Voice Basic Grammar ( Active voice and Passive voice)

 

Voice

 A form or set of forms of a verb showing relation to the subject is known as the voice.

The forms of voice

There are two forms of voice in English: active and passive. 

i) Active Voice

The form of a verb whose grammatical subject is the person or thing that performs the action is known as the active form of the voice.

eg. He wrote a letter. In this sentence "he' is the subject of the verb 'wrote' and the 'letter' is the object. The doer of the action is the subject. It is 'he' that performs the act of 'writing'. So the verb 'wrote' here is in the active voice. Note that the pattern: sub+v+obj is used to form the structure of the active voice.

Passive voice

The form of a verb used when the grammatical subject is affected by the action of the verb is known as the passive form of the voice.

A letter was written by him.

In this sentence 'a letter' is the subject of the verb 'written', and 'him' is the object. The doer of the action here is not the subject. The subject is the sufferer It is a letter' that doesn't perform the act of 'writing' but it is affected by the action of the verb 'written'. So the verb 'written' here is in the passive voice. Note that the pattern object /sub+verb 'be+v3+( by + sub) is used to form the passive voice.

How to find out an object?

To find the object in a sentence, we may ask the question to the given verb by 'what ?' or 'to whom? if the answer came out we may say there is an object and if the answer does not come out, we may say there is no object.

Eg: He wrote a letter.

Let's ask a question. What did he write?

Answer: A letter. The word 'a letter' is therefore an object and can be changed into passive voice.

Note on usage

The transitive verb with an object can only be changed active into passive voice. When the verb is intransitive without any object, the active not be changed into passive voice. 

Eg: He went to school.

In this sentence 'he' is the subject of the verb 'went' but 'school' is not an object. It is an adverb. It is 'he' that performs the act of 'going'. So the verb 'went' here is in the active voice but can not be changed into passive because it is an intransitive verb.

Eg: He went to school

Questions:  What did

To whom did

Answer No.

The verb 'went' is therefore intransitive and cannot be changed into passive voice.

Rules for changing active into passive

 When we change active into passive the subject of the active voice is made the object of the passive voice and the object of the active voice is made the subject of the passive voice.

eg. Subjective case <---> Objective case

I   =  Me , We =  Us , He = Him, She = Her   It =  It  ,  They = Them , Who = Whom   You = You.

The passive of the active voice is formed by putting the verb to be (is, am, are, was, were) or the verb to have (have, has, had) into the same tense as the active verb, according to the number of the subject of the active sentences. And the verb of the active voice is changed into the past participle-v3. In this condition, the subject of the active verb becomes the 'agent of the passive verb and is normally preceded by 'by' and placed at the end of the clause.

eg. He loves her.

=She is loved by him.

When the modal auxiliaries, shall, will, should, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to, need, dare, are in the active voice, the passive is formed by using the same auxiliaries as are in the active, and the 'be' is used just before the main verb if the modal auxiliary + v1 is in the active voice

 Eg: He can speak English

=English can be spoken by him

When the auxiliaries, am, is, are, was, were, had, has, have+to infinitive or the form 'going to' future is in the active voice, the 'be' is used just before the main verb in the passive.

eg: I am to write a letter

= A letter is to be written by me.                                                                                        He is going to join a party.

A party is going to be joined by him

The preposition 'by' is often used before the object of the passive voice:                 

eg A tiger was killed by him.

Note that the proposition 'with', 'to', 'at', or 'in' is generally used with the following verbs in the passive voice.      1. The preposition 'with' is often used with the verbs: satisfy, dissatisfy, please, displease, cover, etc.

eg He always pleases her.

She is always pleased with him.

2. The preposition 'to' is often used with the verbs know, marry, oblige, etc.

I know him.

eg. He is known to me

The preposition 'at' is often used with the verb: shock, surprise, astonish, etc. Her death shocked him.

He was shocked at her death

4. The preposition 'in' is often used with the verbs: consist, interest, etc.

eg Nepal contains 14 zones.                     

14 zones are contained in Nepal

When the subjects of the active voice are vague (unknown) pronouns such as you, they, we, are, someone, somebody.

nobody, none, no one or people, they are not reported in the passive voice.

eg People speak English all over the world

English is spoken all over the world

Note that the agents like you, someone, people, etc as mentioned above must be reported in the passive voice when they are required to give the full meaning.

eg A few people speak Hindi in the world

Hindi is spoken by a few people in the world

Similarly,

Eg: Many people speak English in the world.

English is spoken by many people in the world.                                                       When the subjects of the active voice are introduced with 'nobody', 'none' or 'no one', 'not' is added after the verb of the passive and if the 'ever is in the active the 'never' is placed instead of.

eg Nobody could give the answer.        

