Learn to Use ACTIVE and PASSIVE VOICE | Advanced Grammar Lesson

Summary

In this lesson, Wes explains the concepts of active and passive voice, focusing on how to transform sentences and when to use the passive voice. He clarifies that only sentences with transitive verbs (those followed by an object) can be converted to passive voice. The video covers several practical scenarios for using passive voice, such as emphasizing the action over the actor, avoiding responsibility, or when the actor is unknown. Wes also provides engaging examples and exercises for viewers to practice converting active sentences into passive ones, helping them better understand grammar and its applications.

Takeaways

• 😀 Active voice focuses on the subject performing the action, while passive voice emphasizes the subject receiving the action.
• 😀 In active voice, the sentence structure follows: Subject + Verb + Object (e.g., 'Wes teaches English').
• 😀 In passive voice, the sentence structure changes to: Object + Verb to be + Past Participle + 'by' + Subject (e.g., 'English is taught by Wes').
• 😀 Only sentences with transitive verbs (verbs that have an object) can be converted into the passive voice.
• 😀 Intransitive verbs (verbs without an object) cannot be changed to passive voice (e.g., 'She laughs' cannot be passive).
• 😀 Passive voice is used when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when the action itself is the focus rather than the actor.
• 😀 Passive voice can be useful to avoid identifying the actor, such as in situations where responsibility is not assigned (e.g., 'Mistakes were made').
• 😀 The verb tense in the active sentence affects the verb tense in the passive sentence. For example, 'I wrote the letter' becomes 'The letter was written.'
• 😀 The subject-verb agreement must be adjusted when changing between active and passive voice, especially when the object is plural.
• 😀 Passive voice can be used to make a firm, polite statement or command (e.g., 'Smoking is prohibited').
• 😀 When practicing passive voice, focus on the object of the sentence, as it will become the subject in the passive construction.

Q & A

What is the primary difference between active and passive voice?

The primary difference is that in the active voice, the subject performs the action, while in the passive voice, the subject receives the action.

Can all sentences be changed from active to passive voice?

No, only sentences with transitive verbs can be changed to passive voice. Transitive verbs require an object to complete the meaning of the sentence.

What is the role of the verb 'to be' in passive voice?

The verb 'to be' is used in the passive voice along with the past participle of the main verb. It helps to form the structure of the passive sentence.

How do you know if a verb is transitive or intransitive?

A transitive verb has an object that completes the meaning of the sentence, while an intransitive verb does not have an object. For example, 'buy' is transitive because it requires an object ('buy food'), whereas 'laugh' is intransitive and does not require an object.

Why is the passive voice used to emphasize the action rather than the actor?

The passive voice can shift the focus to the action itself, which is useful when the action is more important than who performed it, like in situations where the emphasis is on the result rather than the doer.

What is an example of using the passive voice to avoid identifying the actor?

An example would be 'Mistakes were made,' where the focus is on the mistakes rather than identifying who made them, which might be useful in situations like politics to avoid assigning blame.

What should you do if you want to use the passive voice but do not know who performed the action?

When the actor is unknown, you can use the passive voice without mentioning the actor. For example, 'My bike was stolen' doesn't specify who stole the bike, as the actor is not known.

How can the passive voice be used to give a more polite or firm tone in commands?

In commands, using the passive voice can soften the tone. For example, instead of saying 'No talking,' you can say 'Talking is not allowed,' which is more polite but still firm.

What is the correct passive form of 'I wrote that email'?

The correct passive form is 'That email was written by me.' In this case, 'that email' is the object that is moved to the front, and the verb is adjusted to match the correct tense.

What happens to the subject and object pronouns when converting an active sentence to a passive sentence?

When converting an active sentence to a passive one, the subject becomes the object (using object pronouns like 'me,' 'us,' 'them'), and the object moves to the front. For example, 'I wrote that email' becomes 'That email was written by me.'