The Voice Active Passive The voice shows the relationship of the subject to the action. In the active voice, the subject does the action (cats eat mice). In the passive voice, the subject receives the action (mice are eaten by cats). Active voice :- -:Active and :- The way of making sentences according to arrangement in which they come in their usual form ( Subject helping verb verb object.) is known as. Active voice can take both transitive and intransitive verbs. It may also be without any object.e.g. They will punish me.(with object and transitive verb) I go to college every day. (with out object and intransitive verb) (Tenses) Tenses Indefinite Continuous Perfect Perfect Continuous Present I eat. I am eating. I have eaten. I have been eating. Past I ate. I was eating. I had eaten. I had been eaten. Future I shall eat. I shall be eating. I shall have eaten. I shall have been eating. The most important part of a sentence in passive voice is the object so, much care to be adopted in having a better understanding about it. The Object: The part of speech(noun or pronoun) towards which the action of a transitive verb goes is known as object. e.g. I am eating (transitive verb) object an apple. It could be a direct object or an indirect object. Direct Object:- -:The Double Object:- Objects not relating to living things are known as direct objects. These objects normally comes after the indirect object in a sentence e.g. She gave me a cup. In direct Object:- Objects relating to living things are known indirect objects. These objects normally comes before the indirect object.e.g. She gave me a cup. 1
This order could be changed by putting a suitable preposition before the indirect object (normally to)in the following way: She gave a cup to me. The Verb verb The action performed by the subject e.g. she is playing Hockey. Transitive verb Intransitive Verb The verb that moves forward and affect s the object. e.g. i am placing a ball here. The verb that does not move forward and stops with the subject. e.g. They sleep on the bed. Passive voice :- In Passive voice the sentences do not come in their usual form( object helping verb 3 rd form of verb agent. Or Let+ object be verb(3 rd It may also be without any agent e.g. I will be punished by them.(with agent) Milk is drunk. (with out agent) form)). Passive voice can not take intransitive verbs. Tenses Indefinite Continuous Perfect Present An apple is eaten. An apple is being eaten. An apple has been eaten. Past An apple was eaten. An apple was being eaten. An apple had been eaten. Future An apple will be eaten. Structure doesn t exist An apple will have been eaten. Conversion of Active voice sentences in Passive voice sentences: In order to convert an active voice sentence into a passive sentence we need to make following main changes. Agent: 1) Change of Subject (noun/pronoun) into agent form. 2) Change of helping verbs 3) Change of verbs into 3 rd form of verb When subject in passive voice is taken at the place of object by changing it normally into its objective case (I in me etc),is known as agent. For making subject an agent, by is put before it. 2
Compare (Subject) I am throwing a ball. Change of Pronouns into Agent: Pronouns I We He She It They You Singular noun(masculine)e.g. Ali Singular noun(feminine)e.g. Sara Plural noun e.g. Children Who He is writing a letter. She did not make food. The teacher will punish him. A ball is being thrown by(agent) me. (1 st Change) Agent By me By us By him By her By it By them By you By Noun(Ali) By Noun(Sara) By Noun (Children) By whom Illustrations A letter is being written by him. Food was not made by her. He will be punished by the teacher. Change of helping verbs of active sentences in passive form: (2 nd change) Conversion of Helping verbs in Passive The present Tense Do/ does ( or 1 st form of verb) Is/am/ are Is/ am/ are Is/am/ are + being Has/ have Has/have + been The Past Tense Did (or 2 nd form of verb) Was/ were Was/ were Was/ were + being Had Had + been The Future Tense Will/shall Will/shall + be Will have / shall have Will have/shall have +been Modal Verbs Modal Verbs (Should, can, would,may etc.) Modal verbs+ be(should be, can be, may be etc.) Modal verbs +have(could have, might have etc.) Modal verbs have+ been(could have been etc.) Illustrations He is writing a letter. She did not make food. A letter is being written by him. Food was not made by her. 3
The teacher will punish him. We should drink milk. Change of Form of Verb: He will be punished by the teacher. Milk should be drunk by us. (3 rd change) It is important to note that all forms of verbs of the active voice sentences will be changed into 3 rd form of verb in Passive voice sentences. Compare He plays cricket. She washed the dish. She will drink milk. Way out: Cricket is played. The dish was washed by her. Milk has been drunk. In order to convert an active sentence into passive form we, first of all, need to bring the object at the place of subject(normally at the beginning ) then helping verb and form of verb are changed according to the information given in above mentioned tables, and the agent is put at the end of the sentence.any other part of sentence,if any, is not changed and is placed before or after the