| Describe in detail what you need | Active sentence: She explained the instructions. What is the passive sentence |
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Understanding how to convert active sentences to passive voice is an essential part of mastering the English language. It allows for different styles of writing and aids in emphasizing different components of a sentence. In this article, we will analyze the transformation of a simple active sentence into its passive counterpart.
In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed by the verb. Consider the following sentence:
Active Sentence:
She explained the instructions.
In this sentence, "She" is the subject who performs the action of explaining, and "the instructions" are the object that receives the action.
To convert an active sentence to passive voice, we follow a specific structure:
Identify the Object in the Active Sentence:
In our example, the object is "the instructions."
Make the Object the Subject of the Sentence:
The instructions will now become the subject.
Use a Form of "To be":
Determine the tense of the active verb. The active verb "explained" is in the past tense, so we will use "were" as the auxiliary verb.
Add the Past Participle of the Main Verb:
The past participle of "explain" is "explained."
Include the Original Subject (Optional):
Since it might be important to specify who performed the action, we can keep "by her" but it can also be omitted.
Following these steps, we can convert the active sentence into passive voice:
Passive Sentence:
The instructions were explained (by her).
In the passive voice, the focus shifts from the doer of the action to the recipient or the action itself. This structure can be especially useful in situations where the doer is unknown or irrelevant. For example, if we only care about the instructions, this is a more effective way to communicate the information:
The instructions were explained clearly.
Here, the emphasis is on "the instructions" and the clarity of the explanation, rather than who explained them.
Converting sentences from active to passive voice can significantly alter the focus of the message. Mastering this skill can improve writing and communication, making one more versatile in expression. In our example, we took the active sentence "She explained the instructions" and transformed it into the passive form "The instructions were explained (by her)." This transition opens up new channels for clarity and emphasis in our writing.
By continuously practicing these transformations, writers can enhance their style, choose what to emphasize, and convey their messages more effectively.