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English Class 9 - Voices Notes

Comprehensive study notes for Class 9 - Voices olympiad preparation

Voices (Active and Passive)

Welcome to the chapter on Voices for Class 9. In this chapter, you will learn about active and passive voice, how to change sentences from active to passive, and why we use different voices in English. By the end of this chapter, you will be able to identify and use both voices correctly in your writing and speech.

Introduction

In English, sentences can be written in two voices: active and passive. The voice of a sentence shows whether the subject does the action or receives it.

Active Voice

In active voice, the subject of the sentence does the action.

  • Example: The chef cooks the meal.
  • Here, "the chef" (subject) does the action (cooks).

Passive Voice

In passive voice, the subject receives the action. The focus is on the action or the receiver, not the doer.

  • Example: The meal is cooked by the chef.
  • Here, "the meal" (subject) receives the action (is cooked).

How to Change Active to Passive

  • Move the object of the active sentence to the subject position.
  • Use the correct form of the verb "to be" + past participle.
  • Add "by" + the doer (optional if the doer is not important).

Active: The teacher teaches the lesson.
Passive: The lesson is taught by the teacher.

When Do We Use Passive Voice?

  • When the doer is unknown or not important.
  • When we want to focus on the action or the receiver.
  • In scientific or formal writing.

Example: English is spoken all over the world.

Tense Changes in Passive Voice

  • Simple Present: am/is/are + past participle
    Active: She writes a letter.
    Passive: A letter is written by her.
  • Simple Past: was/were + past participle
    Active: He made a cake.
    Passive: A cake was made by him.
  • Present Continuous: am/is/are being + past participle
    Active: They are playing football.
    Passive: Football is being played by them.
  • Present Perfect: has/have been + past participle
    Active: She has finished the work.
    Passive: The work has been finished by her.

Fun Activity: Change the Voice!

Write five sentences in active voice and change them to passive voice. Share them with your friends or teacher!

Summary

  • Active voice: Subject does the action.
  • Passive voice: Subject receives the action.
  • Use passive voice to focus on the action or when the doer is unknown.

Practice Questions

  1. Change to passive: The gardener waters the plants.
  2. Change to passive: The students solved the problem.
  3. Change to active: The song was sung by the girl.
  4. Change to passive: They are building a bridge.
  5. Why do we use passive voice?

Challenge Yourself

  • Write three sentences in passive voice about your school.
  • Find five sentences in your English book and identify their voice.

Did You Know?

  • Passive voice is often used in news reports and scientific writing.
  • Not all sentences can be changed to passive voice (for example, intransitive verbs).

Glossary

  • Voice: The form of a verb that shows whether the subject does or receives the action.
  • Active Voice: The subject does the action.
  • Passive Voice: The subject receives the action.
  • Past Participle: The third form of a verb (e.g., written, made, sung).

Answers to Practice Questions

  1. The plants are watered by the gardener.
  2. The problem was solved by the students.
  3. The girl sang the song.
  4. A bridge is being built by them.
  5. To focus on the action or when the doer is unknown or unimportant.

Practice changing sentences between active and passive voice to improve your English!

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