agent in the sentence. Structure of passive Voice sentences: (other than imperative sentences) Structure Illustration Affirmative Object helping verb 3 rd form of verb agent. A letter is written by him. Negative Object helping verb+ not 3 rd form of verb agent. A letter is not written by him. Interrogative Question word Helping verb Object 3 rd form of Why Is a letter written by him? verb agent? Question word Helping verb Object +not 3 rd form of verb agent? Let+ object be 3 rd form of verb Why Is a letter not written by him? (imperative ) Let+ object +not be 3 rd form of verb (Negative imperative sentences) Observe: Open the door. Let the door not be opened. Do not catch it. Let it not be caught. Note : The following tenses are not used in Passive voice. i. Present perfect continuous ii. Past perfect continuous iii. Future Continuous iv. Future perfect continuous Some important Examples: The Present Tense 4
Present indefinite: =A =P Affirmative sentences Negative Interrogative He throws a ball. He does not throw Does he throw a ball? Does he not throw a ball? ball. A ball is thrown by A ball is not thrown Is a ball thrown by Is a ball not thrown by him. (P) by him.(p) Present Continuous: =A =P Affirmative sentences Negative Interrogative He is throwing a ball. He is not throwing Is he throwing a ball? Is he not throwing a ball? ball. A ball is being thrown A ball is not being Is a ball being thrown Is a ball not being thrown by by him. (P) thrown by him.(p) by Present Perfect: =A =P Affirmative sentences Negative Interrogative He has thrown a ball. He has not thrown Has he thrown a ball? ball. A ball has been thrown A ball has not been Has a ball been thrown by him. (P) thrown by him.(p) by The Past Tense Has he not thrown a ball? Has a ball not been thrown by Past indefinite: =A =P Affirmative sentences Negative Interrogative He threw a ball. He did not throw Did he throw a ball? Did he not throw a ball? ball. A ball was thrown by A ball was not Was a ball thrown by Was a ball not thrown by him. (P) thrown by him.(p) Past Continuous: =A =P Affirmative sentences Negative Interrogative He was throwing a ball. He was not throwing ball. was he throwing a ball? was he not throwing a ball? A ball was being thrown by him. (P) A ball was not being thrown by him.(p) was a ball being thrown by was a ball not being thrown by Past Perfect: =A =P Affirmative sentences Negative Interrogative He had thrown a ball. He had not thrown Had he thrown a ball? ball. A ball had been A ball had not been Had a ball been thrown thrown by him. (P) thrown by him.(p) by Had he not thrown a ball? Had a ball not been thrown by 5
The Future Tense Future indefinite: =A =P Affirmative sentences Negative Interrogative He will throw a ball. He will not throw Will he throw a ball? Will he not throw a ball? ball. A ball will be thrown A ball will not be Will l a ball be thrown Will a ball not be thrown by by him. (P) thrown by him.(p) by Future Perfect: =A =P Affirmative sentences Negative Interrogative He will have thrown a He will not have Will he have thrown a ball. thrown a ball. ball? A ball will have been A ball will not have Will a ball have been thrown by him. (P) been thrown by thrown by him.(p) Imperative : Will he not have thrown a ball? Will a ball not have been thrown by Affirmative sentence (order) Break the ice. Let the ice be broken. Affirmative sentence (request) Please eat an apple. Let an apple be eaten please. OR I request an apple be eaten. Negative (order) Do not break the ice. Let the ice not be broken. Negative Please do not break the ice. (request) Exercise#1 1) She eats Bananas. 2) I do not like hot water. 3) He places the balls in the right way. 4) They help the poor. 5) She does not make a tasty food. 6) Ajmal kicks the football with a strong force. 7) Do you sell good things? 8) Why does Asima shake the desk? 9) Who peels potatoes? 10) When does the thief rob the people? 11) Where do Children not throw the ball? 12) What does Ali steal? 13) Who hits the ball in the ground? Let the ice not be broken please. OR I do not request the ice be broken. 6
14) Why do you not pick the flower for me? 15) How does the baker bake the cakes? 16) We use milk for making tea. Exercisre#2 1) They are speaking truth. 2) The woodcutter is cutting the wood. 3) Salam is spinning the ball. 4) Umer is writing an English grammar book. 5) Why are You presenting me a gift? 6) Am I tearing the paper? 7) Who is filling the water glass? 8) How are people beating the bad boy? 9) What is Bilal folding now? 10) Why are you telling a lie? 11) The baby is not drinking milk. 12) Who is not watering the plants? 13) Why is the principal cutting the bag strips? 14) The poor man is snatching the money with a great force. 15) Are you dragging the corpse with full force? Exercise#3 1) I have eaten the meal. 2) Abdul wahab khan has passed the ACCA paper. 3) Who has stolen my book? 4) How have you submitted the fee? 5) Have you killed you enemy? 6) Where has the police taken the thief? 7) Pervaiz has spoiled the party. 8) The teacher has delivered the lecture. 9) Have we finished our work in time? 10) Tahir has broken the mirror by mistake. 11) Has she not tasted the cake? 12) I have called Ali to prepare the Audit report. 13) The students have learnt the lesson by heart. 14) The swimmer has jumped in the pool. 15) Has Umer completed the notes? Exercise#4 7
