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ead the ollo ing Active and assive statements:
Active oice assive oice
The novel (subject) was read by hreya (object) in
hreya (subject) reads the novel (object) in one day.
one day.
The house (subject) would be cleaned by me (object)
I (subject) will clean the house (object) every Saturday.
every Saturday.
The entire house (subject) was painted by my sister
My sister (subject) painted the entire house (object).
(object).
Notice the difference between the sentences in each set of examples given above. The places of subject
and object change in the above set of sentences. A subject is a person or thing that the sentence talks
about. An object is a person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb.
So, in the first sentence of the first set, Shreya is the subject. She becomes the object in the second sentence
of the set. The object of the first sentence i.e., the novel becomes the subject in the second sentence. The
first sentence shows the direct expressions (Active oice), whereas the second sentence expresses the indirect
voice combined with by (Passive oice).
enerally, the first type of sentence construction (Active oice) is preferred.
Consider some examples of Active and Passive Voice:
Active : She faxed her application for a new job.
assive : The application for a new job was faxed by her.
Active : The two kings are signing the treaty.
assive : The treaty is being signed by the two kings.
Active : The wedding planner is making all the reservations.
assive : All the reservations are being made by the wedding planner.
In Active Voice, the action expressed in the verb is performed by the subject.
E amples:
He ate an apple.
Ravi is playing football.
Prisha is reading the book.
In Passive Voice, the action expressed in the verb is received by the subject.
E amples:
An apple was eaten by him.
Football is being played by Ravi.
The book is being read by Prisha.
inds o entences According o heir urpose
If you notice the sentences which you speak during a conversation with your friend, you will find it is not
always the same kind of sentence, sometimes it is in the form of a question or in the form of an assertion,
order, request or sudden reaction, for example:
What are you doing ( uestion)
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