Page 133 - New Grammar with a Smile 8

2. In the first part of the second speaker’s conversation, the subject is ‘I’ (doer of the
action), and the direct object of the verb which is used transitively here, had to
complete is ‘my report’. Therefore it can be changed as shown here:
• My report had to be completed by me… (passive)

In the second part of the sentence, ‘so I couldn’t attend’, there is no object,
therefore the verb attend is an intransitive verb, and hence its voice cannot
be changed.

3. In the first part of the third speaker’s conversation, the subject is ‘My neighbours’
(doer of the action), and there is no object of the verb left. The verb is an
intransitive verb. Therefore, it cannot be changed. The second sentence of the
speaker has the subject ‘I’, and the verb gave has the direct object ‘gift’ and
an indirect object ‘them’. It is, therefore, a transitive verb and its voice can be
changed as shown here:
• A farewell gift was given to them (my neighbours) by me. (passive)

4. In the fourth speaker’s conversation, the subject Note
is ‘they’ (doer of the action), and the direct

object of the verb take is ‘stuff’. The verb is a The voice of transitive verbs
transitive verb. Therefore, it can be changed as can be changed.
shown here: Sentences with intransitive
• Was all their stuff taken by them? (passive) verbs cannot be changed into
the passive voice.

Structure of the Active Voice

Subject + main verb (as per the tense) + object + adjunct
( additional, inessential
words/phrases)

Structure of the Passive Voice

Object + be (as per the tense) + the third form of the main verb + by + subject
+ adjunct

Study the change in the form of the main verb in the various tenses when
converting its voice from active to passive.

Tense Voice Subject Verb Object

Simple present Active Cookies Corner sells cakes.

Passive Cakes are sold by Cookies
Corner.

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