Voice Change
Voice shows whether the subject of a sentence acts or is acted upon, and changing a sentence from one voice to the other is a fixed exercise in the ADRE Grade IV General English paper. There are two voices. In the active voice the subject performs the action, as in Ram writes a letter. In the passive voice the subject receives the action, as in a letter is written by Ram. The whole exercise follows a short set of steps, and a candidate who learns those steps can convert any sentence correctly. The method followed in the Master Book approach is to identify the object of the active sentence, make it the subject of the passive sentence, add the correct form of the verb be with the past participle of the main verb, and place the old subject after the word by. Every voice question is a careful application of these four steps.
Basic Terms
- Voice: the form of the verb that shows whether the subject acts or is acted upon.
- Active voice: the subject performs the action.
- Passive voice: the subject receives the action.
- Agent: the doer of the action, usually placed after by in the passive.
- Object: the receiver of the action in the active sentence.
- Past participle: the third form of the verb, as in written, taken and made.
The active has an object and the passive has an agent. The active sentence's object becomes the passive sentence's subject, and the active sentence's subject becomes the agent after by.
The Four Steps of Conversion
First, take the object of the active sentence and make it the subject. Second, choose the correct form of the helping verb be, matching the tense of the active sentence. Third, use the past participle of the main verb. Fourth, put the original subject after by, changing a pronoun to its objective form, as in he to him. Following these four steps in order gives the passive sentence without confusion.
The Helping Verb by Tense
Each tense requires its own form of be in the passive. The simple present uses is, am or are with the past participle. The simple past uses was or were. The present continuous uses is being or are being. The past continuous uses was being or were being. The present perfect uses has been or have been. The past perfect uses had been. The future uses will be. The perfect forms of the continuous and the future perfect continuous have no passive form in ordinary use, and a question will not ask for them.
Changing Pronouns
When the old subject is placed after by, a pronoun changes from the subjective to the objective case. I becomes me, we becomes us, he becomes him, she becomes her, they becomes them and who becomes whom. This change is a common point of testing, and forgetting it spoils an otherwise correct answer.
Sentences with Two Objects
Some verbs, such as give, offer and teach, take two objects. In such sentences the passive can be made in two ways, because either object can become the subject: he gave me a book, a book was given to me by him, or I was given a book by him. Both forms are correct, and the question usually accepts the more natural one.
Commands and Negative Sentences
In the passive, an imperative such as open the door becomes let the door be opened. A negative sentence keeps its negative word, so do not close the door becomes let not the door be closed. Requests beginning with please are turned into you are requested to. These special forms must be learned because the usual steps do not apply directly.
Intransitive Verbs and Voice
Only a transitive verb has an object and can be changed into the passive. An intransitive verb such as sleep, come or go has no object and therefore no passive form. A question may ask which sentence cannot be changed into the passive, and the answer is the one with an intransitive verb.
How This Topic Appears in the Examination
In ADRE Grade IV, APSC and Assam Police English papers this topic appears when a sentence must be changed from active to passive or from passive to active. The tested points are the correct helping verb for the tense, the past participle of the main verb, the change of pronoun, and the special forms for commands and negative sentences.
Shortcut Methods for Quick Answers
Do the four steps in order and do not skip any. Match the helping verb to the tense of the original sentence before anything else. Use the third form of the verb and not the second. Change the pronoun as soon as it goes after by. For commands, begin with let and keep the object before be.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the second form of the verb instead of the past participle.
- Choosing the wrong form of be for the tense.
- Forgetting to change the pronoun from the subjective to the objective case.
- Trying to make a passive from an intransitive verb.
- Leaving the agent after by in a sentence where by is not used, as in familiar expressions.
How to Prepare This Topic
- Learn the four steps of conversion in order.
- Memorise the form of be used in each tense of the passive.
- Revise the third form of common irregular verbs.
- Practise pronoun changes and sentences with two objects.
- Finish with commands and negative sentences, and revise the steps weekly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
In the active voice the subject performs the action, as in the boy kicked the ball. In the passive voice the subject receives the action, as in the ball was kicked by the boy.
How is the passive voice formed?
The object of the active sentence becomes the subject, a form of the verb be is used according to the tense, the main verb takes its past participle, and the old subject follows after by.
Which verbs cannot be changed into the passive?
Intransitive verbs such as sleep, come and go cannot be changed, because they have no object. Only a transitive verb, which has an object, can form a passive.
How is a command changed into the passive?
An imperative such as open the door becomes let the door be opened. A negative command keeps its negative word, so do not open the door becomes let not the door be opened.
What happens to the pronoun in the passive?
A pronoun that moves after by changes to its objective form. He becomes him, she becomes her, they become them and I becomes me.