INTRODUCTION
Voice is a grammatical term which is used to tell whether the subject is the one performing or receiving the action of the verb. When the subject is performing the action of the verb, we say that the verb is in the active voice; when the verb suffers the effect of the action performed by the verb, we say that the verb is in the passive voice. If you keep the terms: performer and sufferer which some writers refer to as doer and receiver (cf Semmelmeyer and Bolander1984,) in mind, you will find it easy to understand what voice means.
3.1 Active and Passive Voice
We have already seen that when the subject is performing the action of the verb, we say that the verb is in the active voice; when the verb suffers the effect of the action performed by the verb, we say that the verb is in the passive voice. Examine the following sentences carefully and note the changes in the form of the verb.
1. The mechanic repaired the car
(The mechanic performs the action; the doer)
2. The car was repaired by the mechanic
(The car suffers the effect of repairing - the receiver)
In the first sentence the subject is the mechanic. He performs the action of repairing while car is the object and suffers or receives the action. In grammar, we say that the verb in this sentence is in the active voice because the subject is the doer; that is, performing the action of repairing, and the car is the sufferer or receiver. The second sentence is written in the reverse order; the subject now becomes the receiver of the action instead of the doer. To express this idea, another verb form was repaired was used. What happened to the mechanic the performer? The mechanic is still in the sentence but is now in a phrase introduced by the preposition by. The verb, was repaired is in the passive voice because it presents the subject of the sentence as the receiver of the action. In other words, the subject is not active, but passive. The doer or actor now appears in aphrase but is introduced by the preposition by.
Note that a verb in the passive voice is usually a verb phrase NOT a simple verb. In the sentence:
3. Our car was repaired yesterday.
The verb was repaired is in the passive voice. The subject is the sufferer of the action. When a verb is in the passive voice, the performer is sometimes omitted. Sometimes the performer of the action is unknown and since the performer is unknown the prepositional phrase is omitted. Sometimes the performer is so obvious that it is not necessary to include the prepositional phrase.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1
Examine the following sentences. Which of them are in the passive voice?
1. The strangers stole our car.
2. Our car was stolen by the strangers.
3. The thieves were arrested by the police.
4. The police charged the thieves to court.
5. They were sentenced to three years imprisonment by the magistrate.
3.1.1 Formation of Passive Voice
An idea cannot be expressed in the passive voice without using an auxiliary or helping verb. The verb to be is the auxiliary verb that is used to help form the six tenses of the passive voice. If you are familiar with the forms of the verb to be, you will have no difficulty in forming the passive of any verb that takes an object.
The passive voice is formed by combining the verb to be with the past participle of the principal verb. The principal verb is the verb that names the action. The verb was repaired in the sentence: The car was repaired by the mechanic is made up of the auxiliary verb, was, which is a form of the verb to be and the past participle of the principal verb repair which is repaired. The verb phrase is was repaired. It is a verb phrase in the passive voice. The verb phrases in the following sentences are in the passive voice:
1. The decision will be taken by the governor.
2. Coloured bulbs have been fixed in the recreation park.
The verb in the first sentence is will be taken. It is made up of the auxiliary will be which is a form of the verb to be and the past participle of the verb take which is taken. The verb in the second sentence is have been fixed. It is made up of the auxiliary verb have been which is a form of the verb to be and the past participle of the verb fix which is fixed.
In the following table, the present, past and future tenses of the regular verb ‘call’ and the irregular verb ‘go’ are shown in the active and passive voices:
Three Tenses of the Verb ‘Call’
ACTIVE
PASSIVE
PRESENT TENSE
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
I call
We call
I am called
We are called
You call
You call
You are called
You are called
He/she/it calls
They call
He/she/it is called
They are called
PAST TENSE
I called
We called
I was called
We were called
You called
You called
You were called
You were called
He/she/ it called
They called
He was called
They were called
FUTURE TENSE
I shall call
We shall call
I shall be called
We shall be called
You will call
You will call
You will be called
You will be called
He/she/ it will call
They will call
He will be called
They will be called
Three Tenses of the Verb ‘Go’
ACTIVE
PASSIVE
PRESENT TENSE
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
I go
We go
I am gone
We are gone
You go
You go
You are gone
We are gone
He/she/it goes
They go
He/she/it is gone
They are gone
PAST TENSE
I went
We went
I was gone
We were gone
You went
You went
You were gone
You were gone
He/she/ it went
They went
He was gone
They were gone
FUTURE TENSE
I shall go
We shall go
I shall be gone
We shall begone
You will go
You will go
You will be gone
You will be gone
He/she/ it will go
They will go
He/she/it will be gone
They will be gone
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2
Following the example above give the active and passive forms in three tenses of any verb of your choice.
