Page 130 - New Grammar with a Smile 6

When a subject performs the action stated by the verb, the sentence is said to
be in the active voice.

Now, read these sets of sentences.
• The doctor treated the patient. (active)
The patient was treated by the doctor. (passive)

• Sunil Chhetri scored the goal. (active)
The goal was scored by Sunil Chhetri. (passive)
• R K Narayan wrote The Guide. (active)
The Guide was written by R K Narayan. (passive)

The object of the sentence in active voice becomes the subject of the passive form of

the sentence.

When the subject of a verb receives the action stated in the verb, the sentence
is said to be in the passive voice.

Let us understand the rules of changing a sentence from the active voice to the
passive voice.

1. Change the object into the subject and the subject into the object. For example,
• Rohit buys a book. (active)
A book is bought by Rohit. (passive)

2. Change the verb to past participle form. For example,
• Rohit buys a book. (active)
A book is bought by Rohit. (passive)

• Rohit bought a book. (active)
A book was bought by Rohit. (passive)
• Rohit is buying a book. (active)
A book is being bought by Rohit. (passive)
• Rohit has bought a book. (active)
A book has been bought by Rohit. (passive)

• Rohit will buy a book. (active)
A book will be bought by Rohit. (passive)

3. Add the preposition by before the subject that has been placed after the verb.
For example,
• Minu has bought this pen. (active)
This pen has been bought by Minu. (passive)

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