Question 29 | UPSC Mains ENGLISH-COMPULSORY 2015

My pocket has been picked. (Change into active voice)

How to Approach

This question tests the understanding of voice – active and passive – in English grammar. The approach involves identifying the subject and object in the passive sentence and then restructuring it to make the subject perform the action directly. The answer should clearly demonstrate the transformation, maintaining the original meaning. It’s a straightforward grammatical exercise requiring precise application of rules.

Model Answer

0 min read

Introduction

Voice in grammar refers to the form of a verb that indicates whether the subject performs the action or is acted upon. The passive voice emphasizes the action and the receiver of the action, often obscuring the actor. Conversely, the active voice highlights the actor and their direct involvement in the action. Transforming sentences from passive to active voice is a fundamental skill in effective communication, ensuring clarity and directness. This exercise aims to demonstrate that understanding by converting the given passive sentence into its active equivalent.

The given sentence, "My pocket has been picked," is in the passive voice. To convert it to the active voice, we need to identify the actor and make them the subject of the sentence.

Identifying the Elements

In the passive sentence:

Subject: My pocket
Verb: has been picked (passive form of 'pick')
Implied Agent: Someone (the person who picked the pocket)

Transformation to Active Voice

To form the active voice, we need to:

Make the implied agent the subject. Since the agent is unknown, we can use "Someone" or "A thief".
Change the verb to the active voice. "Picked" is the past participle of "pick", and we need to use the present perfect tense to match the original sentence's tense.
Make "My pocket" the object of the verb.

The Active Voice Sentence

Therefore, the active voice equivalent of "My pocket has been picked" is:

"Someone has picked my pocket." or "A thief has picked my pocket."

Explanation of the Change

The active voice sentence clearly states who performed the action (someone/a thief) and what they did (picked my pocket). This is a more direct and concise way of expressing the same information as the passive sentence. The use of "has picked" maintains the present perfect tense, indicating an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past and has relevance to the present.

Alternative Active Voice Constructions

While "Someone has picked my pocket" is the most straightforward conversion, other active voice constructions are possible, depending on the context. For example, if the speaker has a suspect in mind, they might say: "John has picked my pocket." However, without specific information, "Someone" or "A thief" are the most appropriate choices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, transforming the passive sentence "My pocket has been picked" into the active voice results in "Someone has picked my pocket" or "A thief has picked my pocket." This conversion demonstrates a clear understanding of grammatical voice and the ability to restructure sentences for greater clarity and directness. The active voice emphasizes the actor, making the sentence more dynamic and informative.

Answer Length

This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.

Additional Resources

Key Definitions

Passive Voice

A grammatical construction where the subject receives the action of the verb, rather than performing it. It is formed using a form of the verb 'to be' plus the past participle of the main verb.

Active Voice

A grammatical construction where the subject performs the action expressed by the verb. It is generally considered more direct and concise than the passive voice.

Key Statistics

Studies suggest that approximately 30-40% of English writing utilizes the passive voice, though effective writing often prioritizes the active voice for clarity.

Source: The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)

Research indicates that readers comprehend active voice sentences 15-20% faster than passive voice sentences.

Source: American Psychological Association Style Manual (as of 2020)

Examples

News Reporting

Passive voice is often used in news reporting to de-emphasize the actor, particularly when the actor is unknown or unimportant. For example, "The bank was robbed" instead of "Robbers robbed the bank."

Scientific Writing

In scientific writing, the passive voice is frequently used to maintain objectivity and focus on the experiment or observation rather than the researcher. For example, "The solution was heated to 100°C" instead of "We heated the solution to 100°C."

Frequently Asked Questions

▶Why is the active voice generally preferred?

The active voice is generally preferred because it is more direct, concise, and easier to understand. It clearly identifies the actor and their action, leading to more effective communication.

▶When is the passive voice appropriate?

The passive voice is appropriate when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the action itself rather than the actor. It's also used to maintain objectivity in certain contexts like scientific writing.