Passive Voice (Simple Present and Simple Past)

Passive Voice refers to a type of sentence structure in which the subject is the recipient of the action of the Verb.

This type of sentence structure is most frequently brought into use when the performer of the action is unknown or irrelevant or insignificant. Passive constructions can encourage cohesion.

Examples:

· And so, the Universe was created.

· Her bones were found years later in a dump yard.

Depending on the nature of content, purpose and audience, the passive voice is extremely relevant in Scientific or Academic Prose writing or in a more formal approach to writing.When properly chosen and worded, it does not become obtuse or lengthy but remains a decent and respectable structure in English Grammar.

Rules for Converting Active to Passive Voice in case of Simple Present and Simple Past.

There are two basic rules to be followed for converting sentences from Active to Passive Voice, which are common for all tenses.

1. Subject and Object positions are inter-changed.

2. Only third form of the Verb (Past Participle)is used as the main form of Verb in a Passive voice sentence.

Now, we shall come to the specific rules for changing Active to Passive in case of Simple Present Tense sentences:

The Rules for using Auxiliary Verb are different for each tense in Passive Voice sentences.

In cases of Simple Present tense, the Auxiliary Verb to be followed are is/ are/ am.

Examples:

Active Voice:     He writes an exam.

Passive Voice:   An exam is written by him.

Active Voice:     He does not write his exam.

Passive Voice:   An exam is not written by him.

Active Voice:     Does he write an exam?

Passive Voice:   Is an exam written by him?

Active Voice:     They sell seashells.

Passive Voice:   Seashells are sold by them.

Active Voice:     She irritates me.

Passive Voice:   I am irritated by her.

So we see that the prevalent form , in case of Simple Present is ‘is’ / ‘are’ + 3rd form of verb.

• In case of only 1 object, we use ‘is’.
• In case of two objects, we use ‘are’.
• In case of no object, Passive Voice is not possible.

Rules for changing Simple Past Active Voice sentences into Passive Voice.

·         Auxiliary Verb to be followed in such cases is was/ were.

Active Voice:     He bought a house.

Passive Voice:   A house was bought by him.

Active Voice:     I bought a house.

Passive Voice:   A house was bought by me.

Active Voice: We bought a house.

Passive Voice: A house was bought by us.

Active Voice:     He did not buy a house.

Passive Voice:   A house was not bought by him.

Active Voice:     Did he buy a house?

Passive Voice:   Was a house bought by him?

Active Voice:     She decorated the tables.

Passive Voice:   The tables were decorated by her.

Active Voice:     I assisted them.

Passive Voice:   They were assisted by me.

So we see that the prevalent form is ‘was’ / ‘were’ + 3rd form of verb.

• In case of only 1 object, we use ‘was’.
• In case of two objects, we use ‘were’.
• In case of no object, Passive Voice is not possible.

English Grammar and Composition

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