Active vs. Passive Voice: Rules and Conversion

Mastering Active and Passive Voice: Rules, Conversion and Application

Introduction

In English grammar, sentences can be constructed in two voices: active voice and passive voice. Both voices convey the same basic meaning but structure the sentence differently. The active voice places the subject of the sentence as the doer of the action, while the passive voice shifts the focus to the receiver of the action. Understanding when and how to use both voices can significantly enhance your writing, clarity, and ability to convey different nuances of meaning. This module provides an in-depth study of active and passive voice, complete with examples, rules, applications, and methods of conversion. Mastering these concepts is essential for performing well in grammar exams and improving your writing skills.

Module Structure

1. What is Active Voice?

• Definition: In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action.
• Structure: Subject + Verb + Object.
  • Example: The dog chased the cat.
    • Subject: The dog
    • Verb: Chased
    • Object: The cat
• Usage: Active voice is commonly used for clarity, directness, and emphasis on the subject’s action.

2. What is Passive Voice?

• Definition: In the passive voice, the subject receives the action rather than performing it.
• Structure: Subject + Auxiliary verb (be) + Past Participle of the verb + (by + Agent).
  • Example: The cat was chased by the dog.
    • Subject: The cat
    • Auxiliary verb: Was
    • Past Participle: Chased
    • Agent: The dog
• Usage: Passive voice is often used when the action’s receiver is more important than the doer, or when the doer is unknown or irrelevant.

3. Rules for Using Active Voice

• Clarity and Precision: Active voice is generally clearer and more straightforward.
  • Example: She wrote the letter. (Clear and direct)
• Engagement: It keeps the sentence lively and emphasizes the subject’s role.
  • Example: The chef prepared a delicious meal.

4. Rules for Using Passive Voice

• Emphasis on the Action or Receiver: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer.
  • Example: The letter was written by her. (Focus on the letter, not the writer)
• When the Doer is Unknown: The passive voice is used when the doer is unknown, irrelevant, or unspecified.
  • Example: The car was stolen last night.
• Formality and Objectivity: Passive voice is common in formal writing, academic texts, and scientific reports.
  • Example: The experiment was conducted by the team.

5. Active Voice to Passive Voice Conversion Rules

• Step 1: Identify the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence.
• Step 2: Move the object to the subject position.
• Step 3: Change the verb to the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb “be” + past participle.
• Step 4: If necessary, include the original subject (the agent) after the word “by” (optional).
  • Example:
    Active: The teacher explains the lesson.
    Passive: The lesson is explained by the teacher.

6. Passive Voice to Active Voice Conversion Rules

• Step 1: Identify the subject, verb, and object in the passive sentence.
• Step 2: Move the subject (the agent) to the object position.
• Step 3: Change the verb from the passive form to the active form.
  • Example:
    Passive: The book was read by the student.
    Active: The student read the book.

7. When to Use Active vs. Passive Voice?

• Use Active Voice When:
  • You want clarity, directness, and emphasis on the subject.
  • The subject is the focus of the sentence.
  • You are writing informal or conversational texts.
• Use Passive Voice When:
  • The action or the receiver of the action is more important than the doer.
  • The doer is unknown, irrelevant, or implied.
  • You are writing formal, scientific, or objective content.

8. Applications of Active and Passive Voice in Writing

• Academic Writing: Passive voice is often used in scientific writing, where the focus is on the process or result rather than the researcher.
  • Example: The experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis.
• Journalism: Active voice is used for clarity and immediacy in news writing.
  • Example: The police arrested the suspect.
• Creative Writing: Active voice adds energy to storytelling and engages the reader.

