INTERMEDIATE GRAMMAR

Active and Passive voice

LECTURER :
Mrs. Melda Veby Ristella Munthe S.Pd., M.Pd,

Group 11 :
1.Isabel Selmiola Sabrina (NPM :2201030063)
2. Hanna Silvia Sihaloho (NPM :2201030064)
3.Gabriella Pardede (NPM : 2201030065)

ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

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 Preface

Thank you, we pray to the presence of God Almighty, because of His grace and grace,
the preparation of this ‘Active and Passive’ voice paper can be completed quite well. In
completing this paper on active and passive voice, we experienced many difficulties, mainly
due to by a lack of supporting knowledge. However, thanks to guidance and assistance from
other parties, finally this paper can be completed. Therefore, we are aware that as a student
who is still in the learning process, there are still many shortcomings in writing this paper.
Therefore, we really hope for positive criticism and suggestions, in order to write a better
paper. We hope that this simple paper can be useful for all of us.

Pematang Siantar, June 18, 2023

Group 11

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 Table Of Contents

INTRODUCTION
Definition of Active and Passive voice............................................................ ...............4
DISSCUTION
How to use active and passive voice in sentence...........................................................4
A. Active and Passive voice in a Present simple and past
simple................................................................. .......................................................5
B. Active and Passive voice in a Present continuous and Past
Continuous................................................. ...............................................................6
C. Active and Passive voice in a Present Perfect tense and Past Perfect
tense.............................................. ......................................... ..................................7
D. Active and Passive voice in a Future Simple
tense ..........................................................................................................................7

Conclution.............................................................................................................................9
Exercise 1&2..………...............................................................................................................10
References ...........................................................................................................................11

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1.Defenition Active and Passive voice

Active Voice

In most English sentences with an action verb, the subject performs the action denoted by the verb.
The active sentence has the pattern (S + V + DO) In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject
of sentence performs the action. In a sentence written in the passive voice, the subject receives the
action. Active: The candidate believes that Congress must place a ceiling on the budget.

Passive Voice

One change the normal word order of many active sentences (those with a direct object) so
that the subject is no longer active, but is,instead,being acted upon by the verb - or passive. A
passive construction occurs when you make the object of an action inti the subject of a sentence.

That is, whoever or what ever is performing the action is not the grammatical subject of the
sentence. Passive sentences are formed by adding the passive auxiliary be and by using a different
form of the verb in this case written instead of wrote. On the verb forms, Here are some more
examples of active and passive pairs:

2.How to use Active and passive voice

Active : The burglar broke a pane of glass

Passive : A pane of glass was broken by the burglar.

Active : The curator shows the manuscript to visitors.

Passive : The manuscript is shown to visitors by the curator.

Active : The police are seeking witnesses.

Passive : Witnesses are sought by the police.

The ‘by-phrase” (by the burglar, by the curator, by the police) is some Times omitted, leaving an
agentless passive:

Active : The burglar broke a pane of glass.

Passive : A pane of glass was broken by the burglar.

Agentless Passive: A pane of glass was broken.

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Only sentences with a transitive verb can have a passive version. However, a small number of verbs
cannot be passivized, even though they are transitive in the active version. These include have,
resemble, and suit:

Active : James has a new car.

Passive :A new car is had been by James.

Active : Paul resembles Anthony.

Passive : Anthony is resembles by Paul

Active : That color suits you

Passive : You are suited by that color

The distinction between an active sentence and a passive sentence is called voice.

A. Active and Passive voice in a Present simple and past simple

Active and Passive Voice – Simple present

Active sentences in the Simple present have the following structure:

Subject + Verb (1) + Object

Passive sentences in the Simple past have the following structure:

Subject (Object )+ is/am/are + Verb 3 + Object (Subject)

For example ;

Changing an active sentence into the passive :

Active : Dian buys a novel

Passive : a novel is bought by dian

Active : Andy turn on the TV

Passive : The TV is turned on by Andy

Active and Passive Voice – Simple Past

Active sentences in the Simple past have the following structure:

Subject + Verb 2 + Object

Passive sentences in the Simple past have the following structure :

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 Subject + Was/Were + Verb 3 + Object

For example :

Changing an active sentence into the passive :

Active : Dian bought a novel

Passive : a novel was bought by dian

Active : Andy turned on the TV

Passive : The TV was turned on by Andy

B. Active and Passive voice in a Present continuous and Past Continuous/ Present Progressive

Active and Passive Voice – Present Continuous

Active sentences in the Simple past have the following structure :

Subject + Am/Is/Are + Verb (Ing) + Object

Passive sentences in the Simple past have the following structure :

Subject + Am/Is/Are + being + Verb 3 + Object

For example ;

Changing an active sentence into the passive :

Active : Dian is buying a novel.

