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In the active Voice the subject is doing something, i.e., the verb form shows
the doer of an action; used when subject is to be shown importance.
In the passive voice, the object leans on to the subject, i.e., the verb form
shows that something is done to the subject i.e., the subject goes through or
receives some actions; used when the object is to be shown importance.
The tenses used according to the active or passive voice, look at the chart
TENSE ACTIVE VOICE STRUCTURE PASSIVE
Pr. Simple They play the Am/are/is+pst. Parti. The match is
match. played.
Pr. Continuous They are playing the Am/are/is+being+PP The match is being
match. played.
Pr. Perfect They have played Have/has+been+PP The match has been
the match. played.
Ps. Simple They played the Was/were+PP The match was
match. played.
Ps. Continuous They were playing Was/were+being+PP The match was
the match. being played.
Ps. Perfect They had played the Had+been+PP The match had been
match. played.
Fu. Simple They will play the Will+be+PP The match will be
match. played.
Fu. Perfect They will have Will+have been+PP The match will have
played the match. been played.
Going To They are going to Is/am/are+going to The match is going
play the match. be+PP to be played.
VOICES
Voice is that form of a verb which tells us whether the subject does
something or has something been done to it, e.g.,
Ram killed a tiger. (act)
A tiger was killed by Ram. (pasv)
The teacher punished the naughty boy. (act)
The naughty boy was punished by the teacher.(pasv)
A verb is in the active voice when the person or thing denoted by the subject
is the doer of the action.
A verb is in the passive voice when the person or thing denoted by the
subject is the receiver of the action.
Rules for changing the active voice to passive voice:
1. The object of the verb in the active voice becomes the subject in the
passive voice.
2. The 3rd form of the main verb is used.(Past Participle).
In the first sentence the actual words uttered by a speaker have been
reproduced; this is called direct speech.
In the second sentence, the words used by the speaker have been conveyed,
but the actual words have not been reproduced & some changes have been
introduced; this is called Indirect Speech.
He said,I am hungry.
He said that he was hungry.
She said , Hurry up.
She told me to hurry up.
He said , Please give me another chance.
He requested them to give him another chance.
In the above sentences, it is noticed that, when changing from the direct
form of speech to the Indirect, the following changes take place;
a) Changes in pronunciation
b) Change in pronouns
c) Change in tense
d) Change in words indicating nearness in time and space
e) Change in sentence
Change in Punctuation
a) The comma after the reporting verb and the inverted
commas of the reported speech disappear.
b) The conjunction that is usually used to join the reporting
speech with the reporting verb in an assertive sentence.
c) The question mark and the exclamation mark give place to a
full stop.
The farmer said to Jack, Go away!. D
The farmer asked Jack Go away.
He said to Sudha, Am I ill?
He asked Sudha if he was ill.
Change in Pronouns
a) If pronoun is in Ist person, subject is changed, e.g.,
Changes in Sentences
a) Changes in Assertive/Declarative Sentences
If the direct speech is without an object there is no
change in direct speech.
Direct - Ram says to you, You should mind your
own business.
Indirect Ram tells you that you should mind your
own business.
Direct Pushpa said, My brother arrived yesterday
& will go tomorrow.
Indirect Pushpa said that her brother had arrived the
previous day & would go the next day.
Direct Rahul said to me, I shall meet you at the
station.
Indirect Rahul told me that he would meet me at the
station.
Change in Interrogative Sentences follow these rules: -
Tenses, Pronouns & Adverb of Tense & Place
change in assertive sentences.
The question mark is omitted in indirect.
While introducing the reported speech that is
never used.
The reporting verb said or said to is changed
into asked, enquired, or demand according to the
sense.
The interrogative form of the verb is changed in
to the assertive form.
The conjunction if or whether is used if the
interrogative sentence begins with helping verbs.
No conjunction is used if the question begins
with interrogative words (?).
Sir & Madam are changed into respectfully.
Examples of Interrogatives: -
Direct He said to her, Do you like my idea.
Indirect He asked her if she liked his idea.
Direct I said to Kush, Did you meet my brother on
your way to school.
Indirect I asked Kush if he had met my brother on his
way to school.
Direct He said to me, Do you know the way.
Indirect He enquired of me if I know the way.
Direct The teacher said to Rani, Did you break the
window pane? No Sir, said Rani.
