What is voice?
a. Voice is that form of the verb which shows whether what is denoted by the subject does something or has some action done on it.
To elaborate, let us consider the following sentences:
Mansoor reads a book.
A book is read by Mansoor.
Both these sentences express the same meaning, but in the first sentence, the subject “Mansoor” does something or is the doer of the action. In this sentence, the verb “reads” is said to be in the Active voice.
In the second sentence, the form of the verb shows that something is done to the subject, i.e. he is acted upon. In this sentence, the verb “is read” is said to be in the Passive voice.
A verb is in the Active voice when its form shows that the person or the thing denoted by the subject does something.
2. When the verb in a sentence is changed from the Active to the Passive voice, the object of the transitive verb in the active voice becomes the subject of that verb in the passive voice.
For example, consider the following sentences:
Ali kicks the ball. (Active)
The ball is kicked by Ali. (Passive)
The teacher punished Ahmed. (Active)
Ahmed was punished by the teacher. (Passive)
It is seen that in the first sentence above, the ball is the object of the verb “kicks” in the active voice whereas it becomes the subject of the verb “is kicked” in the passive voice.
The same process takes place in the second sentence when it is changed from the active to the passive voice.
It is also noticed that only a Transitive verb has an object.
3. If a transitive verb has both the direct and the indirect objects, either object can become the subject of the passive verb and the other object is retained as the object after passive verb.
For example:
(a) I gave my son a present. (Active)
A present was given to my son by me. (Passive)
My son was given a present by me. (Passive)
(b) My brother sent me a telegram. (Active)
A telegram was sent to me by my brother. (Passive)
I was sent a telegram by my brother. (Passive)
4. The active voice is used when the doer of the action is to be made prominent; the passive when the person or the thing acted upon is to be made prominent.
For example:
The thief has been arrested.
My bag was stolen.
English is spoken all over the world.
It is seen that in the sentences above, their active form does not refer to a particular person. As such, the passive voice is generally used when the active form refers to vague or indefinite nouns or pronouns such as somebody, they, people, etc., as the subject.
b. Change of voice: Tense wise
1. Present Indefinite Tense
Method: is, am, are + 3rd form of the verb
(a) Affirmative sentences
They obey my orders. (Active)
My orders are obeyed by them. (Passive)
We respect our elders. (Active)
Our elders are respected by us. (Passive)