Overview of Active-Passive voice
In English grammar, verbs have the following properties:
- Number - Singular, Plural
- Person - I, II, and III
- Tense - Past, Present
- Mood
- Voice - Active, Passive
In this module, we will focus on the Voice. However, to understand it better, a student must have some basic knowledge of Verbs and Tenses.
What is a Voice?
Voice - form of a Verb which shows whether Subject does something or has something done to it.
Types of Voices
Active Voice
If the form of the verb shows that Subject does something (subject is the doer of the action, it is active).
Active Voice Pattern: Subject + Verb + Object
India helps Bhutan. (Indian – subject; helps – verb; Bhutan - object)
Passive Voice
If the form of the verb shows that something is done to the Subject (subject receives some action, it is passive).
Passive Voice Pattern: Subject (passive) + Helping verb ‘be’ (according to Tense) + $V_3$ + by + Object
Bhutan is helped by India. (Bhutan – passive subject; is – helping verb; helped – $V_3$; India – object of preposition ‘by’)
So, to make Passive voice we use: be + $V_3$ (Past Participle)
Let’s observe these two sentences again:
Active Voice: India helps Bhutan. (Indian – subject; helps – verb; Bhutan - object)
Passive voice: Bhutan is helped by India. (Bhutan – passive subject; is – helping verb; helped – $V_3$; India – object of preposition ‘by’)
In passive voice, the subject of active voice becomes the object of preposition ‘by’. It is in objective case now and not in subjective case.
Similarly, in passive voice, the object of active voice becomes a passive subject. It is in subjective case now and not in objective case. The helping verb in passive voice will agree with the number and person of the passive subject.
In passive voice, the object of preposition ‘by’ is also called as the Doer (as it does the action).
Similarly, in passive voice, the passive subject is also called the Receiver (as subject of passive voice is passive, it receives the action).
So, we can also write the passive voice pattern as follows:
Passive Voice Pattern: Receiver + Helping verb ‘be’ (according to Tense) + $V_3$ + by + Doer
Bhutan is helped by India. (Bhutan – passive subject/receiver; is – helping verb; helped – $V_3$; India – object of preposition/doer)
Receiver is also called as Patient, while Doer is also called as Agent.
‘by + object’ comes for $V_3$, so it should be kept near $V_3$.
In the middle one or two words can come, but ‘by + object’ should not be very far from $V_3$.
Active voice: He writes a letter here.
Passive voice: A letter is written here by him.
Remember that Voice is a property of the verb, and not of the whole sentence. That is, it is the verb that can be in active or passive voice.
Some students have a misconception that an entire sentence must be either in active or passive voice. However, verbs in the active voice and passive voice can also appear in the same sentence.
My grandfather owned a pet Bengal tiger, which was given to him by an Indian king. (owned - verb in active voice; was given - verb in passive voice.)
Our songs were considered unconventional, but we always felt a connection with the people in general. (were considered - verb in passive voice; felt - verb in active voice.)
Alternative Ways to form the Passive Voice
We know that, to make Passive voice we use: be + $V_3$ (Past Participle)
However, sometimes we also form the passive using the verb ‘to get’ or ‘to have’ (instead of the verb ‘to be’).
We use such sentence constructions when we get our work done by someone else - the work is more important than the person doing it. The person(s) doing the work often remains unnamed.
I must get my car serviced. (get + $V_3$)
I must have my car serviced. (have + $V_3$)
Let’s see some more examples.
When are you going to get that car serviced?
We are having the room refurbished.
I will get those guns delivered before next spring.
He said he would have my food delivered by midnight.
Recognizing Passive Voice
We know that to make Passive voice we use: be + $V_3$ (Past Participle)
For example, am licensed, is played, are killed, was created, were eaten, has been seen, is being repaired, etc.
We can also use modals in this format, i.e. modal + be + $V_3$ (Past Participle)
For example, might be created, cannot be used, should have been seen, will have been eaten, etc.
However, be + $V_3$ (Past Participle) will be considered a passive voice form only if the past participle is working as a verb. Sometimes, $V_3$ (Past Participle) also works as an adjective. In that case, we cannot call it a passive voice.
