PASSIVE VOICE / ACTIVE VOICE

In English, voice is used to tell whether the subject of the sentence performs the action
of the verb (i.e. is the doer), or receives it. This kind of contrast is represented in either
of two ways.

As shown in the diagram, the first type of construction is known as the active voice. The
second is the passive voice. Note the changes in the clause structure and verb forms, as
voice changes.

The main problems in the use of voice relate to the following:

    when to use the active or passive voice

    how to construct passive forms correctly

In most academic writing, both active and passive are used. The important thing is NOT
to move from active to passive randomly. When you use active or passive voice
depends on where you want to put the focus: on the doer or performer of the
action OR the result or receiver of the action. For example, both these statements are
correct:

Albert Einstein laid the foundations of two fundamental theories of the twentieth

century: relativity and quantum theory. [active]

The foundations of two fundamental theories of the twentieth century, relativity and
quantum theory, were laid by Albert Einstein. [passive]

PP= past participle

To change a sentence from active to passive voice, do the following:

    1.  Move  the active sentence's direct object into the sentence's subject  slot

             

    2. Place the active sentence's subject into a  phrase beginning with the preposition by

             

    3.  Add a form of the auxiliary verb be to the main verb and change the  main verb's form

             

Because passive voice sentences necessarily add words and change the normal doer-action-
receiver of action direction, they may make the reader work harder to understand the
intended meaning.

To change a passive voice sentence into an active voice sentence, simply

reverse the steps shown above.

    1.  Move  the passive sentence's subject into the active  sentence's  direct
object slot

            

    2.  Remove  the auxiliary verb be from the main verb and change main verb's
form if needed
            

    3. Place the passive sentence's object of the preposition by into the subject
slot.

          

Rewrite the sentence in the passive voice

1. They make many movies in Hollywood.

________________________________________
2. The students will give a presentation tomorrow.

________________________________________
3. Someone has stolen my bike!

________________________________________
4. We receive the newspaper everyday.

________________________________________
5. The children have eaten the cookies.

________________________________________
6. We will complete the renovations next week.

________________________________________
7. They pay us every Friday.

________________________________________
8. Did they deliver your new sofa?

________________________________________
SOLUTION

Many movies are made in Hollywood.

A presentation will be given tomorrow by the students.  /  A presentation will be given by the
students tomorrow.

My bike has been stolen!

The newspaper is received everyday.

The cookies have been eaten by the children.

The renovations will be completed next week.

We are paid every Friday.

Was your new sofa delivered?