Active and Passive Voice

The voice of the verb describes its relationship with the subject or the object.

If the doer of the action is the subject, the verb is in active voice.

For example: The internet has changed the world.

If the subject is the recipient of the action, the voice is in passive voice. 

For example: The world has been changed by the internet. 

So, there are two ways of talking about an action:

• Laying emphasis on the doer of the action
• Laying emphasis on the result of the action

For example: 

• Harish cleans the desk once a week. (emphasis on doer)
• The desk is cleaned once a week by Harish. (emphasis on the receiver)

There are two types of Passives: Be Passive and Get Passive.

In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action of the verb. So, in the standard be-passive, the sentence becomes, “My favourite car was stolen.” But, in the get-passive, the verb get replaces be. It becomes, “My favourite car got stolen.”

The get-passive has two structures: get + adjective and get + past participle.

•  I am getting thirsty. (get-passive with adjective thirsty)
• I got married last week. (married is the past participle of marry)

However, keep in mind that the get passive is found in informal style and normally in construction without an agent.

Watch the video to learn more about Active and Passive voice.