SEBA English Grammar: Voice
The form of the verb that shows the ‘subject doing an action’ or ‘an action is done on the subject’ is called a voice.
There are two types of voices are there
1) Active voice:
In active voice, the verb shows the subject acting on the object.
Structure- S + V + Obj
Eg- The watchman opens the door.
2) Passive voice:
In Passive voice, the verb expresses the object being acted upon subject.
Structure- Obj + helping verb + V3 + by + Sub
Eg- The door is opened by the watchman.
Pronouns that are changed when we transfer active voice to passive voice. These are given as follows-
VOICE RULE
Different Tense in Active voice and Passive voice-
Some important points.
1. Omission of the doer of the action
Certain actions are done by a particular subject only. In such cases by sub must not be mentioned in the passive voice. And if the sentence is given in passive Voice without by subject use that subject in an active voice that generally does that work.
Eg- 1) P.V.- The room was cleaned.
A.V- The cleaner cleaned the room.
2) A.V- Police arrested him.
P.V- He was arrested.
3) A.V- People speak English all over the world.
P.V- English is spoken all over the world.
4) A.V- A teacher teaches English here.
P.V- English is taught here.
5) A.V- No one desires riots. (a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd)
P.V- Riots are not desired.
6) A.V- The people caught the thief.
P.V- The thief was caught.
7) A.V- We can do it easily.
P.V- It can be done easily.
2. Certain verbs take fixed prepositions after them that replace the ‘by’ of ‘by + sub’.
Known to, surprised at/by, amazed at, astonished (greatly surprised) at, annoyed with somebody, annoyed at something, contained in, embodied in, crammed with, decorated with, filled with, tired of, engulfed (eat or swallow) in, vexed(problematic) at.
Eg. “Surprised at”
Usage- Surprised at is generally used when referring to the cause of surprise being a specific event, action, or behavior.
· She was surprised at the sudden change in the weather. (event)
· He was surprised at her reaction to the news. (behavior)
· I was surprised at his impudent behavior. (behavior)
“Surprised by”
Usage- Focuses on a person or thing.
· She was surprised by his arrival. (person)
· He was surprised by the loud noise. (thing)
· I was surprised by his result. (thing)
1) A.V- The fire engulfed the building.
P.V- The building was engulfed in the fire.
2) A.V- This box contains ten cigars.
P.V- Ten cigars are contained in this box
3) A.V- I know this man.
P.V- This man is known to me.
4) A.V- They are laughing at you
P.V- You are being laughed at by them.
5) A.V- The news has surprised us. (it is not a thing or person)
P.V- We have been surprised at the news.
3. Passive voice with Interrogative sentence
In the passive Voice of Interrogative sentences, we start the sentences with the helping verb that goes with the object.
1. A.V- Have you broken the glass?
P.V- Has the glass been broken by you?
2. A.V- Why have you broken the window pane?
P.V- Why has the window pane been broken by you?
3. A.V- What are you doing?
P.V- What is being done by you?
4. A.V.- Do you play games?
P.V- Are games played by you?
5. A.V- Did he eat mango?
P.V- Was the mango eaten by him?
6. A.V- Why did he write such a letter?
P.V- Why was such a letter written by him?
In the case of who and whom, the rules are different and the passive Voice is made as illustrated below-
6. A.V- Who wrote the Ramayana?
P.V- By whom was the Ramayana written?
7. A.V- Who can trust a liar?
P.V- By whom can a liar be trusted?
8. A.V- Whom have you invited?
P.V- Who has been invited by you?
4. Passive voice with Imperative sentence (note: An imperative sentence is a type of sentence that gives commands, instructions, requests, or advice)
Difference between let and other structures while changing to passive voice.
Let: Use when you want to be more polite or formal.
Other structure: Use when emphasizing necessity, obligation, or when a more direct command is appropriate.
Type-1
1. A.V-Do this sum.
Let this sum be done.
2. A.V- Take care of it.
P.V- Let it be taken care of.
3. A.V- Tell him to go.
P.V- Let him be told to go.
4. A.V- Give the order.
P.V- Let the order be given.
5. A.V. - Send for the doctor.
P.V- Let the doctor be sent for.
6. A.V- Do not forget his advice.
P.V- Let his advice be not forgotten.
7. A.V- Keep this pen on the table.
P.V- Let this pen be kept on the table.
Type-2
1. A.V- Go away.
P.V- You are ordered to go away.
2. A.V- Please sing a song. (Request)
P.V- You are requested to sing a song.
3. A.V- Put up a notice. (Command)
P.V- Have a notice be put up.
4. A.V- Help the poor. (Moral suggestion)
P.V- The poor should be helped.
5. A.V- Help the needy. (Moral suggestion)
P.V- The needy should be helped.
6. A.V- Clean your room. (Instruction)
P.V- Your room must be cleaned.
7. A.V- Beware of the dog. (Warning)
P.V- The dog should be avoided.
8. A.V- Take care of your health. (Advice)
P.V- Your health should be taken care of.
9. A.V- Do not touch the exhibits. (Prohibition/infinitive)
P.V- The exhibits are not to be touched.
10. A.V- Follow the instructions carefully. (General Guidance)
P.V- The instructions should be followed carefully.
11. A.V- Always tell the truth. (Encouragement)
P.V- The truth should always be told.
Example of both approaches-
1. A.V- Do the homework.
P.V- Let the homework be done.
Or/ The homework must be done.
2. A.V- Wash the dishes.
P.V- Let the dishes be washed.
Or/ The dishes should be washed.
3. A.V- Prepare the presentation.
P.V- Let the presentation be prepared.
Or/ The presentation needs to be prepared.
5.Infinitive sentences (Infinitives are a special form of verbs that can be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb. They are usually made by adding the word to before the base verb)
A.V- To + V1
P.V- To + be + V3
1. A.V- I am to do it.
B.V- It is to be done by me.
2. A.V- You are to write it in ink.
B.V- It is to be written in ink.
3. A.V- She likes to read the book.
P.V- The book is liked to be read by her.
4. A.V- They expect to complete the project.
P.V- The project is expected to be completed by them.
5. A.V- He decided to paint the house.
P.V- The house was decided to be painted by him.
6. A.V- We intend to organize the event.
P.V- The event is intended to be organized by us.
7. A.V- They need to clean the room.
P.V- The room needs to be cleaned. (Here needs work as a modal verb)
Or/ The room must be cleaned.
8. A.V- I have to finish this work. (Forced action)
P.V- This work has to be finished by me.
9. A.V- You have to choose a dress. (Forced action)
P.V- A dress has to be chosen by you.