Page 29 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

Unit 2: Functional English Grammar : Transformation and Synthesis of Sentences

Examples: Notes
(1) The boy makes toys. ............... Active
Toys are made by the boy. ............... Passive
(2) You vex me. ............... Active
I am vexed by you. ............... Passive
(3) She annoys him. ............... Active
He is annoyed byher. ............... Passive
Thus, you will notice that apart from following the first two rules, we have changed
the verb from the first to the third form. We have also added is/am/are according to
the nature of the object in the active voice which has become the subject of the passive
voice.
For transforming interrogative sentences unde this tense, all you need do is put is/
am/are before the subject (which was object in the active voice) in the passive voice.
Example:
Does she want a book? ............... Active
Is a book wanted by her? ............... Passive
Note: For interrogative sentences of the active voice beginning with who, the passive
voice will be formed by changing who into by whom.
(b) Present Continuous: Assertive sentences
To get the passive voice, the verb is used in its third form and being is inserted between
is/am/are and the verb.
Example:
I am eating an egg. ............... Active
An egg is being eaten by me. ............... Passive
(c) Present Perfect
Here, been is put between has/have and verb in a passive voice sentence.
Example:
Sita has eaten the fruit. ............... Active
The fruit has been eaten by Sita. ............... Passive
Examples of Presetn Perfect Interrogative:
Who has written this letter? ............... Active
By whom has this letter been written? ............... Passive
Have you seen the play? ............... Active
Has the play been seen by you? ............... Passive
(ii) Past Tense
The rules for transforming the past tense active voice sentences are the same as that for
the present tense with necessary modifications.
Examples:
Past Indefinite
I read the book. ............... Active
The book was read by me. ............... Passive
Past Continuous
I was reading the book. ............... Active
The book was being read by me. ............... Passive

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