Active and Passive Voice

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

  Compare:-

Rama helps Hari.

Hari is helped by Rama.

It will be seen that these two sentences express the same meaning.

But in sentence I, the form of the Verb shows that the person denoted by the subject does something.

Rama (the person denoted by the subject) does something.

The Verb helps is said to be in the Active Voice.

In sentence 2, the form of the Verb shows that something is done to the person denoted by the Subject.

Something is done to Hari (the person denoted by the Subject.)

The Verb helped is said to be in the Passive Voice.

Def.- A verb is in the Active Voice when its form shows (as in sentence 1) that the person or thing denoted by the Subject does something ; or, in other words, is the doer of the action.

The Active Voice is so called because the person denoted by the Subject acts.

Def.- A Verb is in the Passive Voice when its form shows (as in sentence 2) that something is done to the person or thing denoted by the Subject.

The Passive Voice is so called because the person or thing denoted by the Subject is not active but passive, that is, suffers or receives some action.

Def.- Voice is that form of a Verb which shows wherther what is denoted by the Subject does something or has something done to it.

Note the change from the Active Voice to the Passive Voice in the following sentences:-

Active Voice

Sita loves Savitri.

The mason is building the wall.

The peon opened the gate.

Some boys were helping the wounded man.

Passive Voice

Savitri is loved by Sita.

The wall is being built by the mason.

The gate was opened by the peon.

The wounded man was being helped by some boys.

Active Voice

He will finish the work in afortnight.

Who did this?

Why did your brother write such a letter?

Passive Voice

The work will be finished by him in a fortnight.

By whom was this done?

Why was such a letter written by your brother?

It will be noticed that when the Verb is changed from the Active Voice to the Passive Voice, the Object of the Transitive Verb in the Active Voice becomes the Subject of the Verb in the Passive Voice.

[Thus in sentence 1, Savitri which is the object of loves in the Active Voice, becomes the Subject of is loved in the Passive Voice.]

Since the Object of a verb in the active voice becomes the Subject of the passive form, it follows that only Transitive Verbs can be used in the Passive Voice, because an Intransitive Verb has no Object.

The passive voice is formed with the suitable tense of the verb be followed by the past participle. Study this table:

Tense (or Modal + base)				-- Active Voice --	Passive Voice
Simple present --		take, takes --		am taken, is taken, are taken.
Present continuous --			am taking, is taking, are taking		-- am being taken, is being taken,
are being taken
Present perfect --		has taken, have taken -- has been taken, have been taken
Simple past --	took --		was taken, were taken
Past continuous --		was taking, were taking -- was being taken, were being taken
Past perfect --	had taken -- had been taken
Simple future	--	will take, shall take -- will be taken, shall be taken
Can / may / must, etc. + base --				can take, must take --	can be taken must be taken

Students must know when to use the Active Voice and when Co use the Passive : the ability to change the Active Voice into the Passive and vice versa is not sufficient.

The Active Voice is used when the agent (i.e., doer of the action)

preferred when the active form would involve the use of an indefinite or vague pronoun or noun (somebody, they, people, we, etc.) as subject ; that is, when we do not know the agent or when it is clear enough who the agent is.

My pen has been stolen. (Somebody has stolen my pen.) I was asked my name. (They asked me my name.) ;

English is spoken all over the world. (People speak English all over the world.)

I have been invited to the party. (Someone has invited me to the party.)

We will execute all orders promptly. (All orders will be executed promptly.)

In such cases the agent with by is usually avoided.

Note, however, that, as in the examples given earlier, the fly-phrase cannot be avoided where the agent has some importance and is necessary to complete the sense.

Exercise in Grammar

Name the Verbs in the following sentences, and tell whether they are in the Active or in the Passive Voice:-

The cat killed the mouse.

We compelled the enemy to surrender.

The boy was bitten by a dog.

The thief was caught.

The boy made a kite.

The ship was burned.

The young man made a disturbance at the meeting.

The captive was bound to a tree.

The bird was killed by a cruel boy.

          The sudden noise frightened the horse.

He is loved by all.

The exhibition was opened by the Governor.

I see a dark cloud.

His command was promptly obeyed.

Some of the cargo had been damaged by the sea water.

Nothing will be gained by hurry.

The dog chased the sheep.

This letter was posted last night,

The field is ploughed.

The dog was teased by the boy.

The cat drank all the milk.

A stone struck me on the head.

The old gentleman takes snuff.

The money was lost.

The letter has just been posted.

Exercise in Composition

Turn the following sentences from the Active Voice to the Passive Voice:-

The cat killed the mouse.

The man cut down the tree.

Columbus discovered America.

His teacher praised him.

The boy teased the dog.

The syce feeds the horse every day.

The police arrested him.

Rama was making a kite.

The boy caught the ball.

My father will write a letter.

I will conquer him.

He kept me waiting.

The hunter shot the lion.

