Verbs: Voice
Active and Passive Voice
Voice is a grammatical term that is used to tell whether the subject
of the sentence is acting or is receiving the action expressed by the verb.
Active voice is to be when the subject is the doer of the action.
*
Chan jumped over the obstacle.
*
Jelly played the guitar.
*
Allen sang 10 songs.
A verb is in the passive voice when the subject does not perform the
action; in the other words, the subject is passive.
*
The house painted by Larry.
The Active voice is the better form to use. Never use the passive voice either in speaking or writing when the active voice would be more natural or more direct.
Passive voice: The play was written by Shakespeare. The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.
Active voice: Shakespeare wrote the play. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
Passive voice can be uses when what was done is more important than the doer of the action.
Moods of Verbs
A.
The indicative mood expresses fact
or asks a question. It is commonly used on our daily conversation.
The student
typed the letter. (Fact)
Where shall we
take our vacation this summer? (Question)
B. The imperative mood expresses a command or a request. It is always used in the present tense.
Please bring my umbrella to the office. (Request) Go away! (Command)
C.
The subjunctive mood is used to express
a wish or a command. Its forms are like the indicative mood with the only
difference in the third person singular of the present tense where the s
ending of the verb is omitted.
Indicative: He talks loud.
Subjunctive: He insists that he talk loud.
For all
persons, the subjunctive form of the verb to be is be:
*
That I be good is my father's wish.
*
That you be silent is the teacher's command.
*
That she be good is what I'm praying for.
The past subjunctive form of the verb to be is “were”.
In statements contrary to fact and statements expressing doubt, this form is
used.
*
If I were a Queen, I would travel a lot.
Subjunctive Forms of the verb "to be"
|
Present tense |
Singular |
Plural |
|
First person |
(If) I be |
(If) we be |
|
Second person |
(If) you be |
(If) you be |
|
Third person |
(If) he be, (If) she be |
(If) they be |
|
|
(If) it be |
|
|
Past tense |
Singular |
|
First person |
(If) I were |
|
Second person |
(If) you were |
|
Third person |
(If) he were, (If) she
were, (If) it were |
|
Past tense |
Singular |
|
First person |
(If) I have been |
|
Second person |
(If) you have been |
|
Third person |
(If) he have been (If) she have been (If) it have been |
English Modals
The modals of English are auxiliary verbs. They express particular meanings.
Can- Could
1. Can has two tenses-
the present tense can and the past tense could.
2.
Can may mean.
A. Ability
*
I can sing
well.
*
Eunice can play the whole day.
B. Possibility
Anyone can lose
much money in gambling.
C. Permission
You can
go to the doctor now.
3.
since can has only two
tenses, the expression "to be able to" is used as a substitute
for all tenses.
4.
Could is used in
the same was as can although could may be used in all negative
sentences in the past.
A. "Could" may be used in positive sentences in the
past only when ability is general or over a period of time is indicated.
Luzviminda could
speak Spanish when she was young.
Fredi could always climb the tallest tree when he was a small boy.
May- Might
A. May
has only two tenses- the non-past tense may and the past tense might. 2. May is used to
express.
A. permission
*
May I leave the
room?
*
You may go.
B. doubt or possibility
*
The bus may arrive late
*
He may come but I doubt it.
C. purpose
They are working on their research so that they may pass the
subject. They are saving now so that they may finance the children's
education.
3. The past tense of
"May" is might, it is used in the same way as may.
*
He said that I might be late.
*
It seems that the plane might be late.
4. May
has a special past tense form, obtained by the use of the auxiliary verb have
and the past participle of the main verb. This is used only to indicate possibility
in the past.
*
Lito may have gone to school or he may
have gone home.
*
Mady may have done the work.
Should- ought
1. Should
and ought followed by an infinitive are used to express a mild form of
duty or obligation.
2. Should
and ought have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably. 3. Should is more common than ought.
*
Students should study harder.
*
You ought to study harder.
4. When
the duty or obligation is in the past, should and ought are
followed by a perfect infinitive, the modal have is used, followed by
the past participle of the verb.
5. The
force of should and ought in the past tense form is nearly
negative, indicating that the duty or obligation was not fulfilled.
*
You should have finished
your book report.
*
You ought to have done
your assignment.
6. Should and ought
are also used to express probability.
*
Your investment should
produce big interest.
*
You ought to graduate next year.
Must- Have to
1.
"Must" has only one form, the
present tense.
2. Must is used to
express the following:
A. Strong necessity
or command
*
You must attend your class.
*
She must work today.
B. Strong probability
*
This bag must be yours: it has your name on it.
*
Yves is absent: she must
be sick.
3. "Have
to" is used to express necessity in all tenses followed by an infinitive.
*
Justine and Kyle have to study tonight.
*
She had to take the exam.
4. It is possible to
form a negative sentence with to have by placing not after the verb.
*
April has not anything to give.
*
Dorothy hasn't a
peso.
5.
When to have is use together
with an infinitive to express necessity, the tense caries do, does, and did.
They are uses to form all negatives and questions.
*
You do not have to do it.
*
Do I have to do it?
Master English Grammar
in 30 Days!
Click to Open the Days ⬇
