Grammar: Identifying and Changing Voice

Identifying Voice

• Active Voice: The subject performs the action described by the verb.
  • Example: "The dog bites the man."
  • The subject (dog) performs the action (bites) on the object (man).
• Passive Voice: The subject receives the action described by the verb.
  • Example: "The man was bitten by the dog."
  • The subject (man) receives the action (was bitten) performed by the object (dog).

Changing Voice

• Active to Passive: Swap the subject and object, and change the verb form to match the passive voice.
  • Example: "The dog bites the man" becomes "The man was bitten by the dog."
• Passive to Active: Swap the subject and object, and change the verb form to match the active voice.
  • Example: "The man was bitten by the dog" becomes "The dog bites the man."

Verb Tenses in Voice

• Active Voice:
  • Present Tense: The subject performs the action now.
    • Example: "The dog bites the man."
  • Past Tense: The subject performed the action in the past.
    • Example: "The dog bit the man."
  • Future Tense: The subject will perform the action in the future.
    • Example: "The dog will bite the man."
• Passive Voice:
  • Present Tense: The subject receives the action now.
    • Example: "The man is bitten by the dog."
  • Past Tense: The subject received the action in the past.
    • Example: "The man was bitten by the dog."
  • Future Tense: The subject will receive the action in the future.
    • Example: "The man will be bitten by the dog."