VOICE
VOICE
VOICE
Ltr)
Voice: Voice is that form of a verb which tells us whether the subject does something
or has something been done to it.
Ex: Ram killed a tiger (subject does something)
A tiger was killed by Ram (Something is done to a subject)
There are two types of Voice:
1. Active Voice
2. Passive Voice
Read the following sentences:
1. The teacher punished naughty boy (Active)
2. The naughty boy was punished by the teacher (Passive)
In the sentence 1, the subject (teacher) is the doer of the action; that is, the subject is
active. The verb punished is, therefore said to be the active voice.
In the sentence 2, the subject (naughty boy) is the receiver of the action, that is, the
subject is not active but passive. The verb was punished is, therefore, said to be in the passive
voice.
Active Voice: A verb is in the active voice when the person or the thing denoted by the
subject is the doer of the action.
Passive Voice: A verb is in the passive voice when the person or the thing denoted by the
subject is the receiver of the action.
Read the following sentences:
1. The hunter killed a lion.
2. The Ganga flows into the Bay of Bengal.
On the first sentence, the verb has object. So, that is a transitive verb. But, in sentence second
the verb has no object; so sentence second an intransitive verb.
Always remember: - Only transitive verbs have two voices.
RULES FOR CHANGING THE ACTIVE VOICE INTO THE PASSIVE VOICE
(i) The object of the verb in the active voice becomes the subject in the passive voice
and the subject of the verb in the active voice becomes the object in the passive
voice. (If the subject of the active voice is indefinite noun or pronoun such as:
one, someone, nobody, people, a man, a person, a boy, somebody etc., then these
noun and pronouns will not be used as object in passive voice). Sometimes i, we,
you and they also not used as object.
(ii) The third form (past participle) of the verb is always used.
Practical English Grammar By: Mohan Paraseth, B.A., B.Th., B.Ed., M.Div., MSW., M.A (Eng. Ltr)
(iii) Only transitive verb can be changed into the passive voice.
(iv) The word ‘by’ is put before the new object.
(v) The verb in the passive voice is changed according to the subject in number and
person.
(vi) Perfect continuous of all tenses and the future continues tense cannot be changed
into passive form.
(vii) If a transitive verb has two objects, either of may be made the subject in the
passive voice and the other remains unchanged.
Ex: He forgave me my fault. (Active voice)
I was forgiven for my fault by him. (Passive voice)
(viii) If active voice in is in interrogative sentence, then passive voice is also in
interrogative sentence.
RULES FOR CHANGE OF PRONOUNS
Pronouns in Active Voice Pronouns in Passive Voice
I Me
We Us
They Them
He Him
She Her
Who Whom
It It
Whose Whose
Which Which
Name Name
1. SIMPLE PRESENT
2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
3. PRESENT PERFECT
4. SIMPLE PAST
5. PAST CONTINUOUS
Ex: Where the farmer was sowing the seeds (active voice)
Where the seeds were being sown by the farmer. (passive voice)
6. PAST PERFECT
Ex: The children had eaten all the cakes. (active voice)
The cakes had been eaten by the children (passive voice)
7. SIMPLE FUTURE
8. FUTURE PERFECT
Ex: Will she have found her lost book by now? (active voice)
Will her lost book have been found by her by now? (passive voice)
(i) By + agent is not used when the meaning of the sentences is completed without by
+ agent. Like: People speak Hindi all over India I mean 'the speaking of Hindi'
and not the ambiguous subject people of this sentence. Therefore, by + people is
removed in passive sentence.
(ii) Active subjects such as one, someone, nobody, people, a man, a person, a boy,
someone etc. are removed in passive sentence.
(iii) I, we, you, they, etc. active subjects of passive sentence are also often removed.
For please/kindly
If in active voice words like please and kindly used then in place of them use you are
requested to in passive voice.
Other Rules:
Sentence Rule of making Imperative Rule of making Imperative sentence
Containing sentence (Active Voice) (Active Voice) to Passive Voice
Command Verb (1st Form) + Object. You are commanded to + V 1st +
Object.
Oder Verb (1st Form) + Object. You are Ordered to + V 1st + Object.
