Fill In The Blanks With The Given Passive Form Of The Mentioned Verb:(a) The Criminals _ (punish) By The Judge. (Simple Present)(b) Food _ (eat) By The Dog. (Past Continuous)

Mar 8, 2025 by ADMIN 187 views

Fill in the Blanks: Using Passive Voice in English

Understanding Passive Voice

Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the recipient of the action (the object) becomes the subject of the sentence, while the doer of the action (the subject) is relegated to a secondary position or is omitted altogether. In this article, we will explore how to use passive voice in English, focusing on the simple present and past continuous tenses.

(a) The Simple Present: "The criminals _______ (punish) by the judge."

In the simple present tense, the passive voice is formed using the auxiliary verb "is" or "are" followed by the past participle of the main verb. In this case, the main verb is "punish," and its past participle is "punished." Therefore, the correct answer is:

The criminals are punished by the judge.

However, if we want to use the passive voice in the simple present tense, we need to use the present participle "punishing" instead of the past participle "punished." This is because the simple present tense is used to describe general truths, habits, or routines, and the present participle is used to describe ongoing or continuous actions.

The criminals are being punished by the judge.

(b) The Past Continuous: "Food _______ (eat) by the dog."

In the past continuous tense, the passive voice is formed using the auxiliary verb "was" or "were" followed by the past participle of the main verb. In this case, the main verb is "eat," and its past participle is "eaten." Therefore, the correct answer is:

Food was eaten by the dog.

However, if we want to use the passive voice in the past continuous tense, we need to use the present participle "eating" instead of the past participle "eaten." This is because the past continuous tense is used to describe actions that were in progress at a specific point in the past, and the present participle is used to describe ongoing or continuous actions.

Food was being eaten by the dog.

Examples of Passive Voice in the Simple Present and Past Continuous Tenses

Here are some more examples of passive voice in the simple present and past continuous tenses:

Simple Present:

The flowers are being watered by the gardener.
The baby is being fed by the nurse.
The company is being run by a team of experienced managers.

Past Continuous:

The door was being locked by the security guard.
The cake was being eaten by the guests.
The car was being driven by the speeding driver.

Tips for Using Passive Voice

Here are some tips for using passive voice in English:

Use the passive voice to emphasize the action rather than the doer of the action.
Use the passive voice to describe situations where the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant.
Use the passive voice to create a more formal or objective tone.
Use the passive voice to avoid using the first person singular pronoun "I" or the second person singular pronoun "you."

Conclusion

In conclusion, passive voice is a useful grammatical construction in English that can be used to create a more formal or objective tone, to emphasize the action rather than the doer of the action, and to describe situations where the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant. By understanding how to use passive voice in the simple present and past continuous tenses, you can improve your English language skills and communicate more effectively with others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about passive voice:

What is the difference between active and passive voice? Active voice is a grammatical construction in which the doer of the action (the subject) performs the action, while the passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the recipient of the action (the object) becomes the subject of the sentence.
When should I use passive voice? You should use passive voice when you want to emphasize the action rather than the doer of the action, when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant, or when you want to create a more formal or objective tone.
How do I form the passive voice in the simple present tense? To form the passive voice in the simple present tense, use the auxiliary verb "is" or "are" followed by the present participle of the main verb.
How do I form the passive voice in the past continuous tense? To form the passive voice in the past continuous tense, use the auxiliary verb "was" or "were" followed by the present participle of the main verb.

References

Here are some references for further reading on passive voice:

"The Oxford English Grammar" by Sidney Greenbaum
"The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language" by Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey Pullum
"The English Language" by Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum

Note: The references provided are for further reading and are not included in the word count.
Passive Voice Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Understanding Passive Voice

Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the recipient of the action (the object) becomes the subject of the sentence, while the doer of the action (the subject) is relegated to a secondary position or is omitted altogether. In this article, we will explore some frequently asked questions about passive voice and provide answers to help you better understand this grammatical construction.

Q1: What is the difference between active and passive voice?