Not a Passive Voice: All the inventions he has ever made in his life have been when he has been drunk. (drunk - it is an adjective and not part of the verb)
Passive Voice: I have been drunk in the bar by my old college mates. (drunk - it is part of the verb)
Indians were scared of drinking tea when it was introduced.
The verb ‘was introduced’ is in the passive voice. However, ’were scared’ is not. Here, ‘scared’ is not part of the verb. It’s an adjective meaning afraid. So, ‘were’ is in the active voice.
A trick to recognize Passive Voice
So, even experts often make a mistake when it comes to recognizing Passive Voice form. But luckily, we have a simple test to help us out.
Just include the term ‘by vampires’ after the verb form. If it still makes sense, then it means that the verb is in passive voice.
Let’s see an example.
The bike could have been stolen.
The bike could have been stolen by vampires. (It makes sense. So, ‘have been stolen’ is in the passive voice.)
The bike could have been illicit.
The bike could have been illicit by vampires. (It makes no sense. Therefore, ‘have been’ is in the active voice, and illicit is an adjective.)
Use of Prepositions other than ‘by’
Certain verbs are always followed by a certain preposition, which replaces the ‘by’ of ‘by + object’ in the passive voice (generally with, at, in, of and to).
amazed at, amused at something, angry with somebody, annoyed with somebody, annoyed at something, astonished at, comprised of, contained in, crammed with, cut with something, decorated with, embodied in, engulfed in, filled with, interested in, known to, married to, ornamented with, pleased with somebody, pleased at something, satisfied with somebody, satisfied at something, startled at, surprised at, thronged with, tired of, vexed at.
Active voice: He pleased me.
Passive voice: I was pleased with him.
Active voice: The forest fire in California engulfed the whole posh community of Orange county.
Passive voice: The whole posh community of Orange county was engulfed in the forest fire in California.
Active voice: He knows me.
Passive voice: I am known to him.
Extra Books and Tools
Though the matter on our website is in-depth and comprehensive enough for the needs of most of the aptitude exams, but it may also feel daunting for the same reasons. Moreover, some learners prefer books over websites. So, if you are a beginner level English learner, and prefer books, you may explore the following English Grammar books too.
1. Wren & Martin - This book has been around for long and is still considered one of the best. Though many concepts have not been dealt with in much depth here, but beginners may find it a breeze to read. Once you are done with it, the content on our website will work as a rich add-on. If you are getting this book, make sure you get the key to its exercises too.
Link for Indian readers: Wren and Martin
2. More advanced learners may refer to the following books. However, buy them only if you must. Most of your English Grammar learning needs will easily be met by our website.
Essential English Grammar by Raymond Murphy
Link for Indian readers: Essential English Grammar
Intermediate English Grammar by Raymond Murphy
Link for Indian readers: Intermediate English Grammar
Advanced English Grammar by Martin Hewings
Link for Indian readers: Advanced English Grammar
So much so for Englsh Grammar. But what about Comprehension skills and Vocabulary?
We strongly believe that Comprehension skills and Vocabulary are more a matter of practice. The more you read, the better you will become in them. In fact, this will help you in Grammar too. Afterall Grammar rules are just in the nature of temporary scaffholding - the goal is to read, write and speak a language without consciously remembering even a single Grammar rule.
So, we suggest you to read vividly. Ideally, carry some tool with you that you may refer to learn the meaning of any word that is new to you. There are many ways you may go about it.
* The old method: Carry a good dictionary with you. But who does?
* Download a Thesauraus app on your mobile or just google it. Better, but we still need to stop reading, open app, type and then search. Boring!
The methods mentioned above kill the joy of reading. Who wants to stop reading in the midst of an interesting plot and look for the meaning of a word? And if you are a lazy soul like me, oh man! No chance!
That's why I prefer to read on gadgets like Kindle. We may just tap on any word and see its meaning there and then. It's also not taxing on the eyes.
If you guys know about any more such books, gadgets and technologies that are awesome and may help English learners, do share 😇