Request Verb (1st Form) + Object. You are Requested to + V 1st + Object.
Advice Verb (1st Form) + Object. You are Advised to + V 1st + Object.
Suggestions Verb (1st Form) + Object. You are Suggested to + V 1st + Object.
Warning Verb (1st Form) + Object. You are Warned not to + V 1st +
Object.
Forbidden Verb (1st Form) + Object. You are Forbidden to + V 1st + Object.
(i) The above active sentences are followed by into, at, after verbs which we call
prepositions.
(ii) If the active sentences contain verb + preposition / adverb particle, then that
preposition or adverb particle in its passive form is not removed.
Ex: It is time to pay the fee. It is time for the fee to be paid.
Ex: There is no shop to let. There is no shop to be let.
Ex: There is no time to lose. These is no time to be lost.
Practical English Grammar By: Mohan Paraseth, B.A., B.Th., B.Ed., M.Div., MSW., M.A (Eng. Ltr)
When the verbs which take two objects after them in the active voice are changed to
passive voice, one of the objects becomes the subjects in the passive voice and the other is
retained as object.
(i) At: Preposition “AT” is used with the following words: Surprised, shocked,
alarmed, amazed, offended, hurt, annoyed at (something), startled, vexed,
astonished, etc.
(ii) To: Preposition “TO” is used with the following words: known, obliged,
married, devoted, etc.
(iii) In: Preposition “IN” is used with the following words: contained, embodied,
included, interested, engulfed, etc.
(iv) With: Preposition “WITH” is used with the following words: annoyed with
(someone), pleased, satisfied, disgusted, impressed, charmed, decorated, filled,
enthroned, lined, crammed, thronged, etc.
(v) When: Preposition “WHEN” is used after the following words: smell, taste, feel,
etc.
Practical English Grammar By: Mohan Paraseth, B.A., B.Th., B.Ed., M.Div., MSW., M.A (Eng. Ltr)
DOUBLE PASSIVES:
Ex: They looted the house and took away the things.
The house was looted and the things were taken away.
Ex: She wrote the letter and posted it.
The letter was written by her and (it was) posted by her.
Ex: The police arrested the thief and sent him to jail.
The this was arrested by the police and (he was) sent to jail.
(i) Change helping verb “do, does” into “is, am, are” suitable to the new subject.
(ii) Change the helping verb “did” into “was, were” suitable to the new subject.
(iii) Retain the helping verbs such as: “is, am, are, was, were, have, has, and had” but
modify as suitable to the new subject.
Ex: What do you like the most? (active voice)
What is liked the most by you? (passive voice)
Ex: Does Sita write this story?
Is this story written by Sita?
Ex: Has Tom invited you?
Have you been invited by Tom?
Ex: Can we cut the tree?
Can the tree be cut?
Ex: When do they send the letter?
When is the letter sent?
Practical English Grammar By: Mohan Paraseth, B.A., B.Th., B.Ed., M.Div., MSW., M.A (Eng. Ltr)
Definition: When a verb is used in active voice or form but it expresses the sense of passive
voice, it is called Quasi-Passive verb. Quasi means half or almost. This usage also called
Middle Voice.
Second:
Active: Subject + Be Verb + V1 + ing.
Passive: Subject + be verb + being + V3
Example:
AV: The house is building.
PV: The house is being built.
AV: The cows are milking.
PV: The cows are being milked.
AV: The followers are smiling.
PV: The followers are being smiled.
AV: The magazine is printing.
PV: The magazine is being printed.
AV: Oranges are selling.
PV: Oranges are being sold.
AV: The Guns are firing.
PV: The guns are being fired.
Practical English Grammar By: Mohan Paraseth, B.A., B.Th., B.Ed., M.Div., MSW., M.A (Eng. Ltr)
PV: You shouldn't have been let play all the time by him.
AV: How often do you let him go to the park?
PV: How often is he let go to the park by you?
AV: My brother never let me visit the Taj.
PV: I am never let visit the Taj by my brother.
AV: Why do you not let him come home?
PV: Why is he not let come home by you?