The passive voice is often seen as a mysterious and sometimes perplexing aspect of the English language. However, it is an essential part of communication, especially in written English. Understanding the passive voice in the present tense will help you recognize and use it more effectively in your writing and speaking.
What is the Passive Voice?
In English, sentences can be structured in either the active or passive voice. The active voice is straightforward: the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb. For example, “The chef cooks the meal.” Here, “the chef” is the subject who performs the action of cooking.
In contrast, the passive voice flips the structure: the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. For example, “The meal is cooked by the chef.” In this case, “the meal” is the subject, and it receives the action of being cooked.
Importance of the Passive Voice
The passive voice is useful in various contexts, including scientific writing, formal reports, and situations where the focus should be on the action itself rather than the doer. For instance, “Mistakes were made” is often used to acknowledge errors without pointing fingers.
Forming the Passive Voice in the Present Tense
To form the passive voice in the present tense, you need to use the appropriate form of the verb “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb. The formula is:
Subject + am/is/are + past participle
Let’s look at some examples to clarify this:
1. Active: “The teacher explains the lesson.”
2. Passive: “The lesson is explained by the teacher.”
In the passive sentence, “the lesson” is the subject, “is” is the form of “to be,” and “explained” is the past participle of “explain.”
Examples of Passive Voice in Present Tense
Let’s examine more examples to see how the passive voice functions in different contexts:
– Active: “The company launches a new product.”
Passive: “A new product is launched by the company.”
– Active: “She waters the plants every day.”
Passive: “The plants are watered by her every day.”
– Active: “The team completes the project on time.”
Passive: “The project is completed by the team on time.”
As you can see, the passive voice shifts the focus from the doer of the action to the action itself or the recipient of the action.
Usage of the Passive Voice
There are specific scenarios where the passive voice is particularly useful:
1. When the Doer is Unknown or Unimportant
Sometimes, the person performing the action is unknown or irrelevant to the context. For example:
– “The window is broken.” (The focus is on the window being broken, not on who broke it.)
2. To Emphasize the Action
In some cases, the action is more important than the doer:
– “The cake is baked fresh daily.” (The emphasis is on the freshness of the cake, not on who bakes it.)
3. Formal and Academic Writing
The passive voice is often used in formal writing to create a more objective tone:
– “The experiment is conducted in a controlled environment.” (This sounds more formal and objective than “We conduct the experiment in a controlled environment.”)
4. To Create a Polite or Indirect Tone
The passive voice can be used to soften statements and make them sound more polite:
– “Your application is being reviewed.” (This is more polite than saying “We are reviewing your application.”)
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
While the passive voice is useful, it can also lead to some common mistakes. Here are a few tips to avoid them:
1. Overuse of the Passive Voice
Using the passive voice too frequently can make your writing seem dull and impersonal. Strive for a balance between active and passive constructions to maintain a dynamic and engaging style.
2. Incorrect Use of the Past Participle
Ensure that you use the correct past participle form of the verb. For example, the past participle of “write” is “written,” not “wrote.”
– Incorrect: “The report is wrote by John.”
– Correct: “The report is written by John.”
3. Missing the Form of “To Be”
Remember to include the appropriate form of “to be” in your passive constructions.
– Incorrect: “The cake baked fresh daily.”
– Correct: “The cake is baked fresh daily.”
Transforming Active Sentences to Passive
To practice the passive voice, it can be helpful to transform active sentences into passive ones. Let’s go through some examples together:
1. Active: “The artist paints a beautiful mural.”
Passive: “A beautiful mural is painted by the artist.”
2. Active: “The engineers design the new bridge.”
Passive: “The new bridge is designed by the engineers.”
3. Active: “The chef prepares the special dish.”
Passive: “The special dish is prepared by the chef.”
To transform an active sentence into a passive one, follow these steps:
1. Identify the object of the active sentence.
2. Make the object the subject of the passive sentence.
3. Add the appropriate form of “to be.”
4. Use the past participle of the main verb.
5. Optionally, include the doer of the action using “by.”
Practice Exercises
Now that you have a solid understanding of the passive voice in the present tense, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. Try transforming the following active sentences into passive ones:
1. Active: “The manager conducts the meeting.”
Passive: _______________________________
2. Active: “The students solve the problems.”
Passive: _______________________________
3. Active: “The author writes the novel.”
Passive: _______________________________
4. Active: “The technician repairs the computer.”
Passive: _______________________________
5. Active: “The volunteers organize the event.”
Passive: _______________________________
Answers:
1. Passive: “The meeting is conducted by the manager.”
2. Passive: “The problems are solved by the students.”
3. Passive: “The novel is written by the author.”
4. Passive: “The computer is repaired by the technician.”
5. Passive: “The event is organized by the volunteers.”
Conclusion
Mastering the passive voice in the present tense can greatly enhance your English communication skills. By shifting the focus from the doer to the action or recipient, you can create more nuanced and versatile sentences. Remember to use the passive voice purposefully and avoid overusing it, as a balanced mix of active and passive constructions will keep your writing engaging and dynamic.
With practice, you’ll become more comfortable recognizing and using the passive voice in various contexts. Whether you’re writing a formal report, crafting a polite email, or simply aiming to diversify your sentence structures, the passive voice is a valuable tool in your linguistic toolkit. Keep practicing, and soon the passive voice will become second nature to you.
