In the sentence,

James kicked the football, the subject "James" is acting, and the verb "kicked" is said to be in the active voice. James does the kicking. In the sentence,

The football was kicked by James, the subject "football" is acted upon, and the verb "was kicked" is said to be in the passive voice. The football receives the kicking.

If the subject of a transitive verb is acting, the verb is said to be in the active voice; if the subject is acted upon, the verb is said to be in the passive voice. An intransitive verb (for example, sit, lie), since its subject cannot be acted upon, has no passive voice. The passive voice of a verb is formed by adding the past participle to some form of the verb be.

A verb in the active voice often has both a direct and an indirect object:

My teacher paid me a compliment.

If, in changing such a sentence to the passive voice, the direct object becomes the subject, the indirect object is retained:

A compliment was paid me by my teacher.

If, however, the indirect object becomes the subject, the direct object is retained, and is sometimes called the retained object.

I was paid a compliment by my teacher.

The retained object, unlike the subjective complement, does not refer to the subject. See section 71.

Exercises

234. Explain why the verbs in the following sentences are active or passive (see sect. 84):

1. A passing wagon struck the child. (Active).

2. The child was struck by a passing wagon. (Passive).

3. He carved the box with a knife. (Active).

4. This frame was carved by Edward. (Passive).

285. In the following sentences (1) show whether the verbs are active or passive, and (2) change the voice of each verb. (Note that the object of the active verb usually becomes the subject of the passive).

1. He began this work two years ago.

2. The patient has borne his suffering nobly.

3. Only two dollars was offered me for the picture.

4. My pen was broken by my baby brother.

5. Luncheons are brought to school by nearly two thirds of the boys.

6. The two burglars broke into many offices.

7. Of the two books I chose the "Idylls of the King."

8. He does his work well.

9. Patience works wonders.

10. My mother always gives me a good book on my birthday.

236. Use the following verbs in sentences of your own, writing one sentence to illustrate each voice: write.

lay.

break.

ride.

bear.

spring.

set.

take.

fly.

tear.

run.

do.

237. Use the sentences in Exercise 235 to show that the object of the active verb may become the subject of the passive, and that the subject of the passive verb may become the object of the active.

238. In changing the verbs in the following sentences to the passive voice, retain in each instance the indirect object:

1. James granted them many favors.

2. The teacher told them the story.

3. The guide showed us Longfellow's study.

4. The chairman handed him a report of the meeting.

239. Point out the retained objects in the following sentences:

1. They were granted many favors by James.

2. The class was told the story by the teacher.

3. I was offered two dollars for my sled.

4. He has been lent a large sum of money by my father.

5. James was awarded the prize by the committee.

6. We were shown Longfellow's study by the guide.

7. He was handed a report of the meeting by the chairman.

8. He was given an opportunity to withdraw.