Active and Passive Voice

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

Voice is the form of the verb which indicates whether a person or thing does something or something has done to a person or thing.

KINDS OF VOICE

There are two kinds of voice, namely:

1. ACTIVE VOICE
2. PASSIVE VOICE
3. ACTICE VOICE: When a verb form shows that the subject has done something, it is known as Active voice.

Example :

1. Lola wrote a letter
2. She danced to the music

• Olu killed the goat

2. PASSIVE VOICE: When a verb form shows that something has been done to the subject it is known as passive voice.

Example

A letter was written by lola

The goat was killed by olu

Note: We can turn active voice into passive voice by using some guidelines.

RULES

1. A sentence can be separated into subject, verb and object.

Example :             Lola Wrote a Letter

S        V             O

2. The object of the sentence must be turned into subject

Example :             Lola Wrote a Letter

S        V             O

A letter was written by Lola

S               V                 O

3. The ‘be’ form must be used according to the tense of the verb

Example: A letter ‘was’

4. Past participle of the verb must be used

Example : A letter was written

5. Preposition ‘by’ must be added

Example: A letter was written by

6. The subject must be made the object

Example : A letter was written by Lola

More Examples

1. Amaka sings a song (active voice).

A song is sung by Amaka (passive)

2. My sister is painting a sicture

A picture is being painted by my sister

3. Emeka posted the letter

The letter has been posted by Emaka

4. Tolu was cooking a nice meal

A nice meal was being cooked by Tolu

EVALUATION: change the following from active voice to passive voice.

1. Dele took the book
2. I threw a stone
3. She broke the window
4. The man stole a box
5. The postman delivered the letters