Mastering Passive Voice: Rewriting Sentences
How could this sentence be re-written to convey the passive voice?
The boy threw the ball.
A) The boy is throwing the ball.
B) The ball was thrown by the boy.
C) The boy threw the ball to his sister.
D) The tall, redhead boy threw the big, purple ball., The answer is B.
Answer: B) The ball was thrown by the boy.
Understanding Passive Voice
Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of the sentence receives the action. In passive voice sentences, the focus is on the action rather than the doer of the action. When rewriting an active voice sentence in passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
The ball was thrown by the boy. This sentence is a perfect example of passive voice as the focus is on the action of throwing the ball rather than the boy who threw it. The structure of the passive voice sentence is formed using "was + past participle (thrown) + by + subject (the boy)."
Why Choose Option B
Option B, "The ball was thrown by the boy," is the correct re-written sentence in passive voice for the given active voice sentence, "The boy threw the ball." This option maintains the meaning of the original sentence while placing the focus on the action of throwing the ball.
By choosing option B, we effectively communicate that the ball was the receiver of the action of being thrown by the boy without explicitly mentioning the boy as the doer of the action. This highlights the importance of the action itself rather than the boy as the subject.
Practice Makes Perfect
Mastering the passive voice requires practice and understanding of how to construct sentences in this form. By rewriting sentences from active voice to passive voice, you can enhance your writing skills and improve your overall grammar proficiency.
Remember to pay attention to the structure of passive voice sentences and practice re-writing sentences to convey the intended meaning in a clear and concise manner. With dedication and practice, you can confidently use passive voice in your writing to create more varied and engaging content.