Indirect The teacher asked Rani if she had broken the
window pane, Rani replied respectfully that she
had not.
Direct He said, Will you listen to such a man?
Indirect He asked whether they would listen to such a
man.
Changes in Imperative Sentences:-
The reporting verb said or said to is changed
into order/command/advice/request, according to the
sense.
While introducing the reported speech that is
never used.
The imperative mood is changed into the
infinitive.
Direct He said, Let me have some tea.
Indirect He wished to have some tea.
Direct The teacher said to Isha, Stand up on the bench.
Indirect The teacher ordered Isha to stand up on the
bench.
Direct The beggar said to the old lady, Give me
something to eat.
Indirect The beggar requested the old lady to give him
something to eat.
Direct I said, Lets go out for a walk.
Indirect I proposed to go out for a walk.
Changes in Exclamatory Sentences: -
The reporting verb said may be changed in the
following sense sorrow, joy, regret, surprise,
contempt, applaud or praise.
Change the exclamatory sentence into the assertive
form.
Omit the exclamation mark (1).
Use conjunction that to introduce the reported
speech.
Omit words showing exclamation, such as, hurrah,
alas, wow, ho! etc.
Direct They said, May the Prime Minister live long!
Indirect They prayed that the Prime Minister might live
long.
Direct My friend said, What a beautiful view!
Indirect My friend exclaimed that it was a very beautiful
view.
Direct The commander said to the soldiers, Bravo! You
fought well.
Indirect The commander applauded/praised the soldiers
as they had fought bravely.
Direct Pooh!He said to me, You have again failed in
the examination.
Indirect He exclaimed with contempt that I had again
failed in the examination.
Direct Ravi said, Alas! How foolish I have been!
Indirect Ravi confessed with regret that he had been very
foolish.
Changes in Optative Sentences:-
The reporting verb said/said to changes into
wished, bade, prayed, etc.
Change of optative to assertive sentence.
Omit all interrogative & exclamations & convey,
their sense by using an adverb or adverbial phrase.
Direct I said to my teacher, Good morning, Sir.
Indirect I respectfully wished my teacher good morning.
Direct The statesman said, Farewell my friends &
countrymen.
Indirect The statesman bade farewell to his friends &
countrymen.
Direct She said, O for a glass of water!
Indirect She wished for a glass of water.
The sequence of Tenses
The sequence of tenses is that principle according to what
the tense of the verb in the main clause
governs/commands that of the sub-ordinate clause. The
main rules about the sequence of tenses are :-
a) If the verb in the main clause is in the present or
future tense, the verb in the sub-ordinate clause
may be in any tense, e.g.,
He says that he wants money.
I know what he is doing.
He will come if you agree.
b) If the verb in the main clause is in the past tense,
the verb in the subordinate clause is generally in
the past tense, e.g.,
He saw that he had made a mistake.
Anoop worked hard that he might
pass.
She knew that she could not get
success.
c) If the subordinate clause states some habit or
universal truth, the verb is then in the present tense,
e.g.,
The teacher said that the earth revolves
round the Sun.
d) The past tense in the principal clause may be
followed by any tense in the subordinate clause, if
it is an adjective clause, e.g.,
She came across the man who had stolen her
money.
He bought a cow which gives milk.
e) The verb of the subordinate clause, if it is an
adverb clause of place, reason, may be in any
tense, even though the principal clause is in the
past tense, e.g.,
He went to Calcutta where his father is
employed.
f) If the verb in the subordinate clause is introduced
by the conjunction than it will be in the present
tense even though the main clause is in the past
tense, e.g.,
Shikha likes you better than she likes me.
He helped us more than he helps his own
children.
g) If the subordinate clause is being introduced by the
conjunction before the main clause of present
perfect tense is followed by subordinate clause of
simple present tense & past perfect is followed by
simple present, e.g.
1. The guests have come before he
starts to sing.
2. They will have reached there before
I go.
h) If the subordinate clause is being introduced by the
conjunction after , the present perfect of main
clause is followed by past indefinite . Past perfect
and future perfect are also followed by past
indefinite, e.g.,
1. She has started to write after he
went.
2. Ram will have done his work after
they helped him.
i) The conjunction as if and as though always
take were in the subordinate clause, whatever the
tense of the main clause , e.g.,
1. She talks as if she were mad.
2. Alok worked as though he were a
giant.