Understanding the Structure
* Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence receives the action. It typically includes a form of "to be" (is, are, was, were, etc.) followed by a past participle.
* Active Voice: The subject of the sentence performs the action. It focuses on the doer.
Steps to Convert from Passive to Active
1. Identify the Subject and Verb: In a passive sentence, the subject is often the recipient of the action. The verb is typically a form of "to be" followed by a past participle.
2. Find the "Doer": Ask yourself, "Who or what performed the action?" The answer is the new subject of your active voice sentence.
3. Rewrite the Verb: Remove the "to be" and the past participle. Use the active form of the verb (e.g., "played" instead of "was played").
4. Reorder: Put the new subject before the verb.
Examples
Passive: The ball was hit by the batter.
Active: The batter hit the ball.
Passive: The cake was baked by my grandmother.
Active: My grandmother baked the cake.
Passive: The book was read by the child.
Active: The child read the book.
Important Considerations
* By-Phrase: The "by-phrase" in the passive voice (e.g., "by the batter") often becomes the new subject in the active voice.
* Clarity: Active voice is generally preferred for clear and direct communication.
* Purpose: Sometimes, passive voice is used intentionally to emphasize the receiver of the action or to de-emphasize the doer.
Let me know if you'd like to practice with more examples!