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Active and Passive Voice

Open Ended

REVIEW: What is a verb?

Verb

• A word that shows action or state of being

• Examples: run, walk, go, do, eat, sleep, was, is, can

Multiple Choice

True or False: Sentences MUST have a verb in order to be a sentence.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: Sentences can NOT have more than one verb.

• True

• False

Open Ended

What does it mean if something is "active"?

​Active and Passive Voice

Prepared by Melissa Hilary, Assistant Professor, Department of English, St. Xavier's college.​

A verb is said to be in active voice when the subject performs the verb.

Examples:​

Rama killed Ravana.

I like icecream.

Cows eat grass​

​

​Active Voice: Subject + verb + Object

Passive Voice: Object + be form + Past participle of the verb (v3) + by + Subject

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action.​

It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action. (It is okay if you don't mention the subject).

Examples

Ravana was killed by Rama

Grass is eaten by Cow

​

Subject | Subject

Poems are written by him.

Guitar is played by Sarah.

Hari is helped by John.

Juliet is loved by Romeo.​

​Passive

He writes poems.​

Sarah plays guitar.

John helps Hari

Romeo loves Juliet.​

​Active

Simple Present tense -

Object + is/am/are + past participle + by + Subject

Multiple Choice

Sita bakes cakes

• Cakes are baked by Sita

• Cakes are being baked by Sita

• Cake is baked by Sita

Multiple Choice

They speak English

• English is spoken by them

• English are spoken by them

• They are spoken by English

Multiple Choice

People play football all over the world

• Football is played all over the world (by people)

• Football are played all over the world