Transforming Active Voice into Passive Voice
Transforming sentences from active voice to passive voice is a common exercise in English grammar. Understanding how to convert these sentences helps in enhancing writing flexibility and clarity. In this discussion, we'll take the active sentence:
Active Sentence: New students send applications early.
Passive Voice Structure
To convert an active sentence into passive voice, we need to follow a particular structure. The formula essentially involves the following steps:
- Identify the object of the active sentence (what receives the action).
- Move the object to the beginning of the sentence and make it the subject of the new sentence.
- Use the appropriate form of the verb "to be" in accordance with the tense of the original sentence, followed by the past participle of the main verb.
- Include the original subject in a prepositional phrase, typically using "by".
Example Conversion
Let's apply these steps to the sentence provided:
- Original active sentence: New students send applications early.
- Identify the components:
- Subject (doer): New students
- Verb (action): send
- Object (receiver of action): applications
Step-by-step Transformation
- Identify the object: Applications
- Make it the subject in passive voice: Applications
- Determine the correct form of "to be": The sentence is in the present tense, so we use "are".
- Convert the main verb to the past participle: The past participle of "send" is "sent".
- Include the original subject: by new students.
Resulting Passive Sentence
Combining all the elements, we form the passive voice sentence:
Passive Sentence: Applications are sent early by new students.
Understanding the Passive Voice
Using the passive construction can shift the focus from who is performing the action to what is being acted upon. This is particularly useful in contexts where the action is more notable than the subject or when the doer is unknown or irrelevant.
Benefits of Using Passive Voice
- Focus on the Action: It allows the reader to concentrate on the action rather than who performed it.
- Formal Tone: Passive voice can contribute to a more formal tone, often suited for academic and technical writing.
- Highlighting the Object: Especially useful in scientific writing where the procedure and results are more important than the person conducting the experiment.
When to Use Active vs. Passive Voice
While the passive voice has its advantages, it is essential to know when to use it judiciously:
- Use Active Voice: When clarity and directness are needed; it often makes writing more dynamic.
- Use Passive Voice: When the doer is less critical than the action, in formal writing, or when the agent is unknown.
Conclusion
Transforming sentences between active and passive voice is a key skill in mastering English grammar. By understanding the structure and purpose of each voice, writers can enhance their communication and effectively convey their message. Whether you choose to use the active or passive voice will depend on the context and the emphasis you want to create in your writing.
Summary
- Active Sentence: New students send applications early.
- Passive Sentence: Applications are sent early by new students.
By practicing these transformations, you will become more adept at crafting sentences that meet your stylistic and communicative needs.