Active and Passive Voice

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE AUGUST(2017-18) CLASS VI

ACTIVE VOICE: In the active voice, the subject is the doer of the action (the focus is on the doer and not the action performed by him/her/it). Eg. The dog chased the cats.

PASSIVE VOICE: In the passive voice, the subject is the receiver of the action. It is shown with ‘by + doer’ or is not shown in the sentence (the focus shifts to the receiver of the action). Eg. The cats were chased by the dog.

RULES TO BE FOLLOWED FOR CHANGING THE VOICE OF A SUBJECT:

1. The object in the Active Voice becomes the subject in the Passive Voice and the subject in the Active Voice becomes the object in the Passive Voice. 2. If the subject or the object is a pronoun, it changes in the following manner a) I changes to me b) We changes to us c) You undergoes no change d) He changes to him e) She changes to her f) It remains the same g) They changes to them

3. In order to change of verbs(tenses) from active to passive, the following rules are to be kept in mind: a) Simple Present Tense: am/is/are + past participle b) Simple Past Tense: was/were + past participle c) Simple future Tense: shall/will+ be +past participle

EXERCISE:

I.Re- write the following sentences so that the verbs are in Active Voice:

1. We are taught grammar by Ms. Benny. 2. The town was destroyed by the earthquake. 3. The building was damaged by the fire. 4. The snake was killed with a stick. 5. We were received by the hostess. 6. By whom were you taught French?

II.Change the following sentences into Passive Voice:

1. I will clean the house every Saturday. 2. Tom painted the entire house. 3. Mom read the novel in one day. 4. Harry ate six shrimp at dinner. 5. We are going to watch a movie tonight. 6. Who taught you to ski? 7. He sings a song. 8. The workers were digging a canal. 9. Ram cut the tree. 10. Farmers sow maize in the rainy season.

ANSWERS:

1. Ms. Benny teaches us grammar. 2. An earthquake destroyed the town. 3. The fire damaged the building. 4. They/somebody killed the snake with a stick. 5. The hostess received us. 6. Who taught you French?

1. The house will be cleaned by me every Saturday. 2 .The entire house was painted by me. 3. The novel was read by Mom in one day. 4. At dinner, six shrimp were eaten by Harry. 5. A movie is going to be watched by us tonight. 6. By whom were you taught to ski? 7. A song is sung by him. 8. A canal was being dug by the workers. 9. The tree was cut by Ram. 10. The maize is sowed by the farmers in the rainy season.