Class 8 English Grammar Chapter 15 Active and Passive Voice

Voice in grammar, particularly in English, has a unique ability to shift the focus of a sentence from the doer of an action to the receiver of that action. Chapter 15 of Class 8 English Grammar, elaborately covered in NCERT Solutions by platforms like Tiwari Academy, delves into this intriguing concept, enabling students to comprehend and use both Active and Passive Voices proficiently.

Rule for the Change of Voice

• When a verb is changed from the Active into Passive Voice, the object of the Active Verb becomes the Subject and vice-versa.
• Change the verb into third form and put proper form of the verb “to be” (is, am, are, was, were, be, been, being) before it according to the tense of the main verb in the Passive Voice and the number (Singular/ Plural) of the new Subject.
• “By” is used with the agent of the action (= doer of the action) because it is necessary to complete the sense.
• The tense of the verb does not change.
• Only the transitive verbs can be changed into Passive Voice but not the Intransitive Verbs.

Let’s decode the difference between these two voices:

Active Voice: Here, the emphasis is on the subject, which actively performs the action. The formula to remember is: Subject + Verb + Object. Consider the sentence, ‘Reena writes a letter.’ In this instance, ‘Reena’, the subject, is carrying out the action of writing.

Passive Voice: This voice spotlights the action’s receiver. The formula is: Object + Auxiliary Verb + Past Participle + (by + Subject). Taking the earlier example and converting it, we get, ‘A letter is written by Reena.’ Notice how the focus has shifted from Reena to the letter, even though the core meaning remains unchanged.

However, it’s crucial to realize that these aren’t just arbitrary shifts in sentence structures. Each voice serves a distinct purpose in communication. The active voice often brings clarity and directness to the statement, making it concise. On the other hand, the passive voice can be employed when the action’s doer is unknown, insignificant, or when the emphasis should be on the action itself.

By diving deeper into the chapter, students will encounter numerous examples and exercises curated by platforms like Tiwari Academy, guiding them through the nuances of these voices. They’ll learn how to effortlessly switch between active and passive constructs, expanding their repertoire of sentence formation.

In essence, the mastery over Active and Passive Voices does not just amplify students’ grammatical accuracy but also their versatility in expressing thoughts, making their communication more dynamic and adaptive to diverse contexts.