What is Passive Voice | Examples and Rules
When a subject does not conduct the action directed by the verb, in place of that action is acted upon the object then it will be called passive voice. We have to present actions in both active voice and passive voice based upon the contexts. Sometimes we have to transform active voice into passive vice or vice versa for expressing the actions in accurate way. When the subject is not the doer of any action but it receives the results of action is in passive voice. In passive voice an action is done by the object in place of subject. An object is generally the receiver of the action but objects do the actions in passive voice. The present article will describe all details regarding passive voice including its transformation rules and examples.
When we use passive voice subjects do not act on the verbs but the verbs acted upon the subjects. Doers in passive voice are not always important or expressed at all for which it can be implied in certain cases. Only the transitive verbs which have objects can be used in passive voice. In passive voice, the emphasis will be more on the receiver of the action referring the thing affected by the verb. When the doer or subject is unimportant then passive voice will be used.
Examples
- Tea is taken by me.
- He is married to her.
- All were pleased by her behaviour.
- A song was sung by her.
To know in detail students should understand the differences between active voice and passive voice. In active voice the subject is the doer of an action mentioned by verb in a sentence. But in passive voice the subject is the receiver of effects done by the action. In active voice subjects will always be mentioned but in passive voice subjects will be unknown and unimportant sometimes.
Using rules of Passive Voice:
1.) When we have to use some powerful message in a sentence then passive voice will be used in that case.
2.) When the subject is unknown to us or we want to keep it as hidden then subject can be implied in passive voice.
3.) We can put great emphasis on the subject by applying it at the end of a sentence in passive voice.
4.) We can use sentences in such polite and formal manner by forming it in passive voice.
5.) When an action is more important than the doer like advertisements, events, news, reports, instructions then passive voice will be aptly used.
Rules of not using passive voice:
1.) We cannot use passive voice generally for expressing any ideas or views in a more clear and concise way.
2.) When we have to makes a speech short and easily understandable then we have to use active voice in place of passive voice.
3.) To keep a text short and easy we must avoid using passive voice.
4.) To make a written piece more approachable or artistic by nature we should not use passive voice.
Rules of Changing Voice:
i) Present indefinite tense:
Active: subject+ main verb+ s/es+ object
Passive: object will be subject+ am/is/are+ 3rd form of main verb+ by+ subject as object
Ex.
He wants a reputed job.
A reputed job is wanted by him.
He adopts a puppy.
A puppy is adopted by him.
ii) Present continuous tense:
Active: subject+ am/is/are+ main verb-ing+ object
Passive: object as subject+ am/is/are+ being+ by+ subject as object
Ex.
I am cooking food.
Food is being cooked by me.
He is preparing the practical book.
The practical book is being prepared by him.
iii) Present perfect tense:
Active: subject+ have/has+ 3rd form of main verb+ object
Passive: object as subject+ have/has+ been+ 3rd form of verb+ by+ subject as object
Ex.
He has solved the sum.
The sum has been solved by him.
The dog has bit him.
He has been bitten by the dog.
iv) Present perfect continuous:
Active: subject+ have/has+ been+ verb-ing+ object
Passive: object as subject+ have/has+ been+ being+ 3rd form of verb+ by+ subject as object.
Ex.
She has not practicing mathematics.
Mathematics has not been practicing by her.
v) Simple future tense:
Active: subject+ shall/will+ verb 1st form+ object
Passive: object as subject+ shall/will+ be+ verb 3rd form+ by+ subject as object.
Ex.
She will take pictures.
Pictures will be taken by her.
vi) Future continuous tense:
Active: subject+ shall/will+ be+ verb-ing+ object
Passive: object as subject+ shall/will+ being+ verb 3rd form+ by+ subject as object
Ex.
She will be doing her homework at this time.
Her homework will be being done by her at this time.
vii) Future perfect tense:
Active: subject+ shall/will+ have+ verb 3rd form+ object
Passive: object as subject+ shall/will+ have been+ verb 3rd form+ by+ subject as object.
Ex.
I will have finished my duty by the end of this week.
My duty will have been finished by me by the end of this week.
viii) Passive voice with causative verb:
Active: subject+ have/has/get+ somebody+ verb 1st form+ object
Passive: object as subject+ have/has/get+ something+ verb 3rd form+ by+ object
Ex.
My brother has anup wash his house.
My brother has his car washed by anup.
ix) Passive with modals:
Active: subject+ modal verbs+ verb 1st form+ object
Passive: object as subject+ modal verbs+ be+ verb 3rd form+ by+ subject as object.
Ex.
I can answer the question.
The question can be answered by me.
x) Passive of commands:
Active: verb+ subject
Passive: let+ subject+ be+ verb 3rd form
Ex.
Open the door.
Let the door be opened.
xi) Passive of ditransitive verbs:
Active: subject+ verb+ object+ another object.
Passive: object as subject+ be verb+ verb 3rd form+ another object+ by+ object
Ex.
I gave him a pen.
A pen was given him by me.
xii) Passive with questions:
Active: helping verb+ subject+ main verb+ object+ question mark
Passive: helping verb+ subject+ main verb 3rd form+ by+ object+ question mark.
Ex.
Do you know this?
Is this known to you?
xiii) Passive of infinitive:
Active: subject+ be verb+ to+ verb 1st form+ object
Passive: subject+ auxiliary verb+ noun+ for+ object+ to be+ verb 3rd form.
Ex.
It is time to learn computer.
It is tie for computer to be learned.
xiv) Quasi-passive voice:
Active: subject+ verb+ adjective
Passive: subject+ verb+ adjective+ when+ it+ helping verb+ verb 3rd form.
Ex.
Honey tastes sweet.
Honey is sweet when it is tasted.
xv) Passive of reflexive pronoun:
Active: subject+ main verb+ reflexive pronoun of the subject
Passive: subject+ helping verb+ main verb 3rd form+ by+ reflexive pronoun
Ex.
She cooked herself.
She was cooked by herself.
FAQs:
1.) How to learn voice change?
Answer. We have provided all rules of changing active voice into passive voice and vice versa in the article.
2.) Where students can apply passive voice?
Answer. Students can use passive voice for giving emphasis on the subject, to keep the subject hidden in a text etc. according to their needs.
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