3.1.2 Use of the Passive
The question that naturally arises is which form is better? Is it the active voice where the subject is the performer or the passive voice where the subject is the sufferer of the action? The answer is that the active is the better form in most cases. Wherever the active voice is possible both in speech and writing, the passive should not be used because the active voice is direct and more natural. Examine the following examples:
3. We enjoyed the party (active voice)
4. The party was enjoyed by us (passive voice)
5. I sent the letter by courier (active voice)
6. The letter was sent by me by courier (passive voice)
Clearly, the active form is more natural and direct and therefore preferable.
Generally, the active voice is preferable for business writing and for any other form of writing that requires the direct approach. The use of the active renders your speech and writing more vivid. Verbs in the active voice are often used in newspaper headlines because they are more vivid and economical in space. The following headlines are in the active voice:
7. Nigeria controls the flood of refugees.
8. Green Eagles captured the gold medal in the African Cup of Nations.
9. Government sends aid to disaster victims.
The above sentences would lose their vividness if written in the passive voice.
The passive voice is generally used when the subject is indefinite, general or unimportant. In the sentence:
10. They refine oil in Port Harcourt.
The subject in the above sentence is so general that it is not clear what ‘They’ refers to whether to the oil workers, or the government or the companies. If the sentence is put in the passive voice, it becomes clearer.
The passive voice is also used when the action that was performed is
more important than the performer of the action. Examine the following:
14. The Tempest was written by William Shakespeare (passive)
Here, the important thing is the writing of the play not on the writer.
But if you want to emphasise the writer rather than the play, put the verb in the active voice thus.
15. William Shakespeare wrote The Tempest.
The passive voice is generally used to emphasise the sufferer rather than the performer of the action but in the majority of cases the active voice is more effective than the passive voice.
3.2 Mood of Verbs
In addition to tense and voice, verbs also have a third property called mood. The word mood comes from a Latin word which means manner. When applied to verbs mood refers to the manner in which the verb expresses the action or state of being.
There are three moods in English: the indicative mood; the imperative mood and the subjunctive mood. The indicative mood is used to make statements and to ask questions. Most of the verbs that you use everyday are in the indicative mood.
13. The secretary wrote the minutes of the meeting. (statement)
14. Have you received the e-mail I sent yesterday? (Question)
The imperative mood is used to make a request or give a command. Note that the imperative mood occurs only in the second person and present tense. The subject is always the pronoun ‘you’ which is hardly ever expressed.
15. Keep quiet at once. (command)
16. Give me your pen, please (request)
The subjunctive mood is used to express a wish or an unreal condition (a condition which is contrary to fact). By an unreal or contrary to fact condition, we mean a condition that is not true or possible in the real world. An unreal or contrary to fact condition is usually introduced by if or as if.
17. If I were a millionaire I would pay fees for intelligent but poor students.
18. I wish my father were alive.
The indicative and imperative moods do not present much problems in English. The same form of the verb is used to ask a question or make a statement. The imperative mood can be easily identified because the subject is you, which is usually understood. The imperative mood always expresses a command or a request.
Although most of the forms of the subjunctive have disappeared from modern English, there are a few forms that you can still recognize. The verb to be has retained more forms of the subjunctive than any other verb. Compare the following indicative and subjunctive forms of the verb to be:
Indicative and Subjunctive Forms of the Verb ‘to be’
INDICATIVE MOOD
SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD
PRESENT TENSE
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
I am
We are
(If) I be
(If) we be
You are
You are
(If) you be
(If) you be
He/she/it is
They are
(If) he/she/it be
(If) they be
PAST TENSE – SINGULAR
I was
(If) I were
You were
(If) You were
He/she/it was
(If) He were
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE – SINGULAR
I have been
(If) I have been
You have been
(If) You have been
He/she it/ has been
(If) He/she/it have been
Adapted from Semmelmeyer and Bolander, (1984, p 172)
The subjunctive with ‘be’ (present) is seldom ever used in informal speech or writing. The subjunctive form, have been instead of has been is also passing out of use. In the above table, the forms of the subjunctive that are different from the indicative are italicised; that is, be in the present tense; were in the past tense, first person singular; and third person singular; have in the present perfect tense, third person, singular. There is only one change that occurs in the subjunctive in the case of other verbs. In the present tense third person, singular the s is dropped in the subjunctive.
The verb have has only one form in the subjunctive which is different from the indicative. In the present tense, third person, singular, have is used instead of has. Examine the following:
19. If she have the time, she will come. (subjunctive)
20. She has the time and she will come. (indicative)
Note also, the following:
21. If he run --- (not runs)
22. If she win --- (not wins)
23. If it rain --- (not rains
24. If it find --- (not finds)
25. If she pass--- (not passes)
Note also that the word if is not part of the subjunctive. The group of words in which the subjunctive is used is very frequently introduced by if, that is why the forms for the subjunctive are usually given with the word if.
