PASSIVE
VOICE
·
Definiton
of Passive Voice
Passive
voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is not to
take action, but rather accept the action or follow-up (receiver of action) by
another agent (DOER of action) either mentioned or not. In contrast, the active
construction, subject directly related to the verb to act as agents of action.
Active sentence can be transformed into passive, but only transitive verb
(followed by direct object ) that can be enforced so.
Allows the Object of the preposition to do something to
it, we say that the sentence or the verb of that sentence is in PASSIVE VOICE.
·
Illustration
For example :
The cat killed the rat. (Active Voice)
The cat = subject of the sentence
killed = verb
of the sentence
the rat = the
object of the verb
Now, who killed whom?
=
‘the cat’ – the subject of the sentence killed “the rat”
– the object of the verb.
We say that this sentence or the verb of this sentence is
in Active Voice because
the subject ‘the cat’ does the killing.
Let’s see what this sentence is about…
The rat was killed by the cat. (PASSIVE VOICE)
The rat = subject of the sentence
was killed = verb of the sentence
the cat = the object of the preposition “by”
Now, who killed whom?
‘The rat killed the cat’?
Noooooo….
Even in his sentence ‘the cat’ killed ‘the rat’, but not
‘the rat’ killed ‘the cat’!
Though ‘the rat’ is actually the subject of the sentence,
it is not doing anything
but passively allowing ‘the cat’ which is the object of
the preposition ‘by’ to kill it.
As the subject of the sentence does not do anything but
allows passively something
to be done to it, we say that this sentence or the verb
of this sentence is in PASSIVE VOICE.
How do we know who does what? Well, the answer is in the VERB – ‘was
killed’!
the verb – was killed – one verb, two parts — simple past
tense – Passive Voice.
Suppose the second sentence was like this: ‘The rat
killed the cat.’ (which might be correct according to the grammar rules but
would not be sensible) we would say that this sentence or the verb of this
sentence was in Active Voice.
·
The
Formula/ Tense Passive Voice
PAST
1. Simple
Past : was/were + the past participle V3 form of the Main Verb
2. Past
Continuous : was/were + being + the past participle V3 form of the Main Verb
3. Past
Perfect : had + been + the Past Participle V3 form of the Main Verb
4. Past Perfect Continuous —— no
passive voice for this tense ——
PRESENT
1. Simple
Present : is/am/are + the Past Participle V3 form of the Main Verb
2. Present
Continuous :
is/am/are + being + the Past Participle V3 form of the Main Verb
3. Present
Perfect : has/have + been + the past participle V3 form of the Main Verb
4. Present
Perfect Continuous ——— no passive voice for this
tense ———
FUTURE
1. Simple
Future : will/shall + be + the Past Participle V3 form of the Main Verb
2. Future
Continuous ——— no passive voice for this
tense ———
3. Future
Perfect : will/shall + have + been + the Past Participle V3 form of the Main Verb
4. Future
Perfect Continuous ——— no passive form for this tense ———
There are only EIGHT TENSES in Passive Voice. The ‘Past
Perfect Continuous’, ‘Present Perfect Continuous’, ‘Future Continuous’ and the
‘Future Perfect Continuous’ Tenses are not used in Passive Voice in modern
English. The Active Voice sentences having these four Tenses are not changed
into Passive Voice. The Main Verb in any Tense in Passive Voice takes only the
Past Participle — V3 – form!
·
Example
of Passive Voice
a.
Active
to Passive sentences
No.
|
Active
|
Passive
|
1.
|
The
salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into
the store.
|
The
customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief
came into the store.
|
2.
|
Robert repaired the
car.
|
The car was
repaired by Robeth.
|
3.
|
Someone will
finish the work by 5:00 PM.
|
The
work will be finished by 5:00 PM.
|
4.
|
Adam had
repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license.
|
Many
cars had been repaired by Adam before he received his
mechanic's license.
|
5.
|
Once a
week, Steve cleans the
bathroom.
|
Once a
week, the bathroom is
cleaned by Steve.
|
6.
|
Right
now, Alicia is
writing the letter.
|
Right
now, the letter is being written by Alicia.
|
7.
|
Many
tourists have visited Kuta beach.
|
Kuta beach has
been visited by many tourists.
|
8.
|
Recently,
Bruno has
been doing the work.
|
Recently,
the work has been being done by Bruno.
|
9.
|
Chef
Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners
for two years before he moved to London.
|
The
restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by
Chef Jones for two years before he moved to London.
|
10.
|
Paula is
going to make a beautiful dinner tonight.
|
A
beautiful dinner is going to be made by Paula
tonight.
|
b. Passive to Active sentences
No.
|
Passive
|
Active
|
1.
|
All your old letters have been kept.
|
I have kept all your old letters.
|
2.
|
The effects of unemployment are discussed in the article.
|
The
article discusses the effects of unemployment.
|
3.
|
A huge
profit was made by the company.
|
The
company made a huge profit.
|
4.
|
It has been decided by the class that everyone should get an
"A."
|
The
class has decided that everyone should get an "A."
|
5.
|
The job
will have been finished by us by next month.
|
We will
have finished the job by next month.
|
6.
|
By
Tuesday, an agreement had been reached by us.
|
By
Tuesday, we had reached an agreement.
|
7.
|
Our
proposal will be mailed next week.
|
We will mail our proposal next week.
|
8.
|
My arm was broken by me.
|
I broke my arm.
|
9.
|
This house was purchased by Jane yesterday.
|
Jane purchased this house yesterday.
|
10.
|
The last cheese cake was eaten by whom?
|
Who ate the last cheese cake?
|
References :
