ACTIVE & PASSIVE

VOICE
TRANSITIVE & INTRANSITIVE VERBS

• Actions transferred or not transferred

1. I go to University. (INTRANSITIVE VERB)

2. She hit him with a stick. (TRANSITIVE VERB)
• In active voice: focus on the subject/doer of the action
• In passive: focus on the action itself

1. He loves everyone → Everyone is loved by him.

2. The mason is building the wall→ The wall is being built.
3. The peon opened the gate → The gate was opened by the peon.
CHANGES MADE

ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE

• Take/takes • Is/am/are+ taken
• Is/am/are+ taking • Is/am/are+ being taken
• Has/have+ taken • Has/have+ been taken
• Took • Was/were+ taken
• Was/were+ taking • Was/were+ being taken
• Had taken • Had been taken
• Will/shall+ take • Will/shall+ be taken
MORE CHANGES

ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE

• Can/may/must/might+ take • Can/may/must/might+ be taken
• Should/would/could+ take • Should/would/could+ be taken
•Use of something as a weapon:
He was hit with a stick.
He was shot with a gun.
VAGUE/UNCLEAR SUBJECT

Is the subject known or unknown?

1. He wrote a letter→ A letter was written by him.

2. The letter was written→ Someone wrote the letter.
3. The wires have been cut→ Someone has cut the wires.
4. English is spoken all over the world→ People speak English all over the world.
DOUBLE OR CONFUSING OBJECTS

The guard refused him admission→ He was refused admission by the guard.
They asked me my name→ I was asked my name by them.
I bought the baby a doll→ The baby was bought a doll by me.
They found him guilty of murder→ He was found guilty of murder.
He keeps me waiting→ I am kept waiting by him.
You have made a mistake→ A mistake has been made.
QUESTIONS

1. Shall I ever forget those happy days? ACTIVE

• Shall those happy days be ever forgotten by me? HV S/O MV
2. By whom was this jug broken? PASSIVE
• Who broke this jug?
3. Why should I be suspected by you? PASSIVE
• Why should you suspect me?
4. Why did he defraud you of your earnings? ACTIVE
did defraud=defrauded did go= went did eat= ate
• Why were you defrauded by him of your earnings?