Simple Ways to Convert Sentences from Active Voice to Passive Voice with Auxiliary Verbs in English
By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva
In English grammar, understanding the difference between active and passive voice is crucial for both effective communication and writing. In an active voice sentence, the subject performs the action, whereas, in a passive voice sentence, the subject receives the action. The passive voice is commonly used when the doer of the action is unknown, irrelevant, or less important than the action itself.
In this article, we will explore simple ways to convert sentences from active voice to passive voice, particularly focusing on sentences that require auxiliary verbs, a key component of many passive constructions.
Active Voice vs. Passive Voice
Before diving into the process of conversion, it's important to grasp the fundamental differences between the two voices:
Active Voice: In an active sentence, the subject (the doer of the action) comes first, followed by the verb and then the object.
The chef cooks the meal.
O chefe de cozinha prepara a refeição.
2. Passive Voice: In a passive sentence, the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence, and the original subject (doer of the action) either becomes optional or is introduced by the preposition "by."
The meal is cooked by the chef.
A refeição é preparado pelo o chefe de cozinha.
Converting from Active to Passive Voice with Auxiliary Verbs
Converting active sentences to passive voice involves a few simple steps. To form a passive construction, we need to follow this basic structure:
1. Identify the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence.
2. Make the object of the active sentence the subject of the passive sentence.
3. Use an appropriate auxiliary verb (usually a form of "to be") followed by the past participle of the main verb.
4. If necessary, include the original subject (doer) introduced by the word "by."
The auxiliary verb is particularly important in passive voice because it helps indicate the tense of the verb. Let's now look at the process for converting sentences into the passive voice in different tenses and with auxiliary verbs.
Examples of Active to Passive Conversions
Present Simple Tense
Active Voice:
She writes the report every day.
Ela escreve o relatório todos os dias.
Passive Voice:
The report is written by her every day.
O relatório é escrito por ela todos os dias.
Past Simple Tense
Active Voice:
They built the house last year.
Eles construiram a casa no ano passado.
Passive Voice:
The house was built by them last year.
A casa foi construída por eles no ano passado.
Future Simple Tense
Active Voice:
He will deliver the package tomorrow.
Ele entregará a encomenda amanhã.
Passive Voice:
The package will be delivered by him tomorrow.
A encomenda será entregue por ele amanhã.
Present Continuous Tense
Active Voice:
They are preparing the meal right now.
Eles estão preparando a refeição agora mesmo.
Passive Voice:
The meal is being prepared by them right now.
A refeição está sendo preparada por eles agora mesmo.
Past Continuous Tense
Active Voice:
She was painting the picture when I arrived.
Ela estava pintando o desenho quando eu cheguei.
Passive Voice:
The picture was being painted by her when I arrived.
O desenho estava sendo pintado por ela quando cheguei.
Present Perfect Tense
Active Voice:
They have completed the project.
Eles completaram o projeto.
Passive Voice:
The project has been completed by them.
O projeto foi completado por elas.
Future Perfect Tense
Active Voice:
By next year, they will have finished the work.
Até o próximo ano, eles terão terminado o trabalho.
Passive Voice:
By next year, the work will have been finished by them.
Até o próximo ano, o trabalho terá sido terminado por eles.
Why Use Passive Voice?
The passive voice can be very useful, especially when the focus is on the action or result rather than the person or entity performing the action. It’s commonly used in formal writing, scientific reports, news articles, and situations where the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant.
Example Sentences with Translations:
Active Voice:
The teacher explains the lesson.
O professor explica a lição.
Passive Voice:
The lesson is explained by the teacher.
A lição é explicada pelo professor.
Active Voice:
The children are playing the game.
As crianças estão jogando o jogo.
Passive Voice:
The game is being played by the children.
O jogo está sendo jogado pelas crianças.
Active Voice:
The scientists have discovered a new species.
Os cientistas descobriram uma nova espécie.
Passive Voice:
A new species has been discovered by the scientists.
Uma nova espécie foi descoberta pelos cientistas.
Active Voice:
They will clean the room tomorrow.
Eles vão limpar o quarto amanhã.
Passive Voice:
The room will be cleaned by them tomorrow.
O quarto será limpo por eles amanhã.
Conclusion
Understanding how to convert active voice sentences to passive voice using auxiliary verbs in English is an essential skill, especially for formal and academic writing. By following the simple steps outlined above, you can easily transform sentences while keeping their meaning intact. Passive voice constructions with auxiliary verbs are common and versatile, making them an important tool for writers and speakers.
Bibliographic References
Azar, Betty Schrampfer. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 5th ed., Pearson Education, 2009.
This comprehensive grammar book covers all aspects of English grammar, including passive voice and the use of auxiliary verbs in various tenses.
Murphy, Raymond. English Grammar in Use. 4th ed., Cambridge University Press, 2014.
A widely used reference for learners of English, this book provides clear explanations and exercises on transforming sentences from active to passive voice, including those with auxiliary verbs.
Quirk, Randolph, et al. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman, 1985.
This extensive grammar resource goes into great detail about active and passive constructions in English, with a focus on the auxiliary verbs involved in passive voice formation.
Thornbury, Scott. How to Teach Grammar. Pearson Education, 1999.
This book provides practical tips for teaching English grammar, including strategies for explaining passive voice and auxiliary verbs.
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2016.
Swan's guide is a trusted resource for English learners and teachers, offering practical advice and examples about the use of auxiliary verbs in both active and passive voices.
Celce-Murcia, Marianne, and Diane Larsen-Freeman. The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher's Course. 3rd ed., Cengage Learning, 2016.
This book is aimed at ESL/EFL teachers and contains a thorough discussion on voice, including how to convert sentences from active to passive, with detailed attention to auxiliary verbs.
Biber, Douglas, et al. Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Pearson Longman, 1999.
This book provides a comprehensive analysis of grammar usage in both written and spoken English, including the passive voice with auxiliary verbs and how it's employed in everyday communication.
O'Grady, William, et al. Contemporary Linguistic Analysis: An Introduction. 7th ed., Pearson, 2010.
While more focused on linguistics, this text provides insights into the syntactic structures of passive constructions and the role of auxiliary verbs in English grammar.