Changing the Voice
Understanding Active and Passive Voice
Introduction:
The use of active and passive voice is an essential aspect of English grammar. Understanding how to effectively change the voice of a sentence can enhance your writing and communication skills. In this article, we will explore the concept of changing the voice, discuss the differences between active and passive voice, and provide clear examples to help you grasp this important grammatical concept.
Active Voice:
In active voice sentences, the subject carries out the action indicated by the verb. The subject acts as the doer or agent of the action.Let's look at some examples:
1. The cat chased the mouse.
2. Sarah cooked dinner.
3. They built a new house.
In these examples, the subjects (the cat, Sarah, they) are performing the actions (chased, cooked, built).
Passive Voice:
In active voice sentences, the subject carries out the action indicated by the verb. The subject acts as the doer or agent of the action.. The subject is the receiver of the action or the one being acted upon. The structure of a passive voice sentence is different from an active voice sentence. Let's see the same examples in passive voice:
1. The mouse was chased by the cat.
2. Dinner was cooked by Sarah.
3. A new house was built by them.
In passive voice, the focus shifts from the doer of the action to the receiver of the action. The verb is conjugated with a form of "be" and followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Changing from Active to Passive Voice:
To change a sentence from active to passive voice, the following transformations are made:
1. The subject of the passive sentence is derived from the object of the active sentence.
2. The verb is changed to a passive form by using a form of "be" and the past participle of the main verb.
3. The subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the preposition "by" in the passive sentence (optional).
Let's look at some examples of changing from active to passive voice:
1. Active: The chef prepares the meal.
Passive: The meal is prepared by the chef.
2. Active: They built the bridge.
Passive: The bridge was built by them.
3. Active: People speak English worldwide.
Passive: English is spoken worldwide by people.
Benefits and Usage of Active and Passive Voice:
Active voice is generally preferred in writing as it is more direct, concise, and places emphasis on the doer of the action. It is commonly used to express clarity and assertiveness.
Passive voice is used in certain situations, such as:
1. When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant.
2. To shift the focus to the receiver of the action.
3. To maintain a more formal or objective tone.
It is important to note that excessive use of passive voice can lead to wordiness and lack of clarity. Therefore, it is advisable to use passive voice selectively and purposefully.
Conclusion:
Understanding active and passive voice is crucial for effective communication and writing. By learning how to change the voice of a sentence, you can convey your ideas with clarity and precision. Remember to use active voice for directness and emphasis, while passive voice can be employed strategically when necessary. Practice with various examples to enhance your command over active and passive voice, and enjoy the benefits of versatile writing and communication skills.
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