Understanding Passive Voice
Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is acted upon rather than performing the action. In other words, the focus shifts from who is doing the action to who is receiving the action.
How to Change to Passive Voice
To convert an active voice sentence to passive voice, follow these steps:
- Identify the subject, verb, and object: Recognize which part of the sentence is doing the action (subject), what the action is (verb), and who is receiving the action (object).
- Rearrange the sentence: Move the object of the active sentence to the front, making it the new subject of the passive sentence.
- Use the appropriate form of "to be": The verb “to be” should match the tense of the original verb, followed by the past participle of the main verb.
- Include the original subject (if necessary): You can include the original subject at the end of the sentence using "by" if it’s relevant.
Example Transformation
Active Voice: "Please take the form."
- Subject: You
- Verb: take
- Object: the form
Passive Voice Transformation:
- New subject: The form
- New verb: is taken (present passive)
- Original subject (optional): by you
Final Passive Voice Sentence: "The form is taken (by you)."
Conclusion
In summary, changing from active to passive voice involves identifying key components, rearranging the sentence structure, and adjusting the verb form to maintain the correct tense. Understanding this transformation enhances writing skills, particularly in formal contexts.