Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject receives the action rather than performing it. It is formed using a