ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SENTENCES

CONTENT

The active voice or sentence shows what something or someone does. Example;

• Ade kicked the ball.

The passive voice or sentence shows what happens to something or someone. Example;

• The ball was kicked by Ade.

In most clauses, the subject of a sentence is the doer or ‘actor’ of the verb (action). Example;

            Soyinka                       wrote                           many poems.

            (subject/actor)             (action)                        (object)

But the passive form permits you to put someone or something first that is not the actor. Example;

            Many poems                were written                by Soyinka.

            (object)                        (action)                        (subject)

The passive form has the verb formed with the formula: be + past participle. Example;

            is used

            was cooked

            can be viewed

The Passive Form

Tense                          Passive form (be + past participle + by + agent/actor/subject)

Simple Present            The house is built by Julius Berger.

Present Continuous     The house is being built by Julius Berger.

Simple Past                 The house was built by Julius Berger.

Past Continuous          The house was being built by Julius Berger.

Present Perfect            The house has been built by Julius Berger.

Past Perfect                 The house had been built by Julius Berger.

going to                       The house is going to be built by Julius Berger.

will                              The house will be built by Julius Berger.

Infinitive                     The house is to be built by Julius Berger.

ing form                      The chairman insists on the house being built by Julius Berger.

used to                         The Company used to be managed by Dr Adam.

Modals                        The Company should be managed by Dr Adam.

USES OF THE PASSIVE FORM

We use the passive:

• When the object is more important than the subject and the agent is either obviously not important, or unknown.

E.g       All notebooks were marked immediately.

• In formal writing to make it formal (or less personal)

E.g       You are instructed to do the assignment within two days.

Note that the active voice is more direct and personal.

E.g       I instruct you to do the assignment within two days.

More examples;

Simple Present –         Pilots fly aeroplanes. (active voice)

                                     Aeroplanes are flown by pilots. (passive voice)

Present Continuous – Kudirat is cooking lunch. (active voice)

                                    Lunch is being cooked by Kudirat. (passive voice)

Simple Past –              My father punished my sister. (active voice)

                                    My sister was punished by my father. (passive voice).

Past Continuous –       The boys were taking soft drinks when I arrived. (active voice)

                                    Soft drinks were being taken when I arrived. (passive voice)

Future (going to) –      They are going to build a new house in Port Harcourt. (active voice)

                                    A new house is going to be built in Port Harcourt. (passive voice)

Simple Future –           I will write the letter tomorrow. (active voice)

                                    The letter will be written tomorrow. (passive voice)

EXERCISE: Change the following sentences from active to passive forms.

1. My friends use Nokia phones.
2. Mr Babalola operated two machines last week.
3. He will purchase the new product tomorrow.
4. They are going to execute the plans soon.
5. The moderator used to anchor the program.