What is Active Voice | Examples and Rules
Voice is the formation of a sentence where we come to know if the subject acts upon the verb or another word does the function of the verb. We can always get transitive verb in the sentence construction of a voice where we will find the subject first and then its verb. When the subject itself does the work of an action verb or the subject acts directly then it is active voice. So, the subjects are the doer and actor of such actions mentioned in the active voice. In the present article, we will discuss about active voice with more clarification by describing all rules.
We can call it active voice when a subject directly act upon verb with which it is related within in a sentence. In active voice, subjects always perform the action in a sentence by itself. There will also be either a direct object or an indirect object. Students have to remember that subjects and doers of actions are not same. Some subjects cannot be the doer of a particular action mentioned in a sentence. In active voice, there is more emphasis given on the doer for which sentences become stronger in meaning, direct and apt to present any view.
Active voice Sentence Structure with Examples
Active voice always follow the structure:
Subject+ verb+ object.
Students have to find out this structure to identify active voice in a sentence.
Ex.
He helped me.
She cooks delicious food.
He gained some weight.
The students liked the new syllabus.
They knew the news.
The cat chases the mouse.
We ate fish curry.
Rules
To know more details about active voice students have to understand each rule with clear concepts about where and how that will be applicable in a sentence. Students will find all rules with detail explanations and ideal examples which will be helpful to understand for them. The rules are:
i) Present indefinite tense:
In this tense, we can express any action in a way like normal statement in by using the present form of any verb. s/es will be added wth main verb for third person singular numbers of any subject. Structures will be different for three kinds of sentences:
a) Positive: subject+ main verb with s/es+ object+ other words.
b) Negative: subject+ do/does+ not+ main verb+ object+ other words.
c) Questions: do/ does+ subject+ main verb + object+ question mark.
Ex.
She signs a contract.
He does not like tea.
Does she go to market?
ii) Present continuous tense:
When an action is started in occurring continuously at present then present continuous tense will be used for referring the action of verb. Verb+ ing is the main function to identify any active voice in present continuous tense. Three structure will be:
a) Positive: subject+ am/is/are+ main verb-ing+ object+ other words.
b) Negative: subject+ am/is/are+ verb-ing+ object
c) Questions: am/is/are+ subject+ verb-ing+ object+ question mark.
Ex.
She is drawing a picture.
She is not doing her homework today.
Is he attending the party?
iii) Present perfect tense:
When an action had done already but its effect is still present then present perfect tense will be applied in active voice. Structure will be:
a) Positive: subject+ have/has+ main verb 3rd form+ object
b) Negative: subject+ have/has+ not+ main verb 3rd form+ object
c) Questions: have/has+ subject+ main verb 3rd form+ object
Ex.
She has completed her project.
She has not done lunch yet.
Have they performed the act well?
iv) Past indefinite tense:
To refer some action which is done in past simple past tense is used. Structures will be:
a) Positive: subject+ past form of main verb+ object
b) Negative: subject+ did+ not+ present form of main verb+ object
c) Questions: did+ subject+ first form of main verb+ object+ question mark
Ex.
I just finished homework.
She did not like my present.
Did you reach the hospital?
v) Past continuous tense:
Some actions which were continued for some time in past will be explained in past continuous tense.
a) Positive: subject+ was/were+ main verb-ing+ object
b) Negative: subject+ was/ were+ not+ main verb-ing+ object
c) Question: was/were+ subject+ main verb-ing+ object
Ex.
She was eating mixed fruits.
He was serving the government.
Were they playing football?
vi) Past perfect tense:
When two actions are mentioned in a sentence, one action is referred after finishing another action then this tense will be used. Structures are:
a) Positive: subject+ had+ main verb 3rd form+ object
b) Negative: subject+ had+ not+ main verb 3rd form+ object
c) Question: had+ subject+ main verb 3rd form+ object
Ex.
She had deleted the picture.
He had not performed the drama.
Had you asked your parents for permission?
vii) Future indefinite tense:
When an action is going to happen in near future for that simple future will be used. The three structures are:
a) Positive: subject+ shall/will+ verb 1st form+ object
b) Negative: subject+ shall/will+ not+ verb 1st form+ object
c) Question: shall/will+ subject+ verb 1st form+ object
Ex.
She will clean the room.
He will not bring groceries.
Will they give their car?
viii) Future perfect tense:
When an action will be done at a certain time in future then this tense will be used for that.
a) Positive: subject+ shall/will+ have+ verb 3rd form+ object
b) Negative: subject+ shall/will+ have+ not+ verb 3rd form+ object
c) Questions: shall/will+ subject+ have+ verb 3rd form+ object+ question mark
Ex.
I will have done this work.
He will not have returned my book.
Will you have attended the meeting?
All these sentences are commonly used in active voice to express the direct actions mentioned by verbs.
FAQs:
1.) What is the purpose of using active voice?
Answer. Active voice is mainly used to refer any direct actions done by the subjects.
2.) What is the common structure of active voice?
In active voice the sentence structure will be subject+ verb+ object.
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