This presentation focuses on the following:1.Simplified meaning of ‘Voice’ in English

Grammar 2.Types of Voice (with easy examples)3. Reasons to use the Active Voice4.When to use the Passive Voice5.Conversion of Active Voice Declarative

statements into the Passive6.Practice Exercise (With Answers),involving

the conversion of Active Voice statements into Passive Voice

Defining “Voice”Voice in English Grammar is the form a transitive verb takes to indicate whether the subject of the verb performs or receives the action.

Examples: Minu waters the plants. (The subject Minu performs an

action).

The lolly is eaten by Vinu. (The subject lolly receives the action).

There are two types of Voice:ActivePassiveExample:Active : Shail blows the candles.Passive: The candles are blown by Shail.

Let us understand this better…

Active Voice

indicates that the subject of the verb is acting or performing an action.

Active Voice These examples show that the

subject performs the action:

The nurse is giving the medicine.

The nurse (subject) is performing the action of giving (verb) the medicine.

Krishna will read the report to the class.

Krishna (subject) will carry out the action of reading (verb).

Passive Voice

In a passive voice sentence, the subject and object flip-flop or get interchanged.

The subject becomes the passive recipient of the action.

Passive Voice These examples show the subject

being acted upon by the verb:

The medicine is being given by the nurse. The medicine (subject) is being given (verb)

A book report will be given by Krishna to the class.A book report (subject) will be given (verb).

Reasons to Use the Active Voice

Most writers prefer to use active voice because

it is more direct concise and propels the reader forward through the writing avoiding weak constructions.

Reasons to Use the Active VOICE Compare

Active: The young waitress dropped the tray of food. (concise statement of fact, with the focus on the waitress)

Passive: The tray of food was dropped by the young waitress. (lengthy; focus on the tray of food, less direct)

It is better to say:

The Supervisor has granted your request for a PE class. (Active) The same conveyed in Passive appears to be a weak and lengthy construction.

Your request for a PE class has been granted by the Supervisor. (Passive)

When to Use Passive Voice

In general, the passive voice is less direct

less forceful and

less concise than the active voice.

When to Use Passive Voice When you do not know or do not

want to reveal the performer of an action.

Example: The kidnappers have been caught.

When you want to emphasize the receiver of an action.

Example: The brave youngster was rewarded suitably.

While converting Active to Passive Voice , the same tense is retained in the past-participle form.

For example:

Active Voice-The children ate (simple past tense) the cookies.

Passive Voice-The cookies were eaten (past participle)by the children.

Often passive voice sentences will contain a "by" phrase indicting who or what performed the action.

Example: The football was kicked by Rohan.

Look at the conversion here: Active: My friend gave me a basket of flowers.

Passive: I was given a basket of flowers by my friend.

or A basket of flowers was given

to me by my friend.

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A simple conversion table

ACTIVEHe throws the

apple.He threw the apple.

He is/was throwing the apple.

He has/had thrown the apple.

He will/shall throw the apple.

PASSIVE The apple is

thrown.The apple was

thrown.The apple is/was

being thrown.The apple has/had

been thrown.The apple will/shall

be thrown .

REMEMBER TO RETAIN THESAME TENSE WHEN VOICE IS CHANGED. Active(A)-Amina steered the boat.

Passive(P)-The boat was steered by Amina.

A-Roshan decorates the Christmas tree happily.

P-The Christmas tree is decorated by Roshan, happily.

A-Someone has stolen my bicycle.

P-My bicycle has been stolen.

A- Joey kangaroo is holding a bottle of milk.

P-A bottle of milk is being held by Joey kangaroo.

A-Factories pollute the natural environment.

P-The natural environment is polluted by factories.

A-The size of the Indian Democracy has always amazed me.

P-I have always been amazed by the size of the Indian Democracy.

A-Professor Verma will assign each group a research project . Next, he will discuss the documentary sources with us.

P-Each group will be assigned a research project by Professor Verma . Next, the documentary sources will be discussed with us.

A-Seismologists have examined data concerning the recent earthquake, and they will file reports.

P-Data concerning the recent earthquake have been examined by the seismologists and the reports will be filed.

(Mixing of Active and Passive constructions in the same sentence has been thus rightly avoided here.)

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A-She added the raspberries to the sweetened cream and served it to the guests.

P-The raspberries were added to the sweetened cream and served to the guests.

A-The minister discussed problems of famine, pollution, depleting resources, and child safety.

P-Problems of famine,pollution,depleting resources and child safety were discussed by the minister.

A-Whenever Prof. Ganguly found an error , the student had to rewrite the entire assignment.

P-Whenever an error was found by Prof.Ganguly, the entire assignment had to be rewritten by the student.

A-For the closing flag ceremony, Geeta presented a dance which she had choreographed .

P-For the closing flag ceremony, a dance that had been choreographed by Geeta was presented by her.

TO CONCLUDE……..

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