1) Zeeshan cut the cake. 2) Mr. Maqbool distributed the charity among the poor. 3) Did you enjoyed the Sunday party? 4) The shop keeper did not put the bread for sale. 5) Why did they not follow the advice of the doctor? 6) How did we do passive voice? 7) Who broke the window? 8) Shahid Afridi made a good catch in t-twenty world cup. 9) We did not fill the bottle with water. 10) The doctor checked the patient with a great care. 11) Where did you hit the football during the match? 12) How did He ask good questions? 13) She gave a me a gift on my birthday. 14) The army officer called me for the investigation. 15) She wrote a book on Islam. Exercise#5 1) We were taking a bath in the morning. 2) Umer was not taking tea due to some special reason. 3) The driver was rashly driving the taxi on the high way. 4) Why was the cook not preparing the dish in time? 5) Mr. Jamil was receiving an invitation of a marriage. 6) The players were not striking good strokes. 7) How was the governor making his speech on Monday? 8) What was H.M.Aqeel eating in the conference? 9) Why were the abusing the good man? 10) The teacher was not teaching the students with a good interest. 11) The pilot was not flying the plane in the sky with an ease. 12) Why was Mubeen not lifting the weights? 13) The girls were not flying kite on basant. 14) Was the dispenser not giving you recommended medicines? 15) Were the sellers not selling the eatables on high prices? Exercise#6 1) The police had caught the thief. 2) The mother had fed the child with good diet on good time. 3) The robbers had robbed the bank in the day light. 8
4) Why had the Children spoiled the whole game? 5) Had the cat not eaten the fish from the bowl? 6) Who had drunk the drink form the fridge? 7) Why had the honest person taken Sylvia s deposit? 8) When had the nurse not intentioned the boy? 9) How had you won the match? 10) Had the Naughty boy not done his home work? 11) Why had he not put the shirt on? 12) The principal had been selected for the higher post. 13) The baby had not been kissed by the mother. 14) I had been presents with a cake on my birth day. 15) Why had the suicide- bomber not been recognized by the specialists yet? Exercise#7 1) The student will read the book with an interest. 2) Umer will complete the book very soon.(insha Allah) 3) The basket will be filled with peels very soon. 4) They will defeat me in the match. 5) The result will be announced after the summer vacation. 6) I shall drink the juice with no straw. 7) Cheese will not be used for preparing the walnut cake by the baker. 8) When will the match start today? 9) By whom will the table be turned on the day of judgment? 10) Why will Aamir not leave any message for his brother? 11) What will be done by the driver for escaping from the accident? 12) The teacher will call the parents for meeting by the end of the month. 13) The rich will be over come by the poor one day. 14) How will you translate this sentence in to Urdu before me? 15) The bagger will be run over by the train by mistake. Exercise#8 Change the voice of the followings. 1) Why will the egg not have been boiled in the steel pan? 2) The baby will have drunk the milk. 3) Will the patient have been operated upon? 4) Who will have wash my car in such a cool weather? 5) Shall I have cut the coat according to my clothe? 6) When will the firm have launched the new product? 7) I shall have chewed the chewing gum. 8) She will have sold me a house. 9
9) Will the office have informed you? 10) Will the joker have not amuse the spectators? 11) When will she have prepared the food? 12) The nurse shall not have covered the dead body. 13) Who will have won the match? 14) Will the candidate have passed the exam? Exercise#9 1) Open the door. 2) Do it at once. 3) Polish my shoe. 4) Do not tell a lie. 5) Do not try to play with me. 6) Turn over the tap. 7) Do not throw the ball in that direction. 8) Please tell me an interesting story. 9) Please fetch me a glass of water. 10) Make a place for me. 11) Spin the ball fast. 12) Kindly wish me good luck. 13) Do not tease your mother. 14) Drive the car on the left. 15) Make it quickly. Miscellaneous ExerciseL ( Mixed ) 1) She sold him a house. 2) Let the window be shut. 3) I shall eat my lunch. 4) She is not playing with me. 5) Were you informed by the office? 6) Energy must be conserved. 7) They had given me a prize. 8) The tale will be told by Nomi. 9) It is said that world is getting smaller. 10) I am trying new techniques. 11) Did the director sanction the leave? 12) Do it now. 13) I was given the wrong answer. 14) People say that he is a criminal. 10
15) They consider him a thief. 16) Who has eaten the bread? 17) Who knocked at the door? 18) She let me sleep. 19) He made me write. 20) My pocket has been picked. 21) She will be obliged to join. 22) Our team has been defeated. 23) Nobody has prepared food. 24) Let my keys be found. 25) Death keeps no calendar. 26) Little drops make an ocean. 27) No ornament is needed by beauty. 28) Cut your coat according to your cloth. 29) Slow and steady wins the race. 30) Practice makes a man perfect. 11