What is Voice – Active Voice & Passive Voice ? Why is voice needed?
While communicating we use words in a sentence according to the importance ascribed to them. Or words are placed in a sentence according to their importance in communication.
Usually a sentence has a subject, a verb and an object in it. A word is used as subject or object in a sentence according to the importance it carries with it.
Following example makes it clear further.
1. I wrote a letter to him.
2. I wrote him a letter.
3. A letter was written to him by me.
In the sentences written above the key words are I (me), a letter and him. Action moves between these words. But these are placed in a sentence according to the importance to be given to that particular word. A word is used in he beginning of the sentence on which we want to give more stress or importance. I is used as subject because here the doer of an action or the writer of the letter is more important. Out of the words ‘a letter’ and ‘him’ either of the two is written according to importance of that particular word. In sentence 1, ‘letter’ is considered more important whereas in sentence 2 ‘him’ is more important.
In case of sentence 3, the words ‘a letter’ are given more importance than the words ‘I or him’ and is written in the beginning of the sentence.
The two forms of sentences are called Active and Passive forms of sentences and this process of making a change from active to passive form of a sentence is called ‘change of the voice’.
In examination there are questions in the form of change of sentences from one form of voice to another i.e. from active to passive form or vice versa & there are questions to rectify errors due to wrong change of form of sentences.
A sentence generally has in it a Subject , Verb and object. But some sentences do not have an object but for change of voice an object in a sentence is necessary.
Change of Voice –
While changing a sentence from active to passive form, we bring object in place of subject and move subject to the place of object. A word ‘by’ is used before subject (at object place). The remaining part of the sentence (other than Subject, verb and object) is written after third form of verb.
For Example:
- He waters the plants in the morning. The plants are watered in the morning by him.
- She wrote a letter in English. A letter was written in English by her.
Present Indefinite Tense, Past Indefinite Tense & Future Indefinite Sentences :
In case of Present Indefinite tense, words — ‘is am are’ (according to changed subject) + third form of verb – are used.
I is changed to me and we to us.
First Person :
I My Me
We Our Us
Second Person
You Your You
He changes to him. She changes to her. They changes to them.
Third Person
He His Him
She Her Her
They Their Them.
SIMPLE SENTENCES
Present Indefinite Tense
For example :-
I sing a song. A song is sung by me.
We sing a song. A song is sung by us.
He sings a song. A song is sung by him.
She sings a song. A song is sung by her.
They sing a song. A song is sung by them.
A girl sings a song. A song is sung by a girl.
Girls sing a song. A song is sung by girls.
You sing a song. A song is sung by you.
(Note ‘A song’ is third person singular word therefore ‘is’ is used for it.)
SIMPLE SENTENCES
Past Indefinite Tense
For Example :
I painted a beautiful picture. A beautiful picture was painted by me.
You painted a beautiful picture. A beautiful picture was painted by you.
He painted a beautiful picture. A beautiful picture was painted by him.
A few sentences for practice.
- We expect guests at our house today.
- She spoke her speech very fluently.
- When do you expect him to come ?
- Where did you keep the ornaments?
- Why did you not read this book earlier ?
- Heavy rains caused a great loss to crops standing in the fields.
- His friend brought his luggage by train.
- He did not do his home work .
- Do you like his proposal ?
- Did you not help your brother?
Simple Future Tense – Future Indefinite Tense,
Shall or will + First form of verb are changed to Shall or will + be + Third form of verb.
Examples :
I shall paint a beautiful picture.
A beautiful picture will be painted by me.
I shall not paint a beautiful picture.
A beautiful picture will not be painted by me.
Shall I paint a beautiful picture ?
Will a beautiful picture be painted by me?
We shall paint a beautiful picture.
A beautiful picture will be painted by us.
We shall not paint a beautiful picture.
A beautiful picture will not be painted by us.
Shall we paint a beautiful picture ?
Will a beautiful picture be painted by us?
A beautiful picture will be painted by you.
You will not paint a beautiful picture.
A beautiful picture will not be painted by you.
Will you paint a beautiful picture ?
Will a beautiful picture be painted by you?
A beautiful picture will be painted by her.
She will not paint a beautiful picture.
A beautiful picture will not be painted by her.
Will she paint a beautiful picture ?
Will a beautiful picture be painted by her?
They will paint a beautiful picture.
A beautiful picture will be painted by them.
They will not paint a beautiful picture.
A beautiful picture will not be painted by them.
Will they paint a beautiful picture ?
Will a beautiful picture be painted by them?
A few sentences for practice.
- We shall take our examinations next week.
- The boys will play a football match tomorrow.
- Will the farmers plough their fields?
- They will pay a visit at ours tonight.
- Will you attend your office tomorrow?
- When will you construct your new house?
- Will he borrow money from his brother?
- How will the cook prepare our food?
- Why will he not attend to his mother?
- His arrival will bring a great happiness in the family.
NOTE : While changing from active to passive voice in some cases instead of the word ‘by’ some other words are used. A list of such words is appended for reference.
EXAMPLES
This box contains coins. Coins are contained in this box.
His behaviour astonished me. I was astonished at his behaviour.
Do you know her? Is she known to you?
This news alarmed us. We were alarmed at this news.
A thick fog covered the sky. The sky was covered with a thick fog.
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