The answer couldn't be given.

No one has ever seen god.                       

God has never been seen

When the active voice contains a double object (direct and indirect object), the first is more suitable to be used as the subject in the passive voice and the second object is suitable to be used as the retained object.

He asked me a question

I was asked a question by him or A question was asked to me by her.

Similarly, 

He made her kite

She was made a kite by him or A kite was made for her by him                      Note that the direct object is the answer to the question "what? and the indirect object is the answer to the question 'whom'. In the sentence above 'her is the indirect object while kite' is the direct object

The adverb of manner is usually used before the main verb in the passive voice.

He wrote the letter beautifully.              The letter was beautifully written by him.

When the auxiliaries; do. does, or did are in the active voice, the verb be' is, am are, was, or were is used in the passive, according to the number of the subject.

eg I do not like meat Meat is not liked by me

Do I like meat?

Is meat liked by me?

Note the following forms of the voice, also:

He will not eat anything.

Nothing will be eaten by him.

=

She doesn't like any of him

None of them are liked any of them

He will not speak a word

No word will be spoken by him.

Rules for changing active into passive in various tenses. When the main verb of the active voice is in the simple present tense. the pattern object+ is, am, are + v3+(by + sub) is used to form the passive voice

Simple present tense

Active voice Sub+v1+v5+ obj.

I wrote a poem.                                          He writes poems.                                      She loves me.

I do not write a poem.                                 Do I write a poem?

Passive voice Obj+is,am, are+v3+ (by+sub)

A poem is written by me                           Poems are written by him.                       I am loved by her

A poem is not written by me.                      Is a poem written by me? etc.

When the main verb of the active voice is in the present continuous tense, the pattern obj+ is am, are being + v3+ (by+ sub) is used to form the passive voice

Present continuous tense

Active voice Sub + is, am, are+v4+ obj (by+sub)

I am writing a poem               He is writing poems.                                She is loving me

I am not writing a poem? 

Passive voice Obj+ is, am, are+being+v3+

A poem is being written me.         Poems are being written by him.         I am being loved by her.

 A poem is not being written by me.

Am I writing a poem?                                  Is a poem being written by me?        When the main verb of the active voice is in the present perfect tense the pattern obj+hus have been v3 (by-sub) is used to form the passive voice

Present perfect tense                              Active voice

sub+has/have + v3+ obj                              Passive voice                                            Obj-has/have been+V3+(by+sub) eg I have written letter

A letter has been written by me

They have written letter.                      Letters. have been written

I have not wrinen a letter.                         A letter has not been written by me.

Have I written a letter?                          Has a letter been written by me?

The present perfect continuous tense has no change.

Present perfect continuous tense

Active voice

Sub+ has/have been v4+ obi

eg They have been playing a ball

When the main verb of the active voice is in the simple past tense the pattern obj+was/were + v3+ (by+sub) is used to form the passive voice

Simple past tense

Active voice

Sub+v2+ obj I wrote a letter

I wrote letters.

I did not write a letter.

Passive voice

Obj+was/were+v3+ (by+sub).                     A letter was written by me.

Letters were written by me

A letter was not written by me

Did I write a letter? Was a letter written by me? When the main verb of the active voice is in the past continuous tense, the pattern, obj+was/were being + v3 (by-sub) is used to form the passive voice.

Past continuous tense

Active voice:  Sub was were+v4 + obj

eg I was writing a letter

Passive voice

Obj+was/were+being+v3+ (by+sub)

A letter was being written by me

They were repairing roads

I was not writing a letter

The roads were being repaired

A letter was not written by me.

Was I writing a letter?                              Was a letter written by me

When the main verb of the active voice is in the past perfect tense, the pattern obj + had been v3+ (by sub) is used to form the passive voice

Active voice

Past perfect tense 

Sub+ had + v3+ obj (by sub)

Passive voice

Obj had been + v3+

They had prepared the road The road had been prepared They had not repaired the road. The road had not been repaired

Had they repaired the road? Had the road been repaired?

The past perfect continuous tenses has no passive form. Past perfect continuous tense

Active voice

Passive voice

Sub + had been + v4+ obj eg They had been repairing the road

When the main verb of the active voice is in the simple future tense, the pattern obj + will/shall be +v3+ (by+sub) is used to form the passive voice.

Simple future tense

Active voice

Sub+will/shall +v1 + obj

(by+sub)

I shall write a letter

Passive voice

Obj+will/shall +be+v3+

A letter shall be written by me.

They will repair the road. The They will not repair the road. The road will not be repaired

road will be repaired.

Will the road be repaired?

