Active and Passive Verb Forms
In English grammar, active and passive verb forms refer to different ways of expressing the same action. Here's a detailed explanation:
1. Active Voice
In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action.
Structure:
Subject + Verb + Objectif👉
Examples:
She writes a letter.
Subject (She) performs the action of writing, and the object (letter) receives the action.
They play football every Sunday.
Subject (They) perform the action of playing, and the object (football) is the receiver.
. Passive Voice
In the passive voice,
the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the sentence, and the subject becomes the receiver of the action. The focus is on the action or the object rather than the person performing the action.
Structure:
Subject + Form of "to be" + Past Participle of Verb + (by + Agent)👉
Examples:
A letter is written by her.
The object (letter) becomes the subject, and the doer of the action (her) is mentioned later in the sentence.
Football is played every Sunday.
Here, the focus is on football, and the action is described without mentioning who is performing it.
How to Change Active to Passive
To change a sentence from the active voice to the passive voice, follow these steps:
Identify the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence. 1
Move the object to the front of the sentence to become the subject. 2
Use the correct form of the verb "to be" based on the tense of the active sentence. 3
Add the past participle of the verb. 4
If necessary, add the agent (the doer) at the end, using "by." 5
Examples
of Changing from Active to Passive (Across Different Tenses)
When Not to Use the Passive Voice
When the agent (subject) is unknown or unimportant:
For example:
"The cake was eaten." (We don't know or don't care who ate it.)
In informal or conversational contexts:
Passive voice is often used in formal writing, but active voice is preferred in everyday conversations for clarity and directness.
Notes on the Passive Voice
The agent (the doer of the action) is not always necessary in the passive voice. It's often omitted if it's clear who or what is performing the action.
In some cases, the passive voice may sound awkward or overly complicated, so active voice is often preferred.
key difference :
Active: focus is on the doer (subject)
Passive focus is on action or the receiver on the action (object)
exercise:
The teacher explained the lesson.
The company will release the product next year.
They cleaned the room.
The children are eating the cake.
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Answer:
The lesson was explainded by the teacher.
the product will be released by the company next year.
the room was cleanded by them.
the cake is being eaten by the children
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Conclusion
Active Voice: The subject performs the action (e.g., "She writes a letter").
Passive Voice: The action is performed on the subject (e.g., "A letter is written by her").
Understanding when to use each form helps improve clarity, variety, and style in both writing and speaking.
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