9. MCQs with Answers and Explanations

1. Which of the following sentences is in active voice?
   a) The book was read by the student.
   b) The book is being read by the student.
   c) The student read the book.
   d) The book will be read by the student.
   • Answer: c) The student read the book.
     Explanation: In active voice, the subject performs the action.
2. What is the passive voice of the sentence “The chef cooked the meal”?
   a) The meal was cooked by the chef.
   b) The meal is cooked by the chef.
   c) The chef is cooking the meal.
   d) The meal cooked the chef.
   • Answer: a) The meal was cooked by the chef.
     Explanation: The object “meal” becomes the subject in the passive voice, and the verb is adjusted accordingly.
3. Which of the following sentences is in passive voice?
   a) The teacher teaches the lesson.
   b) The lesson is taught by the teacher.
   c) The teacher is teaching the lesson.
   d) The teacher will teach the lesson.
   • Answer: b) The lesson is taught by the teacher.
     Explanation: Passive voice focuses on the object (lesson) and the action it receives.
4. How can you convert the sentence “The company hired new employees” to passive voice?
   a) The new employees were hired by the company.
   b) The company hires new employees.
   c) New employees were hired.
   d) The new employees are hiring the company.
   • Answer: a) The new employees were hired by the company.
     Explanation: In passive voice, the object “new employees” becomes the subject.
5. In which scenario would passive voice be preferred?
   a) When the subject of the sentence is unknown.
   b) When the writer wants to emphasize the action or result.
   c) When the sentence needs to sound formal or objective.
   d) All of the above.
   • Answer: d) All of the above.
     Explanation: Passive voice is used for unknown subjects, to emphasize action, and in formal writing.
6. What is the active voice of the sentence “The letter was written by John”?
   a) John writes the letter.
   b) John wrote the letter.
   c) The letter John wrote.
   d) John has written the letter.
   • Answer: b) John wrote the letter.
     Explanation: The subject (John) becomes the doer of the action in active voice.
7. Which of the following sentences is in active voice?
   a) A new car was bought by the couple.
   b) The new car was bought by the couple.
   c) The couple bought a new car.
   d) A new car has been bought by the couple.
   • Answer: c) The couple bought a new car.
     Explanation: The subject (couple) is performing the action in the active voice.
8. What happens when you convert an active voice sentence to passive voice?
   a) The subject of the sentence becomes the object.
   b) The verb changes to a form of “be” + past participle.
   c) The object of the active sentence becomes the subject.
   d) All of the above.
   • Answer: d) All of the above.
     Explanation: In passive voice, the subject becomes the object, and the verb is changed accordingly.
9. Which is a benefit of using passive voice in academic writing?
   a) It emphasizes the action and result.
   b) It makes the writing sound more engaging.
   c) It makes the subject clearer.
   d) It makes the writing informal.
   • Answer: a) It emphasizes the action and result.
     Explanation: Passive voice is commonly used in academic writing to focus on the process or outcome.
10. What is the correct passive voice of “She will complete the report”?
    a) The report will be completed by her.
    b) The report is completed by her.
    c) The report will complete her.
    d) The report completed her.
    • Answer: a) The report will be completed by her.
      Explanation: In passive

voice, the subject (report) comes first, followed by the auxiliary verb.

Descriptive Questions with Answers

1. Explain the difference between active and passive voice.
   Answer: Active voice focuses on the subject performing the action, while passive voice emphasizes the action’s receiver. In active voice, the sentence structure is subject + verb + object, e.g., She sings a song. In passive voice, the object becomes the subject, and the sentence structure changes to subject + auxiliary verb + past participle + agent (optional), e.g., A song is sung by her.
2. When should you use passive voice in writing?
   Answer: Passive voice is used when the action or result is more important than the doer, when the doer is unknown or irrelevant, or in formal or academic contexts. For example, scientific writing often uses passive voice to focus on the experiment rather than the researcher.
3. How do you convert a sentence from active to passive voice? Give an example.
   Answer: To convert an active sentence to passive voice, identify the subject, verb, and object. Then, move the object to the subject position, change the verb to the appropriate form of the verb “be” + past participle, and add the original subject with “by” (if necessary). Example: Active: The scientist conducted the experiment. Passive: The experiment was conducted by the scientist.
4. What are the advantages of using active voice in writing?
   Answer: Active voice is direct, clear, and concise. It makes the sentence more engaging and easier to understand. It is commonly used in everyday communication and informal writing.
5. In what types of writing is passive voice most commonly used, and why?
   Answer: Passive voice is commonly used in academic, scientific, and technical writing because it emphasizes the process or result rather than the person performing the action. It maintains an objective tone and is often used when the subject is not known or is less important.
6. Convert the following sentence into passive voice: “The manager approved the new policy.”
   Answer: The new policy was approved by the manager.
7. What are some potential pitfalls when overusing passive voice in writing?
   Answer: Overusing passive voice can make writing sound impersonal, wordy, and indirect. It can obscure the subject and make the sentence less engaging and harder to follow.
8. Provide examples of sentences where passive voice is necessary.
   Answer:
   • The report was completed on time. (The focus is on the report, not the person who completed it.)
   • A cure for the disease was discovered last year. (The discovery is more important than the person who discovered it.)
9. What is the structure of a sentence in passive voice, and how does it differ from active voice?
   Answer: In passive voice, the sentence structure is subject + auxiliary verb + past participle + agent (optional). In active voice, the structure is subject + verb + object. For example: Active: The teacher taught the lesson. Passive: The lesson was taught by the teacher.
10. What role do auxiliary verbs play in passive voice construction?
    Answer: Auxiliary verbs like “be” (am, is, are, was, were, etc.) are used to form the passive voice. They are combined with the past participle of the main verb to indicate the action’s completion and to maintain the proper tense.