Convert sentences from active voice to passive voice can sometimes feel like a grammatical puzzle. Understanding this transformation is crucial for mastering sentence structure and adding variety to your writing. While the active voice is generally preferred for its directness and conciseness, the passive voice serves specific purposes and can be a powerful tool when used appropriately. This article will delve into the mechanics of converting sentences from active to passive, explaining the process, its benefits, and when to employ it.
Understanding the Active and Passive Voices
Before we dive into the conversion process, it’s essential to grasp the core difference between the active and passive voices.
Active Voice: In an active voice sentence, the subject performs the action. The structure typically follows Subject + Verb + Object. For example, “The dog chased the ball.” Here, “the dog” (subject) is performing the action of “chasing” (verb) on “the ball” (object). It’s direct, clear, and emphasizes the doer of the action.
Passive Voice: In a passive voice sentence, the subject receives the action. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. The structure generally follows Object (new subject) + Form of “to be” + Past Participle of Verb + (optional: “by” + Original Subject). For instance, using the previous example, the passive version is “The ball was chased by the dog.” Here, “the ball” (new subject) is receiving the action of “being chased.” The original subject, “the dog,” is now introduced with “by.”
How to Change A Sentence From Active Voice To Passive Voice
The process of converting an active sentence to a passive one involves a few distinct steps:
1. Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object: First, pinpoint the subject (who or what is doing the action), the verb (the action itself), and the object (who or what is receiving the action) in the active sentence.
Active Sentence Example: “The chef prepared the delicious meal.”
Subject: The chef
Verb: prepared
Object: the delicious meal
2. Make the Object the New Subject: The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
New Subject: The delicious meal
3. Add the Correct Form of “to be”: You need to use the appropriate tense of the verb “to be” (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been) that matches the tense of the original active verb.
Original Verb Tense: Past simple (“prepared”)
Corresponding “to be” form: “was” (since “meal” is singular and past tense)
4. Use the Past Participle of the Main Verb: The main verb from the active sentence needs to be changed into its past participle form.
Main Verb: prepared
Past Participle: prepared (in this case, it’s the same as the past tense)
5. (Optional) Add “by” + Original Subject: If you want to include who performed the action, you add the preposition “by” followed by the original subject of the active sentence.
Original Subject: The chef
Phrase: by the chef
Putting it all together, the passive sentence becomes: “The delicious meal was prepared by the chef.”
Let’s consider another example with a different tense:
Active Sentence: “The team will complete the project tomorrow.”
Subject: The team
Verb: will complete
Object: the project
1. New Subject: the project
2. “to be” form (future tense): will be
3. Past Participle: completed
4. “by” phrase: by the team
Passive Sentence: “The project will be completed by the team tomorrow.”
When to Use the Passive Voice
While the active voice is often preferred, the passive voice has its rightful place in writing:
When the Actor is Unknown or Unimportant: If the doer of the action is not known, or if the focus is more on the action itself rather than who performed it, the passive voice is ideal.
Example: “My car was stolen last night.” (We don’t know who stole it, and the focus is on the fact that the car is gone).
To Emphasize the Object of the Action: When you want to highlight what happened to something or someone, rather than who did it, the passive voice is useful.
Example: “The new bridge will be opened next month.” (The focus is on the opening of the bridge, not necessarily who is opening it).
In Scientific and Technical Writing: The passive voice is frequently used in scientific reports and technical documents to maintain an objective and impersonal tone. It focuses on the process or result rather than the researcher or technician.
Example: “The samples were heated to 100 degrees Celsius.”
To Avoid Blame or Responsibility: Sometimes, writers use the passive voice to obscure who is responsible for an action.
Example: “Mistakes were made.” (This avoids stating who made the mistakes).
To Create Sentence Variety: Overusing the active voice can make writing sound monotonous. Strategically using the passive voice can add variation and flow to your sentences.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
While mastering how to change a sentence from active voice to passive voice is beneficial, be mindful of potential pitfalls:
Overuse: The most common mistake is using the passive voice too frequently. This can lead to wordy, indirect, and less engaging prose. Always ask yourself if the active voice would be stronger.
Vagueness: As mentioned, the passive voice can sometimes create vagueness, especially if the “by” phrase is omitted when the actor is important.
Clunky Constructions: Awkward or wordy passive constructions can detract from your writing.
In conclusion, the ability to convert sentences from active to passive voice is a valuable skill for any writer. By understanding the structure, following the steps, and knowing when to employ it, you can enhance the clarity, precision, and impact of your written communication. The passive voice, when used thoughtfully, can elevate your writing by offering different perspectives and emphasizing key elements of your message.