Active/Passive Voice

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The Transition Logic (Focus Shift)

The fundamental rule: Object of the Active sentence becomes the Subject of the Passive sentence.
- Active: Subject + Verb + Object
- Passive: New Subject (Object) + Be + V3 + by + New Agent (Subject)

Example:

Q: Ram (S) killed (V) Ravan (O).

Solution: Logic: 'Ravan' moves to the front. 'Killed' is V2, so we use 'was/were'.
Passive: *Ravan was killed by Ram.*

The Tense Stability Rule

Crucial Hack: NEVER change the Tense.
- Simple: Adds 'Be' form (is/am/are/was/were).
- Continuous: Adds 'being'.
- Perfect: Adds 'been'.
- Modals: Add 'be'.

Example:

Q: She is making tea.

Solution: Logic: 'Is making' is Continuous. We need 'is being made'.
Verdict: *Tea is being made by her.*

Interrogative (Question) Logic

Questions stay as questions in Passive.
- Do/Does/Did are replaced by Is/Am/Are/Was/Were.
- Who changes to By whom.
- Whom changes to Who.

Example:

Q: Who wrote this book?

Solution: Logic: 'Who' -> 'By whom'. 'Wrote' (V2) -> 'was written'.
Verdict: *By whom was this book written?*

Imperative (Orders/Advice) Logic

Orders: Let + Obj + be + V3.
- Advice: Subject + should + be + V3.
- Request: You are requested to + V1.

Example:

Q: Help the poor.

Solution: Logic: This is advice.
Verdict: *The poor should be helped.*

Double Object Strategy

If a sentence has two objects (Direct and Indirect), either can become the subject.
- Usually, the Person (Indirect Object) is preferred as the new subject.

Example:

Q: He gave me a pen.

Solution: Logic (Option 1): *I was given a pen by him.*
Logic (Option 2): *A pen was given to me by him.*

Prepositional & Phrasal Verbs

Never drop the preposition that is attached to a verb.
- Look at -> Looked at
- Laugh at -> Laughed at
- Break into -> Broken into

Example:

Q: They laughed at the beggar.

Solution: Logic: 'Laughed at' must stay together.
Verdict: *The beggar was laughed at by them.*

Infinitives (To + V1)

The pattern 'To + V1' changes to 'To + be + V3'.
Used in 'It is time' or 'There is' structures.

Example:

Q: It is time to close the shop.

Solution: Logic: 'To close' -> 'To be closed'.
Verdict: *It is time for the shop to be closed.*

Quasi-Passive Verbs

Verbs like Taste, Smell, Feel describe a quality.
Rule: Subject + is + Adjective + when + it + is + V3.

Example:

Q: Quinine tastes bitter.

Solution: Verdict: *Quinine is bitter when it is tasted.*