Will they repair the road? The future continuous tense has no passive form.

Future continuous tense

Active voice Sub+ will/shall +be+v4+ obj

Passive voice

They will be repairing the road

When the main verb of the active voice is in the future perfect tense, the pattern obj will/shall have been v3+ (hy + sub) is used to form the passive voice.

Future perfect tense

Active voice

Sub+will/shall+have+been+v3+obj

eg. They will have repaired the road

They will not have repaired the road

Will they have repaired the road?

Passive voice

Objwill/shall have

been v3+ (by sub) 

The future perfect continuous tense has no passive form

Future perfect continuous tense

Active voice

Sub+will/shall have been+v4+obj eg. They will have been repairing the road

The voice in modal Auxiliaries

When the modal auxiliaries; will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, ought to, need, dare v1 is in the active voice, the pattern obj+modal auxiliary +be+v3+ (by sub) is used to form the passive.

Active voice

Sub+modal auxiliary+v1+obj          Passive voice  obj+ modal auxiliary +be+v3+(by+sub)

English can be spoken by him .The tiger should be preserved He cannot speak English English cannot be spoken by

He can speak English.

We should preserve the tiger

Can he speak English?

Can English be spoken by him?

etc

The voice in Auxiliaries to Infinitive

When the auxiliaries; is, am, are, was, were, has, have, had to infinitive is in the active voice, the pattern obj+ auxiliary + to

198

infinitive + bev3 (by sub) is used to form the passive voice

Active voice

Passive voice

Sub auxiliary to vl+ obj Obj+ auxiliary+to+ be 13+ (by sub)

He has to ring the hell

The hell has to be rung by

He doesn't have to ring the bell The bell is not to be rung by him.

Does he have to ring the bell? Is the bell to be rung by him?                                  Note that when the modal auxiliary + auxiliary main verb are in the active voice the pattern obj+ modal auxiliary + been + v3+ (by+sub) is used to form the passive voice.

Active voice

Passive voice

Sub modal auxiliary+ principal Obj+modal auxiliary + auxiliary v3+ obj principal auxiliary + been+ V3+(by+sub)

eg They should have brought books Books should have been brought.

They should not have brought books Books should not have been brought

Should they have brought books? Should books have been brought?

The voice in Yes - No question

When the active voice is in the yes no question, the pattern auxiliary + obj+v3/ being + v3/been + v3/be + v3+ (by+sub) + ? is used to form the passive voice In this condition the forms of the tenses will be same as said above.

Active voice

Passive voice

Auxiliary verb+sub main verb+obj? Auxiliary verb +obj +v3+

(by+sub)+?

Passive voice

Is a ball played by him?

Are books read?

Was a song sung by her ?

Passive voice

Simple tenses

Active voice

Does he play a ball? Do they read books?

Did she sing a song?

Continuous Tenses

Active voice

eg

Is/was he playing a ball Is/was a ball being played by hum Are were they reading a hook Iswas a book being road

Perfect tenses

Active voice

Passive voice

eg Has/had he played a ball Has/had a ball been played by him? Have/had they read books? Have/had books been read

Future tenses

Active voice

eg

Passive voice

Will/shall I write a letter? Will a letter be written by me?

Will/shall I have written a letter? Will a letter have been

written by me?

Note that when the yes-no question in the active voice introduces with the modal auxiliaries, can, could, may, might, etc. the pattern modal auxiliary + obj+ be+ v3+(by+sub) is used to form the passive voice

Active voice

Passive voice

Modal auxiliary+sub+mainverb+obj? Modal auxiliary+obj+

be+v3+(by+sub)+?

Can a ball be played by him?

Can he play a ball?

Can he not play a ball? Can a ball not be played by him? When the auxiliary to infinitive is in the yes-no question of the active voice, the pattern auxiliary + obj+to+be+v3 +

(by+sub) is used to form the passive voice

Active voice

Passive voice

Auxiliary+sub+to+main verb+obj Auxiliary +obj+to+be+v3+

(by+sub)

Is a letter to be written by me

eg

 

Am I to write a letter ?

The voice in Wh-questions

When the active voice is in the wh-questions, the pattern wh-words+ obj+v3+ (by+sub) + ? is used to form the passive voice. In this condition the forms of the tenses will be same as said above.

Active voice

Wh-word + auxiliary + sub+ main verb +obj+?

Passive voice

Wh-word+auxiliary+obj+v3+ (by+sub)+ ?

