The Active and the Passive Voice

The Active Voice

- the verb is active if the subject performs an action
- the active voice is used in making a straightforward
statement about an action
- the doer of the action is the subject of the sentence
The Passive Voice
- Form to be + past participle
- the doer is not important to the meaning of the sentence
- the subject is generally obvious to everyone is omitted
- when it is necessary to show the subject by is used
Example : The chicken are fed with corn and soybean
In this sentence the subject is understood (people,
someone, the farmer etc)

Simple Present Tense :

A : Poultry farmers feed their chickens with corn-soy diet
P : The chickens are fed with corn-soy diet
Simple Past Tense :
A : The Research Institute introduced a new duck strain to the farmers
P : A new duck strain was introduced to the farmers ( by the R I )
Present Perfect Tense :
A : They have planted soybean for many years in the area
P : Soybean have been planted (by them) for many years in the area
Past Perfect Tense :
A : Dodi had raised quails for egg production, before he raised cows
P : Quails had been raised for egg production (by Dodi) before.

Present Continuous/Progressive Tense

A : The farmer is feeding their cattle
P : The cattle is being fed (by the farmer)
Past Continuous/Progressive Tense
A : He used insecticides to destroy brown planthoppers
P : Insecticides was being used (by him) to destroy brown planthoppers
Simple Future Tense :
A : Next year, the farmers will increase the milk production significantly
P : Next year, the milk production will be increased significantly (by.)
Be going to
A : In the future, he is going to help the farmers in rural area
P : In the future, the farmers in rural area is going to be helped
(by him)

Passive form of the Modal :

modal + be + past participle

A : In cold season we cant open the window
P : In cold season the window cant be opened
A : We must invite John to this farewell party
P : John must be invited to this farewell party
A : The parents should teach the children to respect their elders
P : The children should be taught to respect their elders
A : I ought to send the letter before October
P : The letter ought to be sent before October
A : You have to tell her about our change in plans
B : She has to be told about our change in plans

Stative Passive
I locked the door this morning
- Ann broke the window
The was locked by me this morning - The window was broken by Ann
Now the door is locked
Now the window is broken
I am interested in Chinese art
He is satisfied with his job
Jaka is married to Dara

Stative passive are often followed

by a preposition other than by

Idiomatic Usage of the passive form :

(have no equivalent active sentence)
-

I dont know where I am. I am lost

I cant find my purse. It is gone
I am finished with my work
I am done with my work

Note : Only transitive verbs (verbs that are followed by an object) are
used in the passive form. It is not possible to use intransitive
verbs (such as happen, sleep, come, seem, etc) in the passive.
Exercisse :
1. (everyone) knows this fact very well
2. (they) opened the theatre only last month
3. (someone) has taken my wallet
4. What should (one) do in such case ?
5. Did (they) say any interesting ?
6. (they) are now manufacturing this type of radio in Japan
7. (you) must finish the work by seven oclock
8. The students have launched a campaign to save the duck pond
9. A petition was signed and sent last week by seventy students
10.The economic life of the country must be maintained by the
government

Report of chemical experiment

Avogadros law can be used to give information about the
equations for reactions involving gases, The reaction between
NH and HCl can be investigated by connecting two syringes. The
tap between the syringes is opened and the gas is pushed into
the syringe. When the reaction is over, the volume of the
remaining gas is measured.
Fish Culture
Before 1972, fish culture in Indonesia was run by using traditional
or conventional methods. Only about 1500 kg per hectare could
be produced per year by these methods. The traditional fish
culture was conducted in earth ponds, rice fields and cages. The
fish were fed with rice, plant leaves and in some cases, they were
not fed at all. However, since 1972, intensive fish culture has
been introduced. In this modern method, fish are given fish feeds
containing 25 % crude protein. Now fish farmers can have three
or four harvests a year.