PROBLEM OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE CONSTRUCTIONS IN ENGLISH AND

INDONESIA

Bayu Anggara Riyan jatiswa

I2J02310019

Introduction

In the field of grammar and sentence structure, understanding the concept of active
and passive constructions is very important. Active and passive constructions refer to the
different ways in which sentences are structured regarding the roles of subjects, verbs, and
objects. By understanding these basic concepts, writers can effectively convey their intended
meaning while maintaining clarity in their writing.

Active constructions involve placing the subject of the sentence as the doer or actor of
the action. In contrast, passive constructions shift the focus from the doer to what or who is
being acted upon. This difference has significant implications for sentence structure and can
affect how information is conveyed in a piece of writing.

In this section, we will learn about active and passive constructions by examining
their main characteristics and exploring various examples. Thus, writers will gain a
comprehensive understanding of how these structures function and when it is appropriate to
use each of them in their writing endeavors.

Effective communication is essential in any form of writing, and understanding the

nuances of sentence structure plays an important role in conveying ideas clearly. Two
common types of sentence constructions are active and passive constructions. In the active
construction, the subject performs the action expressed by the verb, while in the passive
construction, the subject is acted upon by an external agent.

A common sentence structure is subject-verb-object (SVO), where the subject

performs an action on the object . This structure gives clarity and directness to a sentence. On
the other hand, using object-subject-verb (OSV) can add emphasis or create a more dramatic
effect.
 In addition, the problem of active and passive constructions in English and Indonesian
writing lies in the difference between the two languages in using constructions. According to
(Nurenzia &ida; 2014) In English, active sentences are more often used, where the subject
performs the action (e.g., "The cat chased the mouse"). In contrast, Indonesian often prefers
passive voice, making it difficult for Indonesian speakers to adapt to English writing, leading
to errors and unnatural-sounding sentences.

Problem formulation

This research will conduct a contrastive analysis of passive and active sentence
structures in Indonesian and English, as mentioned in the background above. Thus, the
problem formulation is How are passive and active sentence structures used in English and
Indonesian?

Objective of the study

Based on the problems, the objectives of the research are:

1. To examine the passive and active voice forms used in English and Indonesian.
2. To understand the parallels, contrasts, and underlying patterns in the use of passive
and active voice.

Method of reaseach

This research is a descriptive analysis. According to Athertion and Klemmack

(1982) ,Descriptive research aims to provide a description of a particular group of people or a
description of a symptom or the relationship between two or more symptoms. The symptoms
referred to in this study are data in the form of errors in making active and passive word
constructions in English and Indonesian.|

Contrastive Analysis
 Contrastive analysis is the deliberate examination of two languages with the objective
of identifying structural variations and parallels. The exploration of differences and
similarities between two or more languages or linguistic variants is known as comparative
analysis. The difficulties that can develop with learning a new language can be explained by
the differences between a learner's native language and the target language.

English passive voice

When speaking in the passive voice, concern is expressed for the person or thing
being acted upon rather than the one or thing doing the acting. In the words of Marriane
Celce-Murcia, "passive is a focus construction that exists to put the patient, the receiver or
undergone of an action, is a subject position," whereas "voice" is a property of a verb that
denotes whether the verb's subject performs or receives the action represented by the verb. If
the subject actually does what the verb says, it is said to be in the active voice. If the subject
receives the action, the verb is seen as being in the subject. In order to use the passive voice
correctly in English, you must first change the structure.

Passive voice in indonesian

In Indonesian active sentence can be formed into passive voice by changing the object
to active and it causes the changes of predicate verb with prefix me- into di-. In several
Passive Voice rules in Indonesia, it is stated that, first the subject is the part of the target as an
action or activity. second, the subject in a passive sentence does not have the position of actor
but plays a role the actor is held by the third object, adding ter-di-ter, ter-ke-an to the
predicate. fourth, the subject does not take action directly. fifth, has a pronoun that can show
ownership and finally, the object part is usually

Active Voice in English

The active voice is emphasizing the person or agency who performs an action,
sometimes known as the "actor." In other words, the action is carried out by the subject.
According to Aarts, B. (2014) an active sentence is a clause or sentence construction in which
the subject usually carries out the action stated by the verb.

In active phrases, the subject functions as the agent who performs or manages the
verb's activity. The active sentence in this context is a grammar in which the subject of the
sentence actually does the action that the verb denotes. In the active voice, the subject comes
first, followed by the verb, and then the object. One of the rules for using the active voice in
English is to use verbs whenever a subject performs an action. Second, the active sentence is
used when a clearer relationship between the subject and verb is required.

