Here, I’m going to answer — What does voice mean? What are the rules of active and passive voice? How to form passive voice? To get the answers of these questions, let’s start the blog “Rules of active and passive voice”
Sentence 1: “Michel catches a tuna fish.”
Sentence 2: “A tuna fish is caught by Michel.”
What did you understand from the above two sentences? In first glace it seems there is no difference and both the sentences are correct at their respective places.
But there’s a slight difference. Both the sentences make sense of meaning but in first sentence importance goes to the subject (Michel) makes difference.
While second sentence shows that Michel was lucky that he got a tuna fish. If it is becoming difficult to understand, let we clear the confusion with following rules.
Understanding the rules of active and passive voice
In the first sentence, Michel is a subject or doer of the action. He made (many) attempts to catch the fish. So importance or credit goes with Michel.
But, unlike in the second sentence, it doesn’t mean that Michel is directly responsible for catching the fish. We can say that the fish might come in Michel’s net effortlessly, unintentionally. So importance goes with (the fish Object) and not Michel.
In short, where the subject of the verb does the actual action directly it becomes the active voice whereas action is done upon the subject of the verb (later which becomes object of the sentence) considered as passive voice. Let’s see these voices in detail.
What is a Voice? Explaining the meaning and types of voice
A grammatical structure that shows the relationship of subject with verb and vice versa. It also tells whether the subject itself is responsible for an action or it is affected by an action. Such structure is called a voice.
What is an Active Voice? How to form active voice
Where the subject is the sole doer of an action in the sentence means action is done by subject. Such sentence structure is called an active voice.
Some simple Examples of active voice:
Ocean offers marine resources
They are wasting their time
He won the match
Situation teaches many lessons
Technology has changed our lifestyle.
Education brings evolutionary change.
What is a Passive Voice? How to form passive voice
A sentence structure in which action is done on the subject and object of the sentence replaces the subject while changing voice. Such a structure known as Passive voice.
Some simple examples of passive voice:
Marine resources are offered by the ocean.
Their time is being wasted by them.
The match was won by him.
Many lessons are taught by situation.
Our lifestyle has been changed by technology.
Evolutionary change is brought by education.
Newcomers are always supported by them.
Rules of active and passive voice
Major rules for change of voice — Changing from active to passive:
While changing to passive voice, the object takes the position of the subject and vice versa.
Teacher warns students. (Active voice)
- On alternating positions of object to subject and vice versa
Students are warned by the teacher (passive voice)
- Verb changes according to tense of the sentence and third form of verb (V3)
Students are warned by the teacher (Passive voice; simple present tense)
Connect the object of passive voice with “by”
Always use objective case of subject noun of active voice in case of personal pronouns.
Ex. They always support new comers. (Active voice)
New comers are always supported by them. (Passive voice; them- objective case of pronoun “they”)
These all are about the rules of active and passive voice. In the next, blog you will read more about the different aspects of “voice”.
Formation of Passive voice of imperative sentences
Passive voice is functional construction in English grammar which emphsises on the importance of object or receiver. In case of imperative sentences, many times, sentences are without subject or even main verbs.
So, in such situations, making passive of these sentences more difficult. In this blog, “Passive voice of imperative sentences” you will find some easy rules of their usages.
What are imperative sentences? How to form passive voice of imperative sentences?
Generally, Imperative sentences are easy and quickly spoken mode of expressions in our day to day life. These types of constructions include expressions like command, order, suggestions, advice, requests etc.
Rules for making passive voice of imperative sentences
1. Begin sentence of passive voice with “Let”
(when AV includes feeling of command or order) OR
Make following changes according to the sense of the sentence if it includes……
Command -> you are commanded to
Order -> you are ordered to
Request -> you are requested to
Advice -> you are advised to
Proposal or Let us -> we should or it is suggested that we should
2. Use object of active voice as subject immediate after “Let”.
Some times there are two objects in the active voice. Then use second object which is the direct object immediate after “Let” and join first object of AV with “by” at last of the PV sentence
For example :
AV : Let him focus on his studies.
PV : Let his studies be focused on by him.
AV : Make him a favor.
PV : Let a favor be maid to him.
AV: Let us solve the problem.ORIt is suggested that we should solve the problem. (as AV starts with “Let us”)
- Change the case of subject pronouns in active voice to objective case.)
- Use auxiliary verb “be”
- Use third form of verb or past participle.Do not use past participle after use of verbs like you are requested, commanded or ordered to.
- Write remaining part of the sentence.
Types of imperative sentences in english grammar
On the basis of message “to do something” or “not to do something” imperative sentences have two types. One is positive imperative and another one is negative imperative sentence.
1. Positive Imperative Sentences
Obviously, These types of sentences ask to do something in positive way. It doesn’t include the auxiliary verb “do” but always presents inside the main verb hidenly.
Structure for passive voice of Positive Imperative Sentences
Let + object + be + past participle
Examples of passive voice of Positive Imperative sentences
Active voice (AV) : Keep your eyes on the target
Passive voice (PV) : Let your eyes be kept on the target.
AV : Keep it up.
PV : Let it be kept up.
AV : Remove your shoes here.
PV : Let your shoes be removed here.
AV : Break the shackles
PV : Let the shackles be broken
AV: Please, Help me.
PV : You are requested to help me
AV : Catch the moment
PV: Let the moment be caught
2. Negative Imperative Sentences
In these types of sentences someone is prohibited from something or asked someone to not to do something.
Structure for passive voice of Negative Imperative Sentences
Let + object ( of active voice) + not + be + past participle.
Examples of passive voice of Negative Imperative Sentences
AV : Do not lose your patience
PV: You are advised not to lose your patience.
AV : Do not play inside the house
PV : You are ordered not to play inside the house
AV : Do not retreat back (command for soldiers)
PV : You are commanded not to retreat back.
AV : Do not hesitate to express yourself
PV : You are advised not to hesitate to express yourself.
AV : Do not reveal the secret
PV : Let the secret not be revealed.
AV : Please do not go outside in the night
PV : You are requested not to go outside in the night.
Hopefully, now, I think that you have got broader idea about how to make passive voice of imperative sentences to enrich your speaking and writing skills.