Verbs: Voice (Active and Passive Voice) is a fundamental grammatical term used to determine whether the subject of the sentence is acting or receiving the action expressed by the verb, shaping the clarity, syntax, and sentence structure of English writing.
What is Active and Passive Voice?
Voice is a grammatical term that is used to tell whether the subject of the sentence is acting or is receiving the action expressed by the verb.
Active voice is to be when the subject is the doer of the action.
- Chan jumped over the obstacle.
- Jelly played the guitar.
- Allen sang 10 songs.
A verb is in the passive voice when the subject does not perform the action; in the other words, the subject is passive.
- The house painted by Larry.
The Active voice is the better form to use. Never use the passive voice either in speaking or writing when the active voice would be more natural or more direct.
Passive voice: The play was written by Shakespeare. The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.
Active voice: Shakespeare wrote the play. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
Passive voice can be uses when what was done is more important than the doer of the action.
What are the Moods of Verbs?
Mood shows the speaker's attitude in relation to the happening, When we apply the term of mood to verbs, we mean the manner in which the verb expresses the action or state of being.
The Indicative Mood
The indicative mood expresses fact or asks a question. It is commonly used on our daily conversation.
The student typed the letter. (Fact)
Where shall we take our vacation this summer? (Question)
The Imperative Mood
The imperative mood expresses a command or a request. It is always used in the present tense.
Please bring my umbrella to the office. (Request) Go away! (Command)
The Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive mood is used to express a wish or a command. Its forms are like the indicative mood with the only difference in the third person singular of the present tense where the s ending of the verb is omitted.
Indicative: He talks loud.
Subjunctive: He insists that he talk loud.
For all persons, the subjunctive form of the verb to be is be:
- That I be good is my father's wish.
- That you be silent is the teacher's command.
- That she be good is what I'm praying for.
The past subjunctive form of the verb to be is “were”. In statements contrary to fact and statements expressing doubt, this form is used.
- If I were a Queen, I would travel a lot.
Subjunctive Forms Tables
Subjunctive Forms of the verb "to be"
|
Present tense |
Singular |
Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
First person |
(If) I be |
(If) we be |
|
Second person |
(If) you be |
(If) you be |
|
Third person |
(If) he be, (If) she be |
(If) they be |
|
|
(If) it be |
|
|
Past tense |
Singular |
|---|---|
|
First person |
(If) I were |
|
Second person |
(If) you were |
|
Third person |
(If) he were, (If) she were, (If) it were |
|
Past tense |
Singular |
|---|---|
|
First person |
(If) I have been |
|
Second person |
(If) you have been |
|
Third person |
(If) he have been (If) she have been (If) it have been |
How to Use English Modals (Can, Could, May, Might, Should, Must)
The modals of English are auxiliary verbs. They express particular meanings.
Can and Could
- Can has two tenses- the present tense can and the past tense could.
- Can may mean:
- Ability: I can sing well. Eunice can play the whole day.
- Possibility: Anyone can lose much money in gambling.
- Permission: You can go to the doctor now.
- Since can has only two tenses, the expression "to be able to" is used as a substitute for all tenses.
- Could is used in the same was as can although could may be used in all negative sentences in the past.
A. "Could" may be used in positive sentences in the past only when ability is general or over a period of time is indicated.
- Luzviminda could speak Spanish when she was young.
- Fredi could always climb the tallest tree when he was a small boy.
May and Might
- May has only two tenses- the non-past tense may and the past tense might. 2. May is used to express:
- Permission: May I leave the room? You may go.
- Doubt or possibility: The bus may arrive late. He may come but I doubt it.
- Purpose: They are working on their research so that they may pass the subject. They are saving now so that they may finance the children's education.
- The past tense of "May" is might, it is used in the same way as may.
- He said that I might be late.
- It seems that the plane might be late.
- May has a special past tense form, obtained by the use of the auxiliary verb have and the past participle of the main verb. This is used only to indicate possibility in the past.
- Lito may have gone to school or he may have gone home.
- Mady may have done the work.
Should and Ought
- Should and ought followed by an infinitive are used to express a mild form of duty or obligation.
- Should and ought have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably. 3. Should is more common than ought.
- Students should study harder.
- You ought to study harder.
- When the duty or obligation is in the past, should and ought are followed by a perfect infinitive, the modal have is used, followed by the past participle of the verb.
- The force of should and ought in the past tense form is nearly negative, indicating that the duty or obligation was not fulfilled.
- You should have finished your book report.
- You ought to have done your assignment.
- Should and ought are also used to express probability.
- Your investment should produce big interest.
- You ought to graduate next year.
Must and Have to
- "Must" has only one form, the present tense.
- Must is used to express the following:
- Strong necessity or command: You must attend your class. She must work today.
- Strong probability: This bag must be yours: it has your name on it. Yves is absent: she must be sick.
- "Have to" is used to express necessity in all tenses followed by an infinitive.
- Justine and Kyle have to study tonight.
- She had to take the exam.
- It is possible to form a negative sentence with to have by placing not after the verb.
- April has not anything to give.
- Dorothy hasn't a peso.
- When to have is use together with an infinitive to express necessity, the tense caries do, does, and did. They are uses to form all negatives and questions.
- You do not have to do it.
- Do I have to do it?
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Key Takeaways
- Voice indicates whether the subject of a sentence acts or receives the action.
- Active voice is preferred for directness and clarity, whereas passive voice is used when the action's recipient or result is more important than the doer.
- Verb moods (indicative, imperative, and subjunctive) express facts, commands, requests, wishes, or doubts.
- English modals like can, could, may, might, should, and must convey abilities, permissions, possibilities, and obligations.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding by writing answers to the following prompts in the comments below:
- Transform the active sentence "Shakespeare wrote the play" into the passive voice.
- Create a sentence using the modal auxiliary verb must to express strong necessity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
In the active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb. In the passive voice, the subject receives the action performed by someone or something else.
When should you use the subjunctive mood?
The subjunctive mood is used to express a wish, command, doubt, or a statement contrary to fact, often omitting the standard "s" ending in the third-person singular present tense.
How are English modal verbs used?
Modal verbs function as auxiliary verbs to express specific meanings such as ability, permission, possibility, necessity, obligation, or probability.