A1: Active voice is a grammatical construction in which the doer of the action (the subject) performs the action, while the passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the recipient of the action (the object) becomes the subject of the sentence. For example:

Active voice: The teacher writes the exam. (The teacher is the doer of the action.)
Passive voice: The exam is written by the teacher. (The exam is the recipient of the action.)

Q2: When should I use passive voice?

A2: You should use passive voice when you want to emphasize the action rather than the doer of the action, when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant, or when you want to create a more formal or objective tone. For example:

Emphasizing the action: The new policy has been implemented. (The focus is on the action of implementing the policy.)
Unknown or unimportant doer: The windows were broken. (The doer of the action is unknown or unimportant.)
Formal or objective tone: The report was written by a team of experts. (The focus is on the report rather than the team of experts.)

Q3: How do I form the passive voice in the simple present tense?

A3: To form the passive voice in the simple present tense, use the auxiliary verb "is" or "are" followed by the present participle of the main verb. For example:

Simple present tense: The flowers are being watered. (The auxiliary verb "are" is used with the present participle "watering".)

Q4: How do I form the passive voice in the past continuous tense?

A4: To form the passive voice in the past continuous tense, use the auxiliary verb "was" or "were" followed by the present participle of the main verb. For example:

Past continuous tense: The door was being locked. (The auxiliary verb "was" is used with the present participle "locking".)

Q5: Can I use passive voice in all tenses?

A5: Yes, you can use passive voice in all tenses, including the present simple, present continuous, past simple, past continuous, future simple, and future continuous. For example:

Present simple: The baby is being fed. (The auxiliary verb "is" is used with the present participle "feeding".)
Present continuous: The cake is being eaten. (The auxiliary verb "is" is used with the present participle "eating".)
Past simple: The door was locked. (The auxiliary verb "was" is used with the past participle "locked".)
Past continuous: The car was being driven. (The auxiliary verb "was" is used with the present participle "driving".)
Future simple: The exam will be written. (The auxiliary verb "will be" is used with the past participle "written".)
Future continuous: The report will be being written. (The auxiliary verb "will be" is used with the present participle "writing".)

Q6: Can I use passive voice with all types of verbs?

A6: Yes, you can use passive voice with all types of verbs, including regular and irregular verbs. For example:

Regular verb: The flowers are being watered. (The auxiliary verb "are" is used with the present participle "watering".)
Irregular verb: The cake was eaten. (The auxiliary verb "was" is used with the past participle "eaten".)

Q7: Can I use passive voice in all types of sentences?

A7: Yes, you can use passive voice in all types of sentences, including declarative, interrogative, and imperative sentences. For example:

Declarative sentence: The exam is being written. (The sentence is stating a fact.)
Interrogative sentence: Is the report being written? (The sentence is asking a question.)
Imperative sentence: Let the exam be written. (The sentence is giving a command.)

Q8: Can I use passive voice in formal writing?

A8: Yes, you can use passive voice in formal writing, such as academic papers, business reports, and technical documents. However, it's generally recommended to use active voice in formal writing to create a more engaging and dynamic tone.

Q9: Can I use passive voice in informal writing?

A9: Yes, you can use passive voice in informal writing, such as social media posts, text messages, and emails. However, it's generally recommended to use active voice in informal writing to create a more conversational and engaging tone.

Q10: Can I use passive voice in spoken language?

A10: Yes, you can use passive voice in spoken language, such as in conversations, presentations, and speeches. However, it's generally recommended to use active voice in spoken language to create a more engaging and dynamic tone.

Conclusion

In conclusion, passive voice is a useful grammatical construction in English that can be used to create a more formal or objective tone, to emphasize the action rather than the doer of the action, and to describe situations where the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant. By understanding how to use passive voice in different tenses, with different types of verbs, and in different types of sentences, you can improve your English language skills and communicate more effectively with others.

References

Here are some references for further reading on passive voice:

"The Oxford English Grammar" by Sidney Greenbaum
"The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language" by Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey Pullum
"The English Language" by Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum

Note: The references provided are for further reading and are not included in the word count.