PASSIVE VOICE
DEFINING PASSIVE VOICE
Every sentence contains,at minimum,a subject and an action.The subject is the person or thing the sentence is about,and the action is what the subject is doing.
When a sentence is in active voice,the sbject is doing the action and the subject typically comes before the action in the sentence.For example:
When a sentence is in active voice,the sbject is doing the action and the subject typically comes before the action in the sentence.For example:
- I swim./is the subject. Swim is the action.The subject doing the action comes before the action,so it is immediately clear to the reader who is doing what.
- Swimming is something I do. Here,the action is swimming.The subject is I.The sentence is in passive voice,since the person doing the action (ı)is not mentioned until after the action.
- Anna hits the ball.Anna is the subject.Hits is the action.The ball is the object.
- The ball is hit by anna.
- The ball is the object-not the subject of the sentence.The ball is not doing an action.Therefore ,it should be after the subject (ANNA)
TIPS TO RECOGNIZE THE PASSIVE VOICE
Sometimes a sentence in a passive voice does not necessarily sound wrong or wordy.However, it is still best to write in active voice when possible
ın order to recognıze that a sentence is in passive voice,watch out for these key words:
ın order to recognıze that a sentence is in passive voice,watch out for these key words:
- be
- is
- are
- a
- was
- were
- has been
- have been
- will be
- being
You can watch the video to unterstand what is the definition of passive voice.
HOW TO CHANGE VOICE FROM PASSIVE TO ACTIVE .
In order to change passive voice to active voice, you need recognize what the subject of the sentence is ,then rewrite the sentence ,so the subject is performing the action.
let's use the following example to understand how to change passive voice to active voice:
let's use the following example to understand how to change passive voice to active voice:
- Extensive training on the new safety precedures was required to be attended by the mainenance staff.
- Step one: ıdentify the subject of the sentence-who is doing do action?the training is not doing the action,so it can't be the subject.The only person or thing doing an action here is the maintanance staff.They are attending training.So ,the maintanance staff is the subject of the sentence.
- Step two:Rewrite the sentence ,so the subject is performing the action.This sentence could be rewritten to active voice as follows.
- The maintanance stuff was required to attend extensive training on the new safety procedures.
This video helps to you understand the topic more clearly.
practise changıng passive to actıve voıce
correct the following five sentences to practise changing passive to active voice
- The jar is filled with sand.
- Reading is enjoyed by Mary.
- The town is destroyed by fire.
- The room will be cleaned by John every saturday.
- Cheese was eaten by Sara
answers
- Sand filled with the jar.
- Mary enjoys reading.
- Fire destroyed the town.
- John will clean the room every saturday.
- Sara ate the cheese.
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