This section of English grammar deals exclusively with one of the most famous and important part called ACTIVE VOICE. You can find passive voice and the rules to convert from active voice to passive voice and vice versa in other sections. So the concept of active voice completely revolves around the usage of verbs and subject in a sentence, wherein the order in which they must be used will also matter. So let’s dive deeper into the topic for a better understanding
What is an Active Voice in Grammar ?
In an English sentence the verb describes an action, where the subject performs it in a simple way. To be precise the relationship between the subject and the verb is simple and straightforward.
Study the following sentence to understand the concept.
- She writes short stories
In the first sentence, for the verb “writes” there is a subject “short stories.” So here, the verb is pertaining to the subject present in the sentence.
Now, let’s see the examples of active voice in a more closer picture according to tenses and different sentence types. Learn the rules you should be using to write the sentences in active voice and make sure you use the verb form carefully (i.e according to tense) .
Assertive Sentences and Active Voice forms for Different Tenses
Most of the sentence in English grammar are an example of assertive sentences meaning it shows or asserts a statement, opinion, event or anything. This is called an assertive sentence. In the following section we will look at different form assertive sentences take in their active voice form with respect to its tense.
1.SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Formula : (Subject + Present tense of the verb + Object)
EXAMPLES
- I / teach / English
- She writes novels
- He speaks Spanish
(Note: The usage of object will be understood when you convert active voice into passive voice)
2.PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Formula : (Subject + am / is / are + ‘ing’ form of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- I am teaching English
- She is writing novel
- He is reading book
3.PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
Formula : (Subject + have / has + past participle of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- I have taught French
- She has written many articles
- He has written a novel
4.PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
(Note: A Present Perfect Continuous Tense can’t be converted into passive voice)
5.SIMPLE PAST TENSE
Formula : (Subject + past tense of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- I taught English
- She wrote a novel
- He read the book.
6.PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Formula : (Subject + was / were + ‘ing’ form of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- I was teaching English
- She was writing novels
- He was reading a story
7.PAST PERFECT TENSE
Formula : (Subject + had + past participle of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- I had taught English
- She had written novels
- He had read the story
8.PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Formula : (Subject + had been + ‘ing’ form of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- I had been writing the novel.
(Note: A sentence in Past Perfect Continuous Tense can’t be converted from active voice to passive voice)
9.SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
Formula : (Subject + will / shall + present tense of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- I shall teach English
- She shall write novels
- He will read stories
10.FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE
Formula : (Subject + will be / shall be + ‘ing’ form of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- She will be reading the novel
- I will be teaching English
(Note: A sentence in Future Continuous Tense can’t be converted into passive voice)
11.FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
Formula : (Subject + will have / shall have + past participle of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- I shall have taught English
- She will have written novels
12.FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Formula : (Subject + will have been / shall have been + ‘ing’ form of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- She will have been teaching English
Active Voice form of Interrogative Sentences for Different Tenses
Now let’s see the forms of active voice in case of interrogative sentences with respect to tense. Interrogative sentences are those which tend to seek information by questioning. So the sentence starts with a question form.
1.SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Formula : (Who + Present tense of the verb + Object)
EXAMPLES
- Who creates the novel?
- Who teaches you?
2.PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Formula :(Who + / is / are + ‘ing’ form of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- Who is writing this novel?
- Who is teaching you?
3.PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
Formula : (Who + / has + past participle of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- Who has written the novels?
- Who has taught you?
4.SIMPLE PAST TENSE
Formula : (Who + past tense of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- Who wrote this novel?
- Who taught you?
5.PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Formula : (Who + was / were + ‘ing’ form of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- Who was writing this novel?
- Who was teaching you?
6.PAST PERFECT TENSE
Formula : (Who + had + past participle of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- Who had written this novel?
- Who had taught you?
7.SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE
Formula : (Who + will / shall + present tense of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- Who will write this novel?
- Who will teach you?
8.FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
Formula : (Who + will have / shall have + past participle of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- Who will have written this novel?
- Who will have won the prize?
SENTENCES WITH TWO OBJECTS
You can actually find the importance of this when you convert active voice to passive. But just understand the skeleton in active voice as of now and the rule. Any sentence which consists of two objects then they must interchange their places accordingly when converting into passive voice. You further find this in rules to convert active to passive voice section.
EXAMPLES
- She gave him a book.
- He taught us English.
Active Voice Form of Imperative Sentences
The sentences are said to be imperative if they’re stated in in general.
Active Voice Formula : (Present Tense of the verb + object)
EXAMPLES
- Write a letter of apology
- Shut the door.
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