CHAPTER # 3

The Passive

VoiceDictionary Grammar

Voice: According to dictionary is a noun which means sound.

Voice: According to grammar it is a form of a verb which shows whether the subject of the sentence is the doer of an action or the receiver of an action.

Examples:

Laila kills an ant. (Active voice)

An ant is killed by Laila. (Passive voice)

Voice

Active Voice Passive Voice

Active Voice/ SentenceA verb is in active voice when its form showsthat the subject of the sentence does the action ofthe sentence. Or, when the subject of the sentence is the doer of an action is called Active voice.

Str: Sub+ verb+ Object. Example: Arzoo plays hop scotch.

Why do we use Active Voice?

It is used when the doer of the sentence is important to be mentioned.

It is used when we want to know what is done by the people or things( subject is the doer).

It is used when we want to make the doer of the sentence prominent.

Passive Voice

A verb is in passive voice when its form shows that the subject of the sentence receives the action. Or, when the subject of the sentence is the receiver of the sentence. (something is done to the subject of the sentence.)

Str: Sub+ to be+ past participle+ by phrase

Example: Hop scotch is played by Arzoo.

Why do we use Passive Voice? It is used when the doer of the sentence is

unknown. It is also used when it is not important to

mention the doer of the sentence. It is used when we want to know that what is

done to the people or things. It is also used when the receiver of the

sentence is more important than the doer.

Kinds of Passive Voices

Main Passive Stative Passive Conditional Passive Present Passive Gerund Past Passive Gerund Present Passive Infinitive Past Passive Infinitive

Tense in Passive Voice

The following tenses are not common in Passive Voice.

1. Present Perfect Progressive Tense.

2. Past Perfect Progressive Tense.

3. Future Progressive Tense.

4. Future Perfect Progressive Tense.

How to change an Active voice to Passive? A sentence must be divided into ( Subject, verb and

object) The object of the active sentence must the subject

of the passive sentence. Only transitive verbs are changeable ( Verbs which

need objects) Intransitive verbs are not changeable ( verbs which

do not need objects). By phrase can be used to introduce the doer of an

action.

Tenses in Passive Voice

Simple Present Tense

Act Str: Sub+ verb (s,es,ies)+ Obj.

Example: Hungama washes a car.

Pas Str: Sub+ to be+ 3rd verb+ by phrase

Example: A car is washed by Hungama.

Present Progressive TenseAct Str: Sub+ is, am, are+ v-ing+ Obj

Example: Laila is watching TV.

Pas Str: Sub+ is, am, are+ being+ 3rd verb+ by phrase

Example: TV is being watched by Laila.

Present Perfect Tense

Act Str: Sub+ has/have+ 3rd verb + Obj

Example: Meena has taught Pashto.

Pas Str: Sub+ has/have+ been+3rd verb+ by phrase

Example: Pashto has been taught by Meena.

Simple Past Tense

Act Str: Sub+ 2nd verb+ Obj

Example: Rubina wrote a letter.

Pas Str: Sub+ to be+ 3rd verb+ by phrase

Example: A letter was written by Rubina.

Past Progressive TenseAct Str: Sub+ was/were+ v-ing+ Obj

Example: Shakila was helping Meena.

Ps Str: Sub+ was/were+ being+ 3rd verb+ by phrase

Example: Meena was being helped by Shakila

Past Perfect Tense

Act Str: Sub+ had+ 3rd verb+ Obj

Example: Kamal had played cricket.

Pas Str: Sub+ had+ been+ 3rd verb+ by phrase

Example: Cricket had been played by Kamal.

Simple Future Tense

Act Str: Sub+ will/be going to+ verb+ Obj

Example: John will watch TV tomorrow.

Pas Str: Sub+ will/be going to+ be+ 3rd verb+ by phrase

Example: TV will be watched by John tomorrow.

Future Perfect TenseAct Str: Sub+ will/be going to+ have+ 3rd verb+

Obj

Example: Ali will have studied English.

Pas Str: Sub+ will/be going to+ have+ been+ 3rd verb+ by phrase

Example: English will have been studied by Ali.

Direct & Indirect object in Passive Voice Sometimes a sentence may have two objects

(direct & indirect objects). While changing a sentence from active voice to the passive voice any object can be the subject of passive voice.

Examples: Ali gifted a book to Meena.

D.Obj Ind.Obj

Examples: Arzoo bought a car for Laila.

D.Obj Ind.Obj

Passive: A car was bought for Laila by Arzoo.

Laila was bought a car by Arzoo.

Passive for Imperative Sentence Act Str: Open the door.

Pas Str: Let+ Obj+ be+ 3rd verb

Let the door be opened.

Sometimes the object of a verb can be a noun, pronoun, gerund, infinitive and clause. While changing a sentence to passive any of them can be the subject of the passive voice.

Example: She invited Shakila to a party. noun

Shakila was invited to a party.

Examples:

Kamal selected her as a teacher.

pro

She was selected as a teacher by Kamal.

I enjoy teasing Hungama.

gerund

Teasing Hungama is enjoyed by me.

Arzoo wants to be the president.

infinitive

To be the president is wanted by Arzoo.

I think that Rubina is a beautiful girl.

clause

That Rubina is a beautiful girl is thought by me.

Let’s Practice