When it comes to writing, there are two basic types of sentences you can use: active and passive. Active sentences are easy to identify because they have an active verb—one that doesn’t take the form of to be or any other linking verb. These sentences generally provide more detail, making them preferable when telling a story or describing something in detail. You can either use an active sentence, where the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb, or you can use a passive sentence, where the subject of the sentence receives the action expressed in the verb. This second type of sentence is called passive because it puts the focus on what happens to its subject rather than on who or what makes it happens.
Now see page no 177 of grade 11 English text book for active passive practice
Grammar
A. Study the following
table.
| Active Sentences | Passive Sentences |
|---|---|
| They destroyed the building. | The building was destroyed. |
| Are they meeting him at the station? | Is he being met at the station? |
| She handed me the plate. | I was handed the plate. OR The plate was handed to me. |
| I enjoyed taking the children to the park. | The children enjoyed being taken to the park. |
| They agreed to postpone the meeting. | It was agreed to postpone the meeting. |
| I don't like people laughing at me. | I don't like being laughed at. |
| She likes people taking her photograph. | She likes having her photograph taken. |
| Who built the Taj Mahal? | Who was the Taj Mahal built by? |
We use the passive voice to change the focus of the sentence.
My bike was stolen. (passive – focus on my bike)
Someone stole my bike. (active – focus on someone)
B. Complete these sentences using the verbs given in the brackets.
a. Letters …… by the postman every day.
(deliver)
Ans: Letters are
delivered by the postman every day.
b. This bag …… in the bus yesterday.
(find)
Ans: This bag was found
in the bus yesterday.
c. The gate …… at 7:00 pm every
evening. (lock)
Ans: The gate is locked
at 7:00 pm every evening.
d. I …… to the party last week.
(invite)
Ans: I was invited
to the party last week.
e. The telephone …… by Graham Bell.
(invent)
Ans: The telephone was
invented by Graham Bell.
f. Muna Madan …… by Devkota. (write)
Ans: Muna Madan was written
by Devkota.
g. How much money …… in the robbery?
(steal)
Ans: How much money was stolen
in the robbery?
h. Do you know cheese …… from milk?
(make)
Ans: Do you know cheese is made
from milk?
i. I was born in Kathmandu, but …… in
Dhangadhi. (grow)
Ans: I was born in Kathmandu, but was
grown in Dhangadhi.
C. Change the following sentences into passive.
a. I didn’t fix the problem.
Ans: The problem wasn’t fixed by me.
b. Police protect the town.
Ans: The town is protected
by police.
c. John’s mother raised him in a small town.
Ans: John was raised
in a small town by his mother.
d. Someone painted the building last year.
Ans: The building was painted last year.
e. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.
Ans: Penicillin was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming.
f. Some students study grammar on the Internet.
Ans: Grammar is studied on the internet by some students.
g. Someone had broken the window by 3:00 p.m.
Ans: The window had been broken by 3:00 p.m.
h. A strange man was watching us.
Ans: We were being watched by a strange man.
i. Tokyo will hold the Olympics in 2020.
Ans: The Olympics will
be held in 2020 in Tokyo.
j. We are working on the report right now.
Ans: The report is being worked on right now by us.
k. My manager has told him to arrive earlier.
Ans: He has been told to arrive earlier by his manager.
l. They could not have made the mistake.
Ans: The mistake could
not have been made by them.
m. I hope they are going to hire me soon.
Ans: I hope I am going
to be hired soon (by them).
n. I don't like people staring at me.
Ans: I don’t like being stared at.
o. She likes people waving at her.
Ans: She likes being waved at.
p. Who told you the story?
Ans: By whom were you told
the story? OR Who were you told the story by?
q. Is
he repairing the bicycle?
Ans: Is the bicycle being repaired?