Active and Passive Voice: Examples for Class 10
The active and passive voice are two different ways of structuring a sentence. They both express the same information, but they emphasize different aspects of the action.
Active Voice
In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. The sentence follows the basic structure:
Subject + Verb + Object
Examples:
- The boy threw the ball.
- The teacher explained the lesson.
- The dog chased the cat.
In these examples, the subjects (boy, teacher, dog) are performing the actions (threw, explained, chased).
Passive Voice
In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. The sentence follows the structure:
Object + Verb (to be) + Past Participle + by + Agent (optional)
Examples:
- The ball was thrown by the boy.
- The lesson was explained by the teacher.
- The cat was chased by the dog.
In these examples, the objects (ball, lesson, cat) are receiving the actions (thrown, explained, chased).
When to Use Active and Passive Voice
- Active voice is generally preferred because it is more direct and concise. It emphasizes the actor and the action.
- Passive voice is useful when:
- The actor is unknown or unimportant. (Ex: The window was broken.)
- You want to emphasize the object or the action itself. (Ex: The patient was treated by a skilled surgeon.)
- You want to avoid blaming someone. (Ex: Mistakes were made.)
Practice Exercises
Identify the active and passive voice in the following sentences:
- The chef prepared a delicious meal.
- The car was driven by a young man.
- The book was written by a famous author.
- The students are studying for their exams.
- The dog was fed by the owner.
Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice:
- The team won the championship.
- The artist painted a beautiful picture.
- The gardener watered the plants.
- The teacher gave the students homework.
- The boy broke the vase.
Rewrite the following sentences in the active voice:
- The letter was written by my friend.
- The cake was baked by my mother.
- The car was washed by the mechanic.
- The movie was directed by a famous director.
- The house was built by the construction workers.
By practicing with these exercises, you will gain a better understanding of the active and passive voice and learn how to use them effectively in your writing.
