the focus in this sentence, however,
is what/who kills thousands of people)
3. Thenewscasters telecast the news at 8.00 p.m.
(0t is not important who telecast them but the action)
4 You have not yet informed me.
(Sounds blunt and accusatory)
5. They held the gathering near the temple.
(The focus should be onthe action and not on the agent)
106 cOMMUNICATION SKILLS

6. The nurse has given the medicine to the patient.

(The fact that the medicine has been given should be highlighted and not who has done that)
7. The agitators handed a memorandum to the district collector.
(The action should be stressed in such statements and not the agent)
8. As we started walking, we saw a small cab coming from the other direction.
(What was seen should be more important than who saw it)
Note: By suggesting you to prefer using passive to active voice in such situations, vwe do not intend to suggest
that the active versions of these sentences are incorrect. However, the passive voice puts the focus on the
right place in the above sentences, hence, recommended by us.

PRACTICE TEST 3.18

Read the following passage and rewrite it choosing passive voice wherever required:

They did not invite me to the party. Still, I was determined to attend the same. So, I reached the place unin-
vited. What I saw was something really forgettable. What was happening around was strange. Waiters were
supplying wine openly to the guests. The guests were consuming that unashamedly. That was not enough.
I could also see the young girls dancing with their suitors. The attendants were coming again and again
and filling their wine glasses with more wine. Later on, I observed these devotees of god Bacchus insert
their into the non-vegetarian dishes which the other set of waiters were supplying at a frantic
ing fangs
pace.

of his/her
In the above passage, the narrator chooses active voice throughout the description
that mostly chooses a pas-
experience. While seeing the revised version in the Answer Key
can make out that passive voice suits the occasion much
better than active
sive voice, you
voice.
to describe a procedure or method.
Further, passive voice is also preferred when we tend

PRACTICE TEST 3.19

Rewrite the following passage correctly:
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have immense pleasure in demonstrating to you
all the functioning of our washing
this is how it functions-we first put all the soiled clothes into it. Then
we sprinkle the detergent
machine. Well, the machine on. Once we do
on them. After that, we dip them in bucketful ofwater. We cover the lid and
a
turn
machine automatically wasnes
don't have to worry about what it does with our clothes. You will see that the
we
them, rinses them, and dries them.

think it
suits
Do you
tne above speech, the speaker chooses active voice most of the time.
the occasion?
rassive voice is also preferred when the focus is on a generalized notion. Read the rol

expressions:
1.2. People
People
regard Shakespeare to be the greatest playwright of all times.
require
water for everything.
 APPLIED GRAMMARAND USAGE 107
Don't you feel that both these expressions will sound better in the passive voice? Of course,
unless otherwise the focus is entirely on people. In normal circumstances, you feel like saying
the same thing this way:
1. Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest playwright of all times.
2. Water is required for
everything
In the above sentences, we not only use the passive form of voice but also eliminate the agent
when the focus is rested firmly on the action and the agent is irrelevant. Read the following
expressions and decide which option you would choose:
1. You should apply by 31st December. (OR)
Applications must be sent by 31st December.
2. We are providing this service as per our contract. (OR)
This service is being provided as per our contract.
3. Someone stole my mobile. (OR)
My mobile was stolen.
Of course, the options in the passive voice seem far more relevant and appropriate.
with expressions get/got, it is said/
The passive is usually chosen also for writing sentences
reportedlthought/believed, said to be, etc. Look at the sentences given below
1. They got married last June.
(Not they married each other last June.)
2. Igot selected for the armed services twice.
(Not the armed forces selected me twice.)
3. These forts are believed to be built in the twelfth century.

(Not they are believed to have built these forts in the twelfth century.)
we want from them.
4. It is said that animals can quite well make out what
make out what we want from them.)
(Not people say that animals can quite well
earlier too.
5. The prisoner is known to have assaulted the inmate
assaulted the inmate earlier too.)
(Not we know that the prisoner has
let us see another aspect of active and
passive voice. We trust you know that
Moving further,
verbs can have two passives.
See the following examples:
some

book. (Active)
1. She gave me a
(Passive)
given a book by her.
Iwas
her. (Passive)
A book was given to me by
scientist the prestigious award. (Active)
2. The academy gave the
award by the academy. (Passive)
The scientist was given the prestigious
to the scientist by the academy. (Passive)
The prestigious award was given
with verbs lack, resemble, suit, let, etc. cannot be con
On the other hand, certain expressions
verted into passive. See the following examples:
wardrobe. 3. He resembles his father.
1. Ihavethree jackets in the
had in the (Not his father is resembled by him.)
(Not three jackets
are by me
4. Our new boss lets us have a little chat in the
wardrobe)
suit you. office.
2. The dress does not (Not we are let to have a little chat in the office.)
(Not you are not suited by the dress.)
But see the following example:
a little chat in the office.
We are allowed to have
have a passive form but not the verb let.)
(The verb allow can
 PRACTICE TEST 3.20
Rewrite the following sentences using passive voice:
1. We advise the patients of swine flu to wear a mask.
prove that Darwin's theory has some chinks in the
armour.
2. We can

3 They will organize the function in the auditorium.

4. You have not yet reported to me.
5. The attendants change bed sheets everyday in this hotel.
6. They pay me monthly.
the star.
7. The producers are likely to offer a staggering signing amount to
8. For many centuries we did not know that plants can breathe.
9. Translators the world over have translated Premchand's stories into
different languages.
10. People mostlyconsider a language to be a difficult task.
learning
into effect.
11: In the meeting, the members agreed that new norms be brought
the state.
12. The minister announced that he will give pension to all the old people in
13. They shifted a large number of victims to the relief camps.
14. Dr Samuel Johnson compiledthe first English dictionary.
15. The government has announced that it will introduce the new act in the next parliamentary session.
16. The captain desired that they should play the game in the positive spirit.
17. The glass broke as you walked over it.
18. Ialways service my car at this service station.
19. Earlier people believed that AIDS spreads by touch.
20. Fans expected our team to win, but we lost.

PRACTICE TEST 3.21

Read the following sentences carefully. Change the voice wherever it is required:
1. This mistake should not be repeated. 7. Read the instructions carefully before you signthe
2. The new fast bowler lacks the ability to turn the document
bowl. 8. Today, he seems to be in a good mood.
3. It is alleged that he killed his wife. 9. He has become more
arrogant ever since he has
4. It looks simple but interesting. broughta brandnewcar.
5. You cannot do much about it. 10. Wewill conduct the workshop at the main centre
6. The government nationalized banks in 197Os.