Chapter 3: ACTIVE and PASSIVE VOICE
A VERB is a word used to describe an action.
When a verb is ACTIVE, the subject of the sentence is doing something.
Example:
Anita kicked the rusty can. ← Anita is the subject, she is the one who does something to the can.
When a verb is PASSIVE, something is done to the subject of the sentence.
Example:
The rusty can was kicked by Anita. ← This version shows that the can is the subject, and what was done to it.
THINK:
If the verb is active, a sentence is in ACTIVE VOICE. Active voice is clear and direct.
(Example: "Se-jeon listened to the podcast." ← ACTIVE VOICE)
If the verb is in passive, a sentence is in PASSIVE VOICE. Passive voice is often wordy and not as direct.
(Example: "The podcast was listened to by Se-jeon." ← PASSIVE VOICE)
Think of PASSIVE and ACTIVE as a kind of switch in the sentence. We would make the original subject the object, and the original object the subject.
One verb can have different forms, called a TENSE. Verb tenses show when the action in a sentence takes place.
Verbs in PAST TENSE express an action that has already happened.
Example:
I helped my teacher take attendance this morning.
|||||↑|||| past
Verbs in PRESENT TENSE express an action that is currently happening.
Example:
I help my teacher take attendance every day.
|||||↑||||| present
Verbs in FUTURE TENSE express an cation that has not happened yet.
Example:
I will help my teacher take attendance after the bell.
||||↑|||| future
Verbs can be passive or active in all tenses.
| ACTIVE | PASSIVE |
| PAST | Meixin closed the locker. | The locker was closed by Meixin |
| PRESENT | Meixin closes the locker | The locker is closed by Meixin |
| FUTURE | Meixin will close the locker | The locker will be closed by Meixin |
TO MAKE A VERB PASSIVE, ADD A FORM THE VERB "TO BE", SUCH AS IS, WAS, OR WILL BE.
QUICKIES FOR KOREANS
Okay, let's talk about proper speech. If you'd like to describe what you do, make sure to put 'a' if it's an object, and 'an' if it comes before a vowel. (A, E, I, O ,U). Let's say i'm describing to my friend Max about what I do on Saturdays, and i say: "I read book." That's not proper!! Since a book is a physical object, (physical means I can touch it. Pronounced: Fi-zi-kul) that means I have to say "A book." Because I could mean multiple books or just one! Max has no way of knowing if I can't describe.
TIPS FOR USING ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE:
1. Using active voice is usually better than using passive voice.
Active voice is more clear and direct.
2. Don't shift from active to passive (or vice versa!) in the same sentence. Keep your verb voices consistent.
Examples:
❌ When Ollie listened to his walkie-talkie, strange voices were heard. (This doesn't work since "listened" is an active voice and 'were heard' is passive.)
❌ When the walkie-talkie was listened to, strange voices were heard. (The voices match! But passive voice makes the sentence awkward...)
✔ When Ollie listened to his walkie-talkie, he heard strange voices. (Voices match and the sentence is strong!)
CONGRATULATIONS!! You finished Chapter 3! Take notes! (일단 안녕!)
|
|
