There are two special forms for verbs called voice: 1.Active voice 2.

Passive voice

# The active voice is the "normal" voice. This is the voice that we use most of the time. You are probably already familiar with the active voice. In the active voice, the object receives the action of the verb.

The active voice is stronger than the passive, and it therefore produces more powerful sentences.

If the subject of the sentence is the person or thing doing the acting, then the verb is in active voice.
Examples: -My boss made the decision yesterday. -Doug coordinated the meeting in Pauls absence. -We proposed the change last week. -The computer just crashed.

These examples show that the subject is doing the verb's action.

Because the subject does or "acts upon" the verb in such sentences, the sentences are said to be in the active voice.

If the subject of the sentence is the person or thing receiving the action, then the verb is in passive voice. In addition to being less direct, the passive voice is also generally wordier than the active voice. Examples: -The decision was made by my boss yesterday. -The meeting was coordinated by Doug in Pauls absence. -The change was proposed (by us) last week.

One can change the normal word order of many active sentences (those with a direct object) so that the subject is no longer active, but is, instead, being acted upon by the verb - or passive.

Note in these examples how the subject-verb relationship has changed. Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is passive), such sentences are said to be in the passive voice.

NOTE: Colorful parrots live in the rainforests cannot be changed to passive voice because the sentence does not have a direct object.

Active and Passive Voice

Using Active Versus Passive Voice In a sentence using active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb.

Image Caption The arrow points from the subject performing the action (the dog) to the individual being acted upon (the boy). This is an example of a sentence using the active voice.

Image Caption: Sample active voice sentence with the subject performing the action described by the verb.

Image Caption: The active voice sentence subject (watching a framed, mobile world) performs the action of reminding the speaker of something. Each example above includes a sentence subject performing the action expressed by the verb.

To change a sentence from active to passive voice, do the following: 1. Move the active sentence's direct object into the sentence's subject slot

2. Place the active sentence's subject into a phrase beginning with the prepositon by

3. Add a form of the auxillary verb be to the main verb and change the main verb's form

1. Move the passive sentence's subject into the active sentence's direct object slot

2. Remove the auxiliary verb be from the main verb and change main verb's form if needed

3. Place the passive sentence's object of the preposition by into the subject slot.

Rewrite the following sentences so that the verbs will be in the active voice.
1.
2. 3. 4.

5.

We are taught grammar by Ms Sullivan. He was praised by the teacher. The injured were taken to the hospital by the firemen. The town was destroyed by an earthquake. The teacher was pleased with the boys work.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

The building was damaged by the fire. By whom were you taught French? You will be given a ticket by the manager. The streets were thronged with spectators. We will be blamed by everyone.

BY, RAI, CHAI, RUTH