Important Questions: Active & Passive Voice | English Grammar for Class 9 PDF Download

Q.1. What is the difference between active and passive voice?

Ans: Active voice is used when the subject of a sentence performs the action, while passive voice is used when the subject receives the action. In active voice, the subject is the doer of the action, whereas in passive voice, the subject is the receiver of the action.

Q.2. Convert the following active voice sentence into passive voice: "She wrote a letter."

Ans: A letter was written by her.

Q.3. Convert the following passive voice sentence into active voice: "The cake was baked by my mother."

Ans: My mother baked the cake.

Q.4. When do we use passive voice in writing or speaking?

Ans: Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant. It is also used when the speaker wants to be more formal or diplomatic.

Q.5. Rewrite the following active voice sentence using passive voice: "They are building a new bridge."

Ans: A new bridge is being built by them.

Q.6. Explain the concept of active and passive voice, and provide examples of each. Discuss the differences between the two.

Ans: Active and passive voice are two different ways of constructing sentences in English. In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action, while in passive voice, the subject receives the action.
Here are examples of each:

• Active Voice: The teacher explained the lesson.
  In this sentence, "the teacher" is the subject that performs the action "explained."
• Passive Voice: The lesson was explained by the teacher.
  In this sentence, "the lesson" is the subject that receives the action "was explained."

Differences between active and passive voice:
(a) Focus on the subject: In active voice, the subject is the doer of the action, while in passive voice, the subject receives the action.
(b) Verb forms: Active voice uses active verb forms, whereas passive voice uses passive verb forms.
(c) Sentence structure: The sentence structure differs between active and passive voice.
(d) Clarity: Active voice tends to be more direct and clear, while passive voice can sometimes be less precise or vague.
(e) Emphasis: Active voice emphasizes the doer of the action, while passive voice emphasizes the receiver of the action.

Q.7. Convert the following active voice sentences into passive voice sentences:
(a) She wrote a letter to her friend.
(b) The students are studying for the exam.
(c) The chef is preparing dinner in the kitchen.

Ans:
(a) A letter was written to her friend by her.
(b) The exam is being studied for by the students.
(c) Dinner is being prepared in the kitchen by the chef.

Q.8. Convert the following passive voice sentences into active voice sentences:
(a) The book was read by the child.
(b) The cake was baked by my mom.
(c) The movie was enjoyed by the audience.

Ans:
(a) The child read the book.
(b) My mom baked the cake.
(c) The audience enjoyed the movie.

Q.9. Explain the instances where passive voice is commonly used in writing and why.

Ans: Passive voice is commonly used in writing in the following instances:

• When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant: Passive voice allows the focus to be on the receiver of the action rather than the doer. For example, "The car was stolen" emphasizes the fact that the car was stolen rather than who stole it.
• In scientific writing: In scientific writing, passive voice is often used to maintain objectivity and focus on the results rather than the researchers. For example, "The experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis."
• When the doer of the action is irrelevant or known: Passive voice can be used when the doer of the action is not important or already known. For example, "The Mona Lisa was painted in the 16th century."

Q.10. Discuss the importance of using active voice in writing and provide examples to support your answer.

Ans: Using active voice in writing is important for the following reasons:

• Clarity and directness: Active voice makes sentences more concise and easier to understand. It clearly states who or what is performing the action. For example, "The dog chased the ball."
• Engaging writing: Active voice creates more engaging and dynamic writing. It brings the subject to life and makes the sentence more interesting. For example, "The firefighter rescued the child from the burning building."
• Active voice avoids ambiguity: Active voice helps avoid ambiguity or confusion by clearly indicating who is responsible for the action. For example, "She broke the vase" is clear, while "The vase was broken" leaves the doer of the action unknown.
• Active voice shows accountability: Using active voice in certain situations can help establish accountability. For example, "He made a mistake" takes ownership of the mistake, while "A mistake was made" avoids identifying the responsible party.
• Active voice improves sentence variety: Using active voice along with passive voice adds variety to sentence structures in writing. This variety enhances the flow and rhythm of the text, making it more engaging for the reader.