In grammar, the term, Voice refers to the relationship between the subject of a sentence and the action described by the verb. It shows whether the subject is the doer of the action or the receiver of the action.
Classification of Voice:
There are Two types of Voice:
- Active Voice
- Passive Voice
1. Active Voice
Active voice is a grammar term used to classify sentences in which the subject of the sentence is the one actively performing the action of the verb.
The active voice has a direct, clear tone. Use it when you want the reader to focus on the subject of your sentence and the action it is doing rather than on the action’s target.
The common structure of active voice:
Subject + Verb + Object + Other part of the sentence.
- Subject: The performer of the action
- Verb: It may be any tense of verb
- Object: The receiver of the action.
Example:
- I eat rice
- We can not bear it.
2. Passive Voice
The subject receives the action group of people acting together. It represents that the subject is one acted upon by the action or verb in the sentence. Above all, Subject is not performer in the passive voice.
The common structure of passive voice is given below here:
Subject + be verb (be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been etc.) + past participle of the main verb + object + Other part of the sentence.
- Subject: The receiver of the action, not the actor
- Be Verb: A form of the verb “to be” (be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been)
- Past participle: The past participle of the main verb
- Object: The performer of the action.
Example:
- The cat was chased by the dog.
- The book was written by the author.
In conclusion, understanding voice in grammar is essential for effective communication. It allows you to choose whether to focus on the subject performing an action (active voice) or the action itself and its recipient (passive voice). Mastering the use of both active and passive voices enables you to convey your message more precisely and appropriately in different contexts.