Passive : a novel is being bought by dian.

Active : My mother is making some cakes

Passive : some cokes is being made by my mother

Active and Passive Voice – Past Continuous

Active sentences in the Past continuous have the following structure :

Subject + Was/were + Verb (Ing) +Object

Active sentences in the Past Continuous have the following structure :

Subject + was/were + being + Verb 3 + Object

For example ;

Changing an active sentence into the passive :

Active : Dian was buying a novel.

Passive : a novel was being bought by dian.

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 Active : My mother was making some cakes

Passive : some cakes were being made by my mother

C. Active and Passive voice in a Present Perfect tense and Past Perfect tense

Active and Passive Voice –Present Perfect tense

Active sentences in the Present perfect tense have the following structure :

Subject +have/ has + Verb 3 + Object

Passive sentences voice in a Present perfect tense have the following structure :

Subject + have/has + been + Verb 3 + Object

For example;

Changing an active sentence into the passive :

Active : Dian has bought a novel.

Passive : a novel has been bought by Dian.

Active and Passive Voice – Past perfect

Active sentences in the Past perfect have the following structure :

Subject + had + Verb 3 + Object

Passive sentences in the Past perfect have the following structure :

Subject + had + been +Verb 3 + Object

For example ;

Changing an active sentence into the passive :

Active : Dian had bought a novel.

Passive : a novel had been bought by dian.

D. Active and Passive voice in a Future Simple tense

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Active and Passive Voice – Simple Future

Active sentences in the Simple future have the following structure :

Subject + will + Verb ( base form) + Object

Passive sentences in the Simple future have the following structure :

Subject + will +be + Verb 3 + Object

For example ;

Changing an active sentence into the passive :

Active : Dian will buy a novel.

Passive : a novel will be bought by dian.

Active : Someone will open the door

Passive : The door will be opened

As we know ‘by’ not always we use for passive voice because if subject or culprit is unknown, if the
culprit or subject is an indefinite pronouns or a pronoun that is not clear. like someone, everybody,
somebody, no one and so on. For example :

~ Active : someone has stolen my pencil

Passive : my pencil has been stolen

~ Active : everyone has eaten that food

Passive : That food has being eaten

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 Conclusion

Active and passive voices are determined by the relationship of the subject and the verb in a
sentence. If the subject is the doer of the action, it is called active voice and if the subject is the
recipient of an action, it is passive voice. One should remember that tense does not change with the
transformation of a sentence from active to passive. The rules of the subject-verb agreement must
be followed to write proper sentences in both voices.

Active sentences have the subject coming before the verb.

e.g. They opened the door.

S V O

He kicked the ball.

S V O

Sometimes however, a speaker or writer may not wish to focus on the ‘subject’ but on the ‘object’ of
the sentence.

e.g. The ball was kicked (by him)

The door was opened (by them)

When sentences are inverted in this manner, we say they are in the passive voice.

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Exercise

A. identify the text which indicates active and passive voice.

1. John will meet Vina later

2. Many books are bought by Dina

3. Doni was preparing the material

4. Sally has purchased the new bag

5. The door will be opened someone

6. a prize was given him by us

7. Sarah write a letters

8. The dog was bit the boy

9. The house were destroyed by storm.

10. They will run a race

B. Transform these sentences into passive voice.

1. he told a funny stories

2. the student understand the lesson

3. we will visit Taman impian jaya ancol

4. He has bought that camera

5. My brother broke the glass

6. They have visited bali

7. My uncle drives a car

8. The singer sang the song

9. They elected him president

10. Ratna will write a letter

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 References

1) Book English an Essential Grammar by Gerald Nelson

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