Active and Passive Voice | Learn English | EasyTeaching

Summary

The script explains the difference between active and passive voice in English grammar. Active voice is used when the subject performs the action, while in passive voice, the subject receives the action. Examples are given to illustrate the concept, such as 'Shona cleans the house' (active) versus 'The house is cleaned by Shona' (passive). The script also covers when to use passive voice, like when the agent is unknown, unimportant, or when focusing on the action's result. It concludes with an exercise for viewers to identify and convert sentences between active and passive voice.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Active voice is used when the subject of the sentence performs the action.
• 🌐 Passive voice is used when the subject of the sentence receives the action.
• 🔄 In passive voice, the subject and object of the active sentence are switched.
• 👤 The agent, or the doer of the action, may be omitted in passive voice sentences.
• 🏡 Example of active voice: 'Shona cleans the house.' Here, Shona is the subject and agent.
• 🏠 Example of passive voice: 'The house is cleaned by Shona.' Here, the house is the subject, and Shona is the agent.
• 🐦 Another example of active voice: 'The birds ate all the seed.' The birds are the subject and agent.
• 🌱 Corresponding passive voice: 'All the seed was eaten by the birds.' The seed is now the subject.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Passive voice is often used when the agent is unknown or unimportant.
• 🏆 It can also be used when the action's result is more important than the agent.
• 💡 Passive voice can make statements more polite, such as 'We haven't been served' instead of 'You haven't served us'.

Q & A

What is the difference between active and passive voice?

In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action, while in passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. The subject and agent are the same in active voice, but different in passive voice.

Can you provide an example of a sentence in active voice?

Yes, 'Shona cleans the house' is an example of an active voice sentence where 'Shona' is both the subject and the agent performing the action.

How is the passive voice formed?

To form passive voice, the subject and object of an active voice sentence are switched, and the verb is changed to a form of 'to be' plus the past participle. Additionally, the agent is often introduced with the word 'by'.

What is the role of the agent in a sentence?

The agent is the person or thing that performs the action in a sentence. In active voice, the agent is the same as the subject, while in passive voice, the agent may be mentioned after the word 'by' or sometimes omitted.

Why might someone choose to use passive voice in writing?

Passive voice can be used when the performer of the action is unknown or unimportant, when the result of the action is more important, or to be more polite. It shifts the focus from the doer to the receiver of the action.

Is there a situation where the agent is often left out in passive voice?

Yes, when the performer of the action is obvious or not important, the agent is often left out. For example, 'The bridge was built in the 1700s' does not mention who built the bridge because it's either unknown or not the focus of the sentence.

Can you give an example of a sentence in passive voice where the agent is omitted?

Certainly, 'All the seed was eaten' is a passive voice sentence where the agent (who or what ate the seed) is not mentioned.

What is the significance of the word 'by' in passive voice sentences?

The word 'by' is used in passive voice sentences to indicate the agent or doer of the action. It follows the verb 'to be' and precedes the agent, as in 'The house is cleaned by Shona'.

How does the meaning of a sentence change when switching from active to passive voice?

Switching from active to passive voice can change the focus of the sentence from the doer of the action to the receiver or the result of the action, which can affect the emphasis and tone of the message.

Why is it said that passive voice is more polite in certain contexts?

Passive voice can be more polite because it often avoids directly blaming or focusing on the doer of an action. For example, 'We haven't been served' is less direct and potentially less confrontational than 'You haven't served us'.

Can you provide an example of a sentence where the result of the action is emphasized using passive voice?

Sure, 'Hundreds of people have had their homes destroyed by the storm' uses passive voice to emphasize the destruction of homes rather than who or what caused the storm.