Hari opened the door.

A policeman caught the thief.

Sohrab threw the ball.

He scored twenty runs.

Your behaviour vexes me.

Manners reveal character.

He made a very remarkable discovery.

Little strokes fell great oaks.

Dhondu will bring the pony.

Everyone loves him.

My cousin has drawn his picture.

We expect good news.

The farmer gathers the harvest.

His own brother swindled him.

The recitation pleased the inspector.

Somebody has put out the light.

The enemy have defeated our army.

They sell radios here.

I have sold my bicycle.

People will soon forget it.

They opened the theatre only last month.

          We prohibit smoking.

When verbs that take both a direct and an indirect object in the Active Voice are changed to the Passive, either object may become the subject of the Passive verb, while the other is retained.

Active -- Passive

The guard refused him admittance. -- Admittance was refused to him by the ground., He was refused admittance by the guard.

Mr. Krishnaji teaches us grammar. -- Grammar is taught to us by Mr. Krishnaji., We are taught grammar by Mr. Krishnaji.

The manager will give you a ticket. -- A ticket will be given to you by the manager. You will be given a ticket by the manager.

Who taught you French? -- By whom was French taught to you?, Who were you taught French by? By whom were you taught French?

He handed her a chair. -- A chair was handed to her., She was handed a chair.

An indirect object denotes the person to whom or for whom some-: thing is given or done, while a direct object usually denotes a thing. In cases like the above, it is probably more usual for passive constructions to begin with the person.

Note that we use with (not by) to talk about an instrument used by the agent. Compare:

The dog was hit with a stick. (Active Voice: Somebody hit the dog with a stick.)

The dog was hit by a boy. (Active Voice: A boy hit the dog.)

There are a few Transitive verbs which, even in an Active form, are sometimes used in a Passive sense; as.

These mangoes taste sour (i.e., are sour when they are tasted). The rose smells sweet (i.e., is sweet when it is smelt).

The cakes eat short and crisp (i.e., are short and crisp when they are eaten).

At least the play reads well (i,e., affects the reader well when it is read).

Exercise in Composition

Change the following sentences so that the Verbs will be in the Passive Voice:-

We saw you and him.

They asked me my name.

We refused them admission.

I bought the baby a doll.

They found him guilty of murder.

A thunderstorm often turns milk sour.

You cannot pump the ocean dry.

They saw the storm approaching.

He keeps me waiting.

They painted the house red.

He told me to leave the room.

He promised me a present.

I shall order the carriage.

The boy is climbing the cliff.

One may accomplish many things by a little effort.

I am watching you very carefully.

Exercise in Composition

Rewrite the following sentences so that the Verbs will be in the Active Voice:-

He was praised by his father.

The first railway was built by George Stephenson.

The horse was frightened by the noise.

Not a word was spoken by Latif.

The teacher was pleased with the boy's work.

He was taken to the hospital by his friends.

The town was destroyed by an earthquake.

The road was lined with people.

The President was welcomed by the people.

Shakuntala was written by Kalidas.

The building was damaged by the fire.

I was struck by his singular appearance.

Those cars were built by robots.

The streets were thronged with spectators.

The trees were blown down by the wind.

We shall be blamed by everyone.

The child was knocked down by a car.

Alice was not much surprised at this.

He will be greatly surprised if he is chosen,

Exercise in Composition

Write three sentences with the Verbs in the Active Voice, and rewrite them with the Verbs in the Passive Voice.

We give below further examples of the interchange of Active and Passive Voice. Active. - All his friends laughed at him.

Passive.- He was laughed at by all his friends.

Active.- They made him king.

Passive.- He was made king.

Active. - They use video for teaching the students.

Passive.- Video is used for teaching the students.

Active.- One should keep one's promises.

Passive.- Promises should be kept.

Active.- When will you return the book?

Passive.- When will the book be returned?

Active.- Someone has picked my pocket.

Passive.- My pocket has been picked.

Active.- Circumstances will oblige me to go.

Passive.- I shall be obliged to go.

Exercise in Composition

In the following sentences change the Voice :

We elected Balu captain.

I saw him opening the box.

We must listen to his words.

Shall I ever forget those happy days?

By whom was this jug broken ?

His subordinates accused him of various offences.

One cannot gather grapes from thistles.

The telegraph wires have been cut.

Alas! We shall hear his voice no more.

The 1998 Asian Games were held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Without effort nothing can be gained.

Do not insult the weak.

All desire wealth and some acquire it.

Why should I be suspected by you?

The information is kept on our computer.

The legend tells us how the castle received its name.

My watch was lost.

Why did he defraud you of your earnings?

The public will learn with astonishment that war is imminent.

He made his wife do the work.

The master appointed him monitor.

The doctor despaired of his recovery.

He was refused admittance.

They laughed at his warnings and objected lo all his proposals.

The people regarded him as an impostor and called him a villain.