Grammar - Active and Passive Voice

 

Active and Passive Voice

Introduction:

In English, voice refers to the relationship between the action of a sentence and the subjects and objects involved. The two primary voices are active and passive, each serving a distinct purpose in communication.

 - Active Voice is direct and dynamic, often used to emphasize the doer of an action (the subject). It follows the basic structure: Subject + Verb + Object. Active voice sentences feel lively and are commonly used in everyday conversations, instructions, and storytelling. 

  Example: "The dog chased the ball."

 - Passive Voice shifts the focus from the doer to the receiver of the action (the object). This voice is often used to highlight the action itself or the recipient, sometimes leaving the subject unmentioned. The structure follows: Object + Form of "To Be" + Past Participle + (by + Subject). Passive constructions are common in formal writing, scientific reports, and situations where the doer is unknown or irrelevant. 

  Example: "The ball was chased by the dog."

  When to Use Active vs. Passive Voice

 - Use Active Voice when clarity and brevity are essential, especially when identifying the action's doer is important.

 - Use Passive Voice when the action or the object is more significant than the doer, or when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

 Understanding how to change between active and passive voice gives you flexibility in expression and is a valuable tool for adapting your language development to different contexts.

 Active vs. Passive Voice Formulas

 - Active Voice: Subject + Verb + Object 

  Example: "The teacher (subject) explains (verb) the lesson (object)."

 - Passive Voice: Object + Form of "To Be" + Past Participle + (by + Subject) 

  Example: "The lesson (object) is explained (form of "to be" + past participle) by the teacher."

  Examples with Spanish Translations

 1. Active: The chef cooks the meal. 

   Spanish: El chef cocina la comida.

    Passive: The meal is cooked by the chef. 

   Spanish: La comida es cocinada por el chef.

 2. Active: Students read the book. 

   Spanish: Los estudiantes leen el libro.

    Passive: The book is read by students. 

   Spanish: El libro es leído por los estudiantes.

 

 Tense Changes in Active and Passive Voice

                                

Tense	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Present Simple	They make a cake.	A cake is made by them.
Present Continuous	They are making a cake.	A cake is being made by them.
Past Simple	They made a cake.	A cake was made by them.
Past Continuous	They were making a cake.	A cake was being made by them
Present Perfect	They have made a cake.	A cake has been made by them.
Future Simple	They will make a cake	A cake will be made by them.

 Resumen en Español

 La voz activa y la voz pasiva son dos formas de expresar una acción en inglés. En la voz activa, el sujeto realiza la acción de manera directa, haciendo que la oración sea más clara y enérgica. Por otro lado, la voz pasiva enfoca la acción o el objeto que recibe la acción, relegando al sujeto o dejándolo sin mencionar. Esto es útil cuando queremos destacar el resultado de la acción o cuando el sujeto no es importante o se desconoce.

 

Ejemplo: 

- Voz activa: "The chef prepares the meal." 

- Voz pasiva: "The meal is prepared by the chef."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1OmSgZmCNQ&t=207s