Do these sentences express the same thought? Wherein do they differ? In the first sentence what word is the subject? How is this same word used in the second sentence? What receives the action expressed by the verb in the second sentence? Notice that the object of the first sentence becomes the subject of the second, and the simple verb hit is changed to was hit. This change in the form of a transitive verb helps to give variety of expression, and is called Voice. DEFINITIONS. Voice is the variation in the use and form of a transitive verb that shows whether the subject is the doer or the receiver of the action. The Active Voice represents the subject as the doer of the action. The Passive Voice represents the subject as the receiver of the action. Passive means receiving or enduring. Only transitive verbs have voice. Some intransitive verbs followed by an attribute resemble the passive form; as, He is gone. They are come. Gone and come are here used as attribute complements to denote a condition of the subject, and are not verbs in the passive voice expressing an action received by the subject. These forms are generally used when speaking of inanimate objects; as, The melancholy days are come. The flowers are gone. But they should not, as a rule, be used to predicate anything of sentient beings, when their own volition is to be expressed; as, Our friends have (not are) come. Robert has (not is) gone to school. 94. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE FORMS. When a verb in a sentence is changed from the active to the passive voice, the object of the sentence becomes the subject, and the subject becomes the object of a preposition; as, ACTIVE Voice. 1. The children loved Long fellow. PASSIVE Voice. 2. Longfellow was loved by the children. If the verb has both a direct and an indirect object, the indirect object remains unchanged; as, Sometimes the indirect object is made the subject of the passive verb; as, 3. He was given a chair by the children. In this construction the direct object remains unchanged, and for convenience may be called a Retained Object. The broken line of the diagram shows that it is not a real object. A factitive complement of a verb in the active voice becomes an attribute in the passive voice; as, Since an intransitive verb never has an object, it can not be used in the passive voice. However, an intransitive verb and a preposition may sometimes assume the office of a transitive verb. In this case the object becomes the subject, and the preposition becomes a part of the verb; as, Determine the voice of each verb in the following sentences; rewrite each sentence, changing the verbs in the active voice to the passive and those in the passive to the active: 1. Autumn leaves were gathered by the girls. 2. They gave the teacher the leaves. 3. The dog drew the cart. 4. The child was bitten by the dog. 5. We saw a wild duck. 6. Does the farmer sell corn? 1 Another way of disposing of the active form is the following: 7. The Southern States export cotton. 8. The book was read by the teacher. 9. We were taught French by Miss Stone. 10. French was taught by Miss Stone. II. The man does his work well. 12. Rip Van Winkle entered the house. 13. Did the servant break the vase? 14. The way across the mountains was known by the travelers. 15. The travelers saw the snow-capped Alps in the distance. 16. The American flag was raised by the captain. 17. We informed our friends of our arrival. 22. The Pilgrims settled Boston. 23. The English called these people Puritans. 24. We were elected officers by the society. 25. Whittier wrote many poems against slavery. 26. A breeze sets every leaf in motion. 95. MODE. We use verbs in different ways and give them several forms, in order to show the manner, or mode, in which a thought is asserted. · In the following, note the different forms, or modes, of the verb be used to assert our thoughts about James: 1. James is here. 2. I wish that James were here! 3. James may be here. 4. James, be here to-morrow. The verbs in these sentences show by their forms four different manners of asserting thought. Is asserts it as a fact; were asserts it as contrary to fact (James is not here); may be asserts it as possible; and be expresses it as a command. Not only the form of a verb, but also its use, which is sometimes shown by its position in the sentence, may make known the manner of assertion. We study diligently. Study diligently. The dropping of the sub ject changes the assertion of a fact into a command. DEFINITION. Mode is that form or use of a verb that shows the manner of assertion. Exercise. Study the following sentences and tell whether each verb asserts a thought — (1) as a fact; (2) as a wish or condition implying the contrary to be true; (3) as possible; (4) as a command: 1. Emma studies her lesson. 2. Emma, study your lesson. 3. If Emma be sick (I don't believe she is) she need not study. 4. If Emma is sick (she may be sick) she should not study. 5. Emma can study. 6. Dare to do right. 7. If the earth is round men can sail around it. 8. If the earth be flat men can not sail around it. Bacon. 9. If he have not a friend he may quit the stage. 96. TENSE. I come now. I came yesterday. I shall come to-morrow. Observe that the different forms of the verb come in the above sentences denote an action as taking place at three different times. Which denotes present time? Which denotes past time? Which, future time? |