Active Voice in Indonesia

Active voice is used to transmit messages or information to the recipient in a more

clear and exact manner. There are various rules in it to provide an explanation of activities or
acts carried out by someone who is doing or has done something, namely the prefix Me or
Ber in the predicate. Second, the subject acts directly, and the pattern is either SPOK
(Subject, Predicate, Object, Description) or SPK (Subject, Predicate, Description).

The difference between active and passive constructions in English and Indonesian

According to (Desi, 2019), Indonesian speakers learning English may face difficulties
in adapting to the more common use of the active voice in English, resulting in errors in the
sentences they construct. Here are some differences between the two languages:

Indonesian English

The passive voice is often used. English has 16 different tenses.

The question starts with the subject. Questions start with an interrogative word
followed by a verb and then the subject.

The noun is mentioned first in the adjective Adjective phrases come before nouns.
phrase.

Indonesian uses the same verb for past, Active sentences are preferred over passive
present, and future situations. sentences, especially if the focus is on the
 object.

The argument structure in Indonesian

passive sentences is different from that in
active sentences, and the type and number
of roles performed by the subject of the
passive sentence are not shared by the
subject of the active sentence.

Passive constructions are one of the most

difficult areas of learning for foreigners who
have language patterns similar to Subject-
Verb-Object (SVO) such as English,.

Overall, although both languages use active and passive constructions, the frequency
and structure of their use are different.

Analyzing passive construction in English and indonesian

Passive sentences and their various constructions play an important role in both
English and Indonesian. In this discussion, we will look at the characteristics of passive
constructions in both languages, highlight the differences, and explore the advantages and
disadvantages of using passive constructions.

Passive constructions in English are characterized by a subject-verb-object structure

with passive verb forms. This structure emphasizes the recipient or object of an action, rather
than the doer. For example, "The book was written by roby" illustrates a passive sentence,
where the subject (book) receives the action (written) performed by the doer (roby).
 Similarly, Indonesian also uses passive constructions but with some differences from
English. In Indonesian, passive sentences are formed by using certain affixes or particles to
modify the verb or noun. For example, "The book was written by roby" translates to "The
book was written by roby," where "written" indicates the action performed on "the book".

It is important to note that there is a difference between passive constructions in English and
Indonesian. English tends to explicitly mention the doer by using prepositions such as 'by',
whereas Indonesian often omits it unless it is needed for clarity.

Let's now consider the advantages and disadvantages of using passive constructions.
One advantage is that it allows for objectivity in writing as it shifts the focus to the action
rather than the individual. This can be beneficial when discussing scientific findings or
explaining processes without emphasizing personal involvement.

However, there are also disadvantages associated with the overuse of passive constructions. It
can cause ambiguity and confusion if not used appropriately. Passive sentences may lack
clarity as to who performed an action or obscure responsibility for the action performed.

Conclussion

Active and passive sentence constructions are used differently in English and
Indonesian. In English, active sentences are preferred over passive sentences, especially if the
focus is on the object. On the other hand, passive sentences are used more frequently in
Indonesian. A study of Indonesian student writers found that the high frequency of active
sentence usage found in students' theses implies that EFL students' style has, to some extent,
resembled that of native English writers. The argument structure in Indonesian passive
sentences is different from that in active sentences, and the type and number of roles
performed by the subject of the passive sentence are not shared by the subject of the active
sentence. The agentive role, which is a principle in the active sentence, can be omitted in the
passive sentence because the principle or universe does not apply. In terms of syntax, English
and Indonesian differ in terms of word order in sentences. Questions in English start with an
interrogative word followed by a verb and then a subject, while in Indonesian, questions start
with the subject. Adjective phrases in the two languages are also in the opposite order, with
the adjective coming before the noun in English and the noun being mentioned first in
Indonesian. In addition, Indonesian is relatively easy to learn due to its simple grammar rules,
especially with regards to verb tenses - or lack thereof. Unlike Indonesian which uses the
same verb for past, present and future situations, English has 16 different verb tenses

REFRENCE

Theory and Practice in Language Studies, Vol. 4, No. 7, pp. 1400-1408, July 2014

Desi Amalia . (2019). THE TRANSLATION OF INDONESIAN PASSIVE VOICE INTO

ENGLISH IN :.

Suci wulandari, S.L . (2017). Analysis of English and Indonesian Passive Sentence Structure
through Contrastive Recognition

https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvoice/activepassive