Understanding Active Voice and Passive Voice
Active voice and passive voice are two different grammatical voices that are used in English sentences. In active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb, while in passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb. Passive voice is formed by using the auxiliary verb "be" followed by the past participle form of the main verb. The subject in passive voice is the receiver of the action, and the agent (the person or thing performing the action) is introduced with the preposition "by". For example, "The concert was attended by many young people" and "The necklace is being made by a child". Converting a sentence from active voice to passive voice is possible only if there is a direct object in the active voice sentence. The direct object becomes the subject in the passive voice. For example, "A high school track and field star won the race" can be converted to "The race was won by a high school track and field star". However, if the active voice sentence does not have a direct object, it cannot be converted to passive voice. Converting a sentence from passive voice to active voice is possible only if there is an identifiable agent of the verb in the passive voice sentence. The agent becomes the subject in the active voice. For example, "This blanket was knitted by my grandmother" can be converted to "My grandmother knitted this blanket". If the passive voice sentence does not have an agent, it cannot be converted to active voice. It is important to note that the choice between active voice and passive voice depends on the emphasis and clarity desired in a sentence. Active voice is generally preferred as it is more direct and concise, while passive voice is used when the focus is on the receiver of the action or when the agent is unknown or unimportant. Understanding the difference between active voice and passive voice is essential for effective communication in English. By mastering both voices, one can convey information accurately and express ideas with clarity.