05 Active Passive Voice

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Active Passive Voice

1. What are the 2 voice forms? Explain with examples


2. Why should one learn to convert from one voice to
the other?
3. Can all active voice be converted to passive and vice
versa? Explain.
4. Which voice form is preferred? Where? Why?
5. Discuss Q1
6. Discuss Q2
7. Discuss Q3
8. Discuss Q4
Voice is the quality of a verb that indicates whether its
subject
acts (active voice) or
is acted upon (passive voice).

The distinction between active and passive voice applies only to


transitive verbs.
A transitive verb is one that only makes sense if it exerts its action on an object.
A transitive verb needs to transfer its action to something or someone—an object.
An intransitive verb will make sense without one.
Some verbs may be used both ways.
Verb Transitive Intransitive
run Michelle used to run a restaurant. The path ran over the hill.
live Our cat lived till he was 10. He was living a life of luxury abroad.
A sentence normally begins with the performer of the
action, which is the subject.
What is Active Voice?
Following the subject, we have the verb and then object
on which the action is performed.
This is an active sentence.
Daniel (subject) moved (verb) the chair (object).
When we begin a sentence with the object on which the
action is performed, we construct the passive sentence.
The chair (object, here it is acting as sentence subject)
was moved (verb) by Daniel (doer-subject).
Convert from Active to Passive
Step 1 How to formulate Passive Voice?
We place the object of the verb at the beginning of the sentence.
Step 2
We conjugate the verb “Be” in the same tense it is as in the active sentence.
Step 3
We use the past participle form the main verb.

We gave Devi a prize.


Devi (Object acting as sentence subject) was given ( Be verb in past tense +
past participle of the main verb) a prize.
Be verb is in past tense(was) because in the active sentence give is in past
tense.
Some active voice sentences are complete without objects.

The birds flew high.


The bell rang on time.
The glass broke.

So, passive construction is not possible with these sentences.

Some passive voice sentences are complete without the subject.

The glass was broken.


The bell was rung.

Active voice construction is most often possible with an


imaginary doer.
Sentences that express a state of being, lack a clear subject, or
involve certain idiomatic expressions typically cannot be
converted into active voice.
Converting them to active voice might change the focus or
nuance of the sentence due to their nature or structure.

I was born on a Sunday.


It's been said that he's a great singer.

It is difficult to rephrase them in active voice while retaining


their intended meaning.
GUESS WHAT IS COMMON AMONG
THE WORDS BELOW
ACQUIT
EXCULPATE
EXONERATE
REDRESS
VINDICATE
ABSOLVE
ACQUIT – free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty.
EXCULPATE – show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing.
EXONERATE – absolve (someone) from blame for a fault or wrongdoing.

When you exonerate someone, you clear a person of an accusation and any
suspicion that goes along with it.
Exculpate usually refers more directly to clearing the charges against
someone.
REDRESS – remedy or set right (an undesirable or unfair situation)
VINDICATE – clear (someone) of blame or suspicion.
"hospital staff were vindicated by the inquest verdict”
vindicate is to clear from an accusation, suspicion or criticism.
ABSOLVE – declare (someone) free from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
Error
SampleSpotting
Questions
1. Nurses' experience in caring (a) for cancer
patients in pain (b) may be influenced their
attitudes (c) toward pain management(d). No
Error (e)
Nurses' experience in caring (a) for cancer
patients in pain (b) may influence their
attitudes (c) toward pain management(d). No
Error (e)
Error
SampleSpotting
Questions
2. Looking at the overcast sky (a), the proposed
trip was cancelled by the Principal (b) and
informed the students (c) that a new date would
be announced soon (d). No error (e).
Looking at the overcast sky (a), the principal
cancelled the proposed trip (b) and informed
the students (c) that a new date would be
announced soon (d). No error (e).
Sentence Correction
Sample Question
On entering the stadium, cheers greeted them as a sign of universal
approval of their great achievement.

a. On entering the stadium, cheers greeted them


b. On entering the stadium, they were greeted by cheers
c. While entering the stadium cheers greeted them
d. While entering the stadium: cheers greeted them

b. On entering the stadium, they were greeted by cheers


Sentence Correction

Sample Question
A thoroughly frightened child was seen by her cowering in the corner of the room.
a. A thoroughly frightened child was seen by her cowering in the corner of the room.
b. Cowering in the corner of the room a thoroughly frightened child was seen by her.
c. She saw, cowering in the corner of the room, a thoroughly frightened child
d. A thoroughly frightened child, cowering in the corner of the room, was seen by her.
e. She saw a thoroughly frightened child who was cowering in the corner of the room.

c. She saw, cowering in the corner of the room, a thoroughly frightened


child
Summary….
An action in a sentence can be represented in two ways, namely active and
passive voice.
Studying active and passive is important to know how to make the focus clear.

You must have seen that the verb form changes when you switch from active to
passive voice.
Do not disturb the tense while converting from one voice to the other
Active voice is often stronger than the passive voice and is preferred, generally
in MCQ
The GMAT favors the active voice.
Sentences written in the passive voice can still be correct, though, if every
other choice has a grammatical flaw.
Passive voice is used in Academic writing

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