Voice

 The concept of voice in grammar refers to the relationship between the subject of a sentence and the action or state expressed by the verb. In English, there are two primary voices: active voice and passive voice. Let's explore each voice in more detail:


1. Active Voice:

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action described by the verb. This is the most common and straightforward voice used in English sentences. The basic structure of an active voice sentence is as follows:


Subject + Verb + Object


Examples:

- "She ate an apple." (Subject: She, Verb: ate, Object: an apple)

- "The dog chased the ball." (Subject: The dog, Verb: chased, Object: the ball)


In active voice sentences, the subject is the doer of the action, and the focus is on the subject.


2. Passive Voice:

In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action described by the verb. The focus is shifted from the doer of the action to the recipient or object of the action. The basic structure of a passive voice sentence is as follows:


Object of the Active Voice Sentence + Be Verb (am, is, are, was, were) + Past Participle + By + Subject (optional)


Examples:

- "The apple was eaten by her." (Object: The apple, Be Verb: was, Past Participle: eaten, Subject: her)

- "The ball was chased by the dog." (Object: The ball, Be Verb: was, Past Participle: chased, Subject: the dog)


In passive voice sentences, the subject is not the doer but the receiver of the action. The doer may be mentioned using "by," but it is optional and can be omitted.


When to Use Active Voice and Passive Voice:


Active voice is typically preferred in most situations as it is more direct, concise, and emphasizes the subject's role as the doer of the action. It is commonly used in everyday speech and writing.


Passive voice is used in the following cases:

- When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant: "The car was stolen."

- When the object of the action is more important or should be emphasized: "The cake was made by my grandmother."

- When the speaker wants to avoid mentioning the doer of the action intentionally: "Mistakes were made."


It's important to note that the passive voice can sometimes lead to less clarity and wordiness compared to active voice sentences. Therefore, it's generally recommended to use the active voice unless there's a specific reason to use the passive voice.


Understanding the concept of voice in grammar helps convey information in different ways and allows for variation in sentence structure and emphasis.


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Voice change

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