Active and Passive verbs (voice)

Question 1

What is the difference between active and passive voice?

Answer 1

In the active voice the subject of the sentence does the action but in the passive voice the object becomes the subject and his having the action done to it.

Question 2

What is the general rule when changing a sentence from the active voice to the passive voice.

Answer 2

1. underline the verb
2. divide the sentence up into subject, verb and object
3. Begin with the object

Question 3

what does “the magician performs the trick” change into in the passive voice?

Answer 3

The trick is performed by the magician.

Question 4

What happens to pronouns when we change from active to passive voice?

Answer 4

• the pronouns have to change

Singular:
I = me
you = you
he/she/it = him/her/it

Plural:
we = us
you = you
they = them

Question 5

In what case is the agent ( doer) not mention?

Answer 5

This is when it would be clumsy and confusing to do so as is the case when the sentence can be easily understood without mentioning the agent or if the agent is a pronoun.

E.g. We keep our coffee cups here
( our coffee cups are kept here.) ( by us)

They will take a decision soon
(A decision will be taken soon) ( by them)

Question 6

How do we change commands into the passive voice?

E.g. Read the book by tuesday!

Answer 6

The book must be read by Tuesday

Question 7

How do we change questions into the passive voice?

E.g. Who wrote the article?

Answer 7

By whom was the article written?

Question 8

when is it more effective to use the passive voice?

Answer 8

• when demands are being made anonymously
  ( smoking is not permitted in the cinema)

-when it isn’t nessacary to mention the subject/doer
( Refreshments will be served)

-when we are unsure about who did the action
( the diamonds were stolen)

-when a nameless accusation is made
( The shirt has been ruined in the wash)