What is Passive Voice | Definition, Examples, Worksheet
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Hi there
Thank you for your question.
Passive voice occurs when the subject of a sentence receives the action, rather than performing it. This is the opposite of the active voice, where the subject performs the action.
Key Differences: Active vs. Passive
Active Voice:
- The subject performs the action.
- Structure: Subject + Verb + Object
- Example: "The dog chased the cat." (The dog is the subject, and it performs the action of chasing.)
Passive Voice:
- The subject receives the action.
- Structure: Object + Verb (to be + past participle) + (by subject - optional)
- Example: "The cat was chased by the dog." (The cat is the subject, but it receives the action of being chased.)
When to Use Passive Voice
While the active voice is generally preferred for clarity and directness, there are situations where the passive voice is appropriate:
"The window was broken." (We don't know or care who broke it.)
"The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci." (The focus is on the painting.)
When you want to avoid assigning blame: "Mistakes were made."
How to Identify Passive Voice
- Look for a form of the verb "to be" (is, are, was, were, been, being) followed by a past participle (the -ed form of a verb).
- Ask yourself: "Is the subject performing the action, or is it receiving the action?"
Here are the sentences corrected from your requested sentences:
1. Original (Active): The boy played football.
Passive: Football was played by the boy.
2. Original (Active): Mother likes ice cream.
Passive: Ice cream is liked by Mother.
3. Original (Active): Josh will sing a song.
Passive: A song will be sung by Josh.
4. Original (Active): I bought two chocolates.
Passive: Two chocolates were bought by me.
5. Original (Active): He beats the girls.
Passive: The girls are beaten by him.
6. Original (Active): We shall take a trip.
Passive: A trip shall be taken by us.
7. Original (Active): Kim ate a large fish yesterday.
Passive: A large fish was eaten by Kim yesterday.
8. Original (Active): Josh drives a car.
Passive: A car is driven by Josh.
9. Original (Active): They will spend all of the money.
Passive: All of the money will be spent by them.
I hope this explanation is helpful!