Although the subjunctive mood is passing out of use in informal speech and writing, certain uses are still maintained by careful speakers and writers. The subjunctive expressing a wish and the subjunctive in an unreal or contrary to fact condition are two of these uses.
Use of the Subjunctive
As already suggested above, careful speakers and writers use the subjunctive to express a wish, an unreal or contrary to fact condition (not true) and a condition of uncertainty (which may be true or not). Sometimes, the subjunctive is also used for making a suggestion, in making a demand, or in expressing a need.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 3
Identify the use of the subjunctive in the following:
1. I wish I were a butterfly.
2. If I were you I would give up my place for my sister.
3. If the strike fails, we shall all resign.
4. I suggest that you study full time next session.
5. The judge insists that the plaintiff prove his case convincingly.
6. It is imperative that we start the meeting now.
The subjunctive is also used in certain parliamentary expressions such as:
•I move that the nomination be closed.
•He moved that the minutes be adopted.
•I move that the meeting be adjourned.
•She moved that the report of the committee be adopted.
The two most important uses of the subjunctive however are: the subjunctive expressing a wish and the subjunctive expressing an unreal or contrary to fact condition after as, as if and as though.
4.0 CONCLUSION
Voice and mood, like tense and aspect are important properties of the English verb which you need to learn and use appropriately so as to produce structurally correct English sentences. Note that your understanding of voice and mood depends on a prior understanding of tense and aspect.
5.0 SUMMARY
In this unit, you have learnt the following:
•Voice is the property of a verb which indicates whether the subject is performing or suffering the effect (receiving) the action expressed by the verb.
•There are two voices in English: active voice and passive voice.
•A verb is in the active voice when it presents the subject as performing the action.
•A verb is in the passive voice when it presents the subject as receiving or suffering the effect of the action.
•The passive voice is formed by combining some form of the verb to be with the past participle of the verb that expresses the action.
•Mood indicates the manner in which the action or state of being is expressed.
•There are three moods in English; the indicative, the imperative and the subjunctive.
•The indicative mood is used to make a statement or ask a question.
•The imperative mood is used to give a command or make a request.
•The subjunctive mood is used to make a wish, express doubt, uncertainty or unreal condition.
•Though the subjunctive is passing out of use in informal speech or writing, certain uses of the subjunctive are still observed by careful speakers or writers.
ANSWER TO SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1
Examine the following sentences. Which of them are in the passive voice?
1. The strangers stole our car.
2. Our car was stolen by the strangers.
3. The thieves were arrested by the police.
4. The police charged the thieves to court.
5. They were sentenced to three years imprisonment by the magistrate.
The italicized sentences (b, c, and e) are in the passive voice
ANSWER TO SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2
Following the example above give the active and passive forms in three tenses of any verb of your choice
Candidates are to choose any verb and give the passive forms in three tenses as in the following:
ACTIVE
PASSIVE
PRESENT TENSE
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
I call
We call
I am called
We are called
You call
You call
You are called
You are called
He/she/it calls
They call
He/she/it is called
They are called
PAST TENSE
I called
We called
I was called
We were called
You called
You called
You were called
You were called
He/she/ it called
They called
He was called
They were called
FUTURE TENSE
I shall call
We shall call
I shall be called
We shall be called
You will call
You will call
You will be called
You will be called
He/she/ it will call
They will call
He will be called
They will be called
ANSWER TO SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 3
Determine the use of the subjunctive in the following:
1. I wish I were a butterfly.(expresses a wish)
If I were you I would give up my place for my sister. (Unreal situation)
2. If the strike fail, we shall all resign.(condition of uncertainty)
3. I suggest that you study full time next session.(making a suggestion)
4. The judge insists that the plaintiff prove his case convincingly. (making a demand)
5. It is imperative that we start the meeting now.(expressing a need)
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
Discuss and illustrate the uses of the passive voice and the subjunctive mood.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS
Eka, D. (1994). Elements of Grammar and Mechanics of the English Language. Uyo: Samuf Educational.
Quirk, P. and Greenbaum, S. (1975). A University Grammar of English. London: Longman.
Semmelmeyer, M. and Bolander, D. (1984). Instant English Handbook. Illinois: Career Publishing Inc.
Strang, B. H. M. (1970). Modern English Structure (2nd ed.). Edward London: Arnold.
Udofot, I. and Ekpenyong, B. (2004). A Comprehensive English Course for Schools and Colleges. Lagos: Quantum Co. Lt
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