When did he play the ball When is the ball played by him

When the modal auxiliaries are in the wh-question of the active

 the pattern wh-words + modal auxiliary obj-bery3+ (by+sub)  is used to form the passive voice

Active voice

Passive voice

Wh-word modal auxiliary Wh word+ modal auxiliary - obj sub+ mainverb obj+7 be v3+ (by+sub) + ? Why should we preserve the tiger? Why should the tiger be preserved?

that when the wh-question of the active voice introduces with who the pattern by whom auxiliary obj+ v3+2 is used to form

de passive voice

Who has stolen my pen?

By whom has my pen been stolen?

The voice in 'that' clauses

When the subject of the main cause introduces with people ve' or 'they' before the 'that clause' in the active voice and takes the ab such as hope, believe, say, thing, known, feel, see, fear, find, nder, stand, consider, claim, estimate, assume, report etc., the assive is formed as follows Active voice

Passive voice clause. It +verb bet v3+

that clause eg People say that he is a learned man. It is said that he is a learned man or

People we/they + v1+ that

He is said to be a learned man

Similarly this condition can be used with the perfect infinitive of any verb. People believed that he was a It was believed that he was a

learned man

learned

He was believed to have been a learned

The voice in imperative sentences

When the single object is in the imperative sentence of the active voice. the pattern let + obj++be+v3 is used to form the passive voice. Passive voice

Active voice Main verb/please/kindly/don't + object

Let + obj+he v3

Play a ball

Let a ball be played

Let a ball not be played When the double objects are in the imperative sentence of the active voice, the pattern let obj be+3+to+ obj is used to

Don't play a ball

form the passive voice.

Active voice

Main verb/please/kindly/don't + v3+to+obj

indirect + obj+ direct object Ask him a question

Passive voice Let +obj bet

Let a question be asked to him

Don't ask him a question Let a question not be asked to

him When the imperative sentence of the active voice introduces with "let' the pattern let + obj+ be+by+ object/subject is used to form the passive voice.

Active voice

Passive voice

Let+ obj+ main verb +obj Let+ obj+ v3+ by+ obj/sub.

Let him ask a question. Let a question be asked by him

When the imperative sentences of the active voice introduces

with 'let's, the pattern 'we are suggested+to+main verb + obj

can be used to form the passive voice.

Active voice

Let's + main verb+ obj

Passive voice

We are suggested+to+main verb

+obj.

eg Let's read a lesson We are suggested to read a lesson Note that the pronoun which is introduced after the 'let' in the

imperative sentence is normally objective case.

When the imperative sentence of the active voice expresses the sense of 'duty' the pattern obj+ should+ be v3+ is used to form the passive voice.

Active voice

Passive voice

eg Your parents should be obeyed When the expression 'yourself is in the imperative sentence of the active voice as on object, the pattern be + v3+ complement is used to form the passive voice In this condition the object 'yourself is omitted

Obey your parents.

Active voice

Prepare yourself for the

Passive voice Be prepared for thi

examination

The voice in imperative without object The imperative verb is normally not changed into passive

voice, but it can be changed as an exceptional case in the imperative sentence with the pattern:

You are requested/ ordered commanded advised / suggested / forbidden / recommend/warned/ persuaded etc.

to main verb (do)...

Active voice

Go out

Passive voice

You are ordered to go out

When such a sentence of the active voice introduces with 'do pleas

or kindly the pattern

You are requested to do is generally used to form the passive

voice

Active voice

Passive voice

Do come tomorrow You are requested to come tomorrow You are requested to sit down

Note the following structure of the passive voice.

Please sit down

Verbs of liking/loving/warning/wishing etc obj+ infinitive form their passive voice with the passive infinitive

Active voice

He wants someone to take photograph

Passive voice

He wants photographs to be taken

When the verbs of command/request/advice/invitation + indirect object + infinitive object are in the active voice, the passive is formed by using the passive form of the main verb or verbs of advice etc + that obj should be v3.

Active voice

The doctor advised me to take

Passive voice

was advised to take rest or

The doctor advised that rest should be takenBut when the pattern verbs of command /request/ads ice invitation indirect object infinitive is in the active voice the passive voice is formed only by the passive form of the main verb

Active voice

She invited me to go.

Passive voice

I was invited to go

When the pattern the verbs of agree / arrange / determine / decide / demand infinitive object are in the active voice. the passive is formed by using the pattern the verbs of agree +that+ obj should be + v3.

Active voice

He decided to sell the house

Passive voice

He decided that the house should be sold.

When the pattern the verbs of advice / insist propose sp recommend / suggest + gerund (ing-form)+ object are in the arts an active voice, the passive is formed by using the pattern the

verbs advice +that+ obj+ should be v3.

eg He recommended using the black ink pen He recommended that the black ink pen should be

used The infinitive is placed after passive verbs in the following

condition.

eg

He made us laugh We were made to laugh