Voice
A form of verbs showing whether the subject acts or is acted upon is called voice.Voice is of two kinds – active voice and passive voice. In an active voice the subject acts whereas in a passive voice the subject is acted upon.
He plays me false. (Active)
I was played false by him. (Passive)
The rules of voice change ,
1) The object of an active form becomes the subject of the passive.
2) The subject of an active form becomes the object of the preposition ‘by’ of the passive.
3) The verb takes its past participle form and an auxiliary verb before it.
The auxiliaries used in passive voices are
1) am, is and are in the Present Indefinite Tense;
2) am being, is being and are being in the Present continuous Tense;
3) have been and has been in the Present perfect Tense;
4) was and were in the Past Indefinite Tense;
5) were being and was being in the Past continuous Tense;
6) had been in the Past Perfect Tense;
7) will be and shall be in the Future Indefinite Tense;
8) will be being and shall be being in the Future Continuous Tense and
9) shall have been and will have been in the Future Perfect Tense.
The common form of the passive,
The subjective form of the object of the active + auxiliary verb + the past participle form of the main verb + by+ the objective form of the subject of the active
All regretted his death.→ His death was regretted by all.
Exercise
She gave me some hard-luck stories about her losing job. He always shows a hard-line attitude. I see it too much like love. He put his finishing touches on his latest novel. He found the sweet smell of success. He’s gathered a working knowledge of English. He never does a stroke of work. I trust him not to go back on his word. I have no words to express. I know the whys and wherefores of their misunderstandings. She was chosen to be the great-white hope of the party. He completely missed the point of my jokes. The police are playing awaiting game. I made an ass of him at the meeting. She doesn’t know where to stop. Loads of fun took a load off my mind. You don’t do yourself an injury. This planted the seeds of doubt in me.
Voice change with modal auxiliaries
Some auxiliaries, modals and going to take ‘be’ after them in the passive forms, The auxiliaries and the modals are shall, will, can, may, should, would, could, might, must, need, used to, ought to, have to, has to, had to, dare, dared, durst, be able to, am to, are to, is to, was to, were to.
He might misplace the books on the shelf. (Active)
The books might be misplaced on the shelf by him. (Passive)
Exercise
The pill might have helped her. He’ll have spent all that money before the month is out. A complete outsider ought not to win the game. We could turn the patient over onto his chest. We have to see him over his staying here. The police should overpower the terrors. The Wales dared overcome France. The rebels were able to overthrow the government. I was not to be overwhelmed by the feeling of despairs. Fear is going to overtake me. You must keep beady eyes on him. We ought to take a bow of silence. We don’t have to take a fancy to ghost stories. She was able to take a firm/strong/tough stand on nuclear disarmament. The issue might throw accusation on me. The company will soon bring/put the new system into effect. We can lay stress on neatness.
Voice change with reflexive objects
Reflexive objects are not taken to be the subjects of the passive forms because the subject and the object refer to the same person or thing. So they are left as they are.
He killed himself.→ He was killed by himself.
Exercise
The crocodiles transpose themselves to arctic weather. Rita’s smiles transfigure her own self(Rita herself is …). The robbers themselves were caught by the police. He pacified himself. You can always make yourself forward with customers. I saw the man himself. They themselves did it (by their owns shelf). I did it for myself. She is always giving herself airs.
Voice change with group verbs
Depending upon the deserving objects, the verbs are of two kinds – transitive and intransitive. Usually intransitive verbs don’t bear voice change. But in some cases they are allowed in voice change.
When intransitive verbs are grouped with preposition and act as transitive verbs.
He laughed at me. → I was laughed at by him.
The group verbs formed by intransitive verbs are also two kinds – transitive and intransitive. Transitive verbs take sb/sth after them as objects and hence are allowed in voice change as stated above whereas intransitive group verbs having no objects doesn’t change into passive forms. As for example,
I run after a hare.
He ran at me with a knife.
Run along now.
In the first example, ‘run after’ is a transitive verb and the passive is A hare is run after by me. In the second example ‘ran at’ is a transitive verb but not allowed in voice change because of meaning. In the third example ‘run’ is an intransitive verb whose voice change is not possible. In the same way group verbs of transitive verbs are transitive and intransitive.
The aircraft put down in a field. (Intransitive)
They put up at a motel. (Transitive)
Exercise
Change the voice of the following sentences if possible,
Work out the puzzle. The singers warm up the audience with a few jokes. I wore out two pairs of boot. I’ll stand by you whatever happens. What does T.C. stand for (no change)? It’s a campaign to wipe out malaria. Weigh a kilo of tomatoes. Please think over what I’ve said. She is growing into a beautiful young woman (no change). His music is growing on you (no change). He was brought up by his uncle. Cholera has broken out in the village. Student should carry out their teachers’ advice. Do away with dowry. The tiger fell upon/on a lamb. He fell behind me. I fell over the dog.
Voice change with cognate objects
When the verb and the object of the verb have the same source or origin, the object is called a cognate object. Such kind of voice change is usually done.
He runs a race. →A race is run by him.
He lives a happy life. →A happy life is lived by him.
He walked a long way. →A long way was walked by him.
Exercise
He dreamt a good dream. We slept a happy sleep. They fought a risky fight. He played an excellent game against us. He breathed his last breath. The visitors applauded a loud applause. We must fight.
Voice change with verbs used as both transitive and intransitive
All intransitive verb s are not absolutely intransitive. They are sometimes transitive in some meanings and intransitive I other meanings.
He walks past the shop. (Intransitive)
I’ll walk you home. (Transitive)
I can’t run more. (Intransitive)
He runs me to the station. (Transitive)
This type of transitive verbs is allowed in voice change. All intransitive verbs don’t, of course, have transitive forms. They are appear, belong, happen, occur, result, come, go, arrive, fail, fade,), resemble, etc.
Exercise
Change the voice of the following sentences if possible,
Wind power can work the machine. He works me. You can run me to the station. He fought many opponents. They are fighting poverty. A surprise awaited us on our arrival. You’ll just have to wait your turn. He works hard for a good future. She walks her baby. We walked into the room. The rope unwinds to free the boat. We couldn’t unwind a ball of wool. Don’t stand the can of petro. You should not stand still while taking photograph. She sat the child on the chair. Her story awakened my interest. He fell into a river. Practice perfect. Her face is running with tears. The pen will not write. He fell ten feet.
Note: 1) Oppositely some transitive verbs also act as intransitives in some meanings and hence are not allowed in voice change.
Someone ringing for the house lord.
They leaves shake in the wind.
The weather alternates between sunshine and rain.
Her shoes have worn well.
2) Impersonal verbs cannot be change into passive.
It dews in winter. It is raining.
3) Linking verbs are not also changed into passive. They are is, am, are, have, has, had, become, seem, etc.
4) Some verbs in their specific meaning are not used in passive form though they are transitive. Some of them are listed below.
Mind (to pay attention, to care or be concerned about sth), have (to look after, to entertain, to cause sb/sth to be in a state), meet (to play or fight in a contest, to come together in the same place, to see or know sb for the first time), rejoin (to say sth as an amusing reply, like (only V.n to inf), lack, stand for sth, get (to obtain sth, NB. get is never passive but when means to prepare a meal), smell(Vn.ing), taste(Vn.ing), commanded(except to order), more
5) Some verbs in their specific meaning are not used in passive form as,
Renew (to give new energy to sth): work with renewed enthusiasm. Riddle (to make many holes): The car was riddled by bullets. Thus want sb for sth, wash, waste, misconceived,
Exercise
Voice change with various preposition,
Usually the subject of an active voice is changed with ‘by’ before it. Sometimes some other prepositions like to, with, at, on, of etc are also used.
I annoyed myself. → I was annoyed with myself.
His misbehaving annoys me.→ I am annoyed at/about his misbehaving.
Here it is noticed that if the object is a person, the preposition is ‘with’ and if the object is a thing, the preposition is ‘at/ about’. The preposition must be set appropriate. When no preposition can be chosen, ‘by’ which of course always possible can be set.
Exercise
A well-to-do person marveled (at) us by cheating a boy. His well-being surprised (at) me. Grapes make wine. His all over majority impressed me. My friend one in a million, always satisfies me. The carton contains some scraps of paper. His decision to conceal the concert will disappoint me (by/at/about sth). Love disappoints me (in/with sb/sth). Bangladesh made a lot of garments (in/by).Your chattering disgusted me (at/with/by). Your success delighted me in all fullness. He seized the thief (by). The great man astonished me (at). Your bravery gratified us (with/by/at). Her going under shocked me (at). The knife cuts it easily (with). Smoke filled the room (with). I puzzled me (at). Nothing can satisfy me (at). Scraps of paper fill the carton (with). His all-out activities interest me much (in). Abuses all through the night dissatisfy me. Your accompaniment benefits me (from). It is difficult to please everybody. The heal of the sun dries the grapes (under). Your misbehavior afflicted me much (with).His comment angered me (with). Your kindness impressed us (with/by sb/sth).His provocation excited me to do it (about/at sth, by sb). The noise alarmed me (at/by sth). His threat frightened me (of). His jokes amused us much. (at/by). Let’s not offend him (at). Continuous study bored us (with).
Voice change with verbs used as both transitive and intransitive in the same meaning,
Some verbs used in the same meaning as both transitive and intransitive can be changed into passive in such a way that they are intransitive in the active and transitive in the passive. Some of these verbs having these dual characters are given below.
Work - to become or make sth become free, loose, etc due to continuous work,
The screw worked loose. →The screw was worked loose.
Set – to become or cause to reach a state,
The glue sets hard.→ The glue is sets hard.
Scare – to frighten or to be frightened,
He scares easily. He is scared easily.
Pull – to move one’s body,
Abdullah pulled (himself) free. Abdullah was pulled free.
Slide - move sth smoothly along an even, slipper, or polished surface,
The door slid open. The door was slid open
Bake – to become or make sth become dried,
The bricks baked hard. The bricks were baked hard
Keep – to remain,
The students keep quiet. The students are kept quiet.
Cut - to be capable of being cut,
Sandstone cuts easily. Sandstone is cut easily.
Snap – to break or to be broken suddenly with a noise,
The box snapped open. →The box was snapped open.
Fly – to move through air,
The plane flies from Dhaka to Chittagong. The plane is flown from Dhaka to Chittagong.
Read – to give a certain impression when read,
The book reads well. The book is read well.
Swing - to move sth forward and backward or in a cycle,
The door swung shut. →The door was swung shut.
Turn – to become or make sb/sth become,
The milk turns sour. →The milk is turned sour.
Stretch - to become or make sb/sth become longer, wider, looser, etc,
The shoes will stretch. →The shoes will be stretched.
Slam – to shut or make sth shut forcefully and loudly,
The door slammed open. →The door was slammed open.
Milk – to take the milk from cows, etc,
Cows must milk twice a day. →Cows must be milked twice a day.
Stiffen - to become or make sb/sth become stiff,
He stiffened with fear. →He was stiffened with fear.
Beat – to move or make sth move up and down,
The bird’s wings are beating frantically. →The bird’s wings are being beaten frantically
Age – to become or cause to become old,
She is aging gracefully. →She is being aged gracefully.
Sell – to make sb believe that sb/sth/one is good, useful, worth having, etc,
Rice sells cheep. →Rice is sold cheap.
Taste – to have a specified type of taste,
The curry tastes sour. →The curry is tasted sour.
Smell - to have a specified type of smell,
The curry smells of mint. →The curry is smelt of mint.
Voice change with double passive,
I ordered to keep silence. (Active)
Silence is ordered to be kept. (Passive)
Here there is no mistake if we say ‘I ordered silence to be kept’ the passive of which is silence is ordered to be kept which we call a double passive. There is no mistake in it. We therefore take it correct. But in the following example,
The criminal was ordered to be shot.(incorrect)
It is a double passive but mistaken. Its active form is someone ordered to shoot the criminal. Here the criminal was not ordered. Somebody, say a policeman, was ordered to shoot the criminal. But the above example says that somebody ordered the criminal to be shoot, which is in correct. In conclusion we can say that a double passive is accepted if it bears exactly what the active voice means.
Sub+to be+pron+n changes to sub+to be+ Vpp
They are under arrest of the police.→ They are arrested by the police.
The army is under the command of Abdullah. → The army is being commanded by Abdullah.
Voice change with come to/into (showing state or condition)
Winter came to an end. → Winter was ended.
Have+n+pron+n changes to sub+to be+ Vpp
We have them into confusion.→ They are confused.
To come/be/fall/go changes to be brought
The theory came under assault.→ The theory was brought under assault.
Voice change with pay, display, make, set, attract, put, show, etc
We paid him a compliment.→ He is complimented by us.
Voice change with V-adj/adv,
He writes well. → He is well when something is written by him.
The pen writes well. →.The pen is well when it is used to write with. Or The pen is well when something is written with it.
Where both active and passive are possible,
There is plenty to do.→ There is plenty to be done.
Voice change with have/get +Vpp/Ving
I had my house collapsed.→ My house was collapsed.
I have my house building.→ My house is being collapsed.
Exercise
The whole country was/gone into mourning. His argument came to shaky ground due to his failure (brought on). The city was under the control of enemies. The plan was under assault of the authority. No one came to his assistance. Dr is the abbreviation of ‘Doctor’(to). We are dealing in man power in combination with some overseas companies. The documents are under reviewed. Pride goes/comes before a fall. He came to his rescue with a coastal guard. He acts very well (sth or a play).The spades dig well. Put a claim for a pay rise (Take claim as a verb). It is important to be in practice (Take practice as a verb). Smoking should be out of practice. Don’t give preference in practicing the dated laws. The building was in/ had fallen into despair. Don’t bring the game into dispute. The plate is too hot to touch. The best play to perform. The plate is too hot for me to touch. There is plenty for me to do. The case is light enough for me to carry. It’s too complicated to explain. How did he come to break his legs (on inf or on the main verb). I have my food being eaten. I get my friend beating a boy. Why don’t you have your hair cut? They’re going to have their house painted. They have had their request refused. more
Voice change of complex and compound sentences,
In complex and compound sentences al clauses must be changed if possible. Follow the examples given below.
I know that he said it. →That it was said by him is known to me.
I know that he is a good boy. → It is known to me that he is a good boy. or That he is a good boy is known to me.
It is said that the robbers killed him. →Someone says that he was killed by the robbers.
I eat rice and drink tea. → Rice is eaten and tea is drunk by me.
I weed and he waters the garden. →The garden is weeded by me and watered by him.
He and his friend eat rice. → Rice is eaten by him and his friend.
Rina walks a child and Mini runs slowly. → A child is walked by Rina and Mini runs slowly.
He saw the man who threatened you. → The man by whom you were threatened was seen by him.
The man whom you know looked after me. → I was looked after the man who is known to you.
Cyprus, as you know, is an island. → Cyprus, as is known to you, is an island.
Exercise
Voice change when the doer is absent,
Sometimes when a passive is changed to an active, who does the verb is not mentioned. Then we take someone, somebody, or a person or thing who might do the verb or well known to do the particular action.
The road is being constructed. (passive)
The contractor is constructing the road. (active)
I was made perfect in this situation. (passive)
This situation made me perfect. (active)
Exercise
His pen has been stolen. The ship was burnt. The tree has been uprooted. The thief was caught. I had been invited to the party. I was selected a member of the council. English is spoken all over the world.
Voice change with double object (Vnn),
Some verbs in their special meanings take two objects – one is direct and the other is indirect. Any of the objects can be taken as the subject of the passive, but there is a simple difference with the direct object that the direct object left takes a preposition – of, to, on, against, etc before it.. As for example,
Cut me a piece of cake.→ Let me be cut a piece of cake. or Let a piece of cake be made for me.
Voice change with factitive object,
Factitive objects are taken as the subject of the passive. Select, elect, nominate, make call, name etc have factitive objects.
They selected me Chairman.→ I was selected Chairman by them.
Exercise
He caught me a blow on the chin. He bet me $20 that I wouldn’t give up smoking. She bore him no ill will. Rent me the room. ): I allow you that. Bake me the bread. They built the baby a new room. He named me Abdullah. It earned me a lot. Cash me a cheque. Spare us the gory details. They afforded me the opportunity.
Voice change with participle combination,
I see the bird nibbling the fruit. (active)
The bird is seen nibbling the fruit by me. (passive)
The participle part can also be taken into voice change on condition that you must have a main verb which allows no passive.
Argentina met Brazil competing the match. (active)
Argentina met Brazil for the match being competed. (passive)
The first example can be changed into a complex sentence and then into a passive.
I see the bird nibbling the fruit. (I see that the bird is nibbling the fruit.)→That the fruit is being nibbled by the bird is seen by me.
Voice change with gerund combination,
He recommended using bullet proof glass.→ He recommended that bullet proof glass should be used.
Here the gerund portion is taken into voice change. This change is usually done for the verbs advise, insist, purpose, suggest, recommend, propose, urge, ask, beg, invite, etc.
Another example of Voice change with gerund combination is,
I know his having eaten the egg. →That the egg has been eaten by him is known to me.
Exercise
Having eaten the meal, I got a rest. Making a concerted effort, we got the scheme successful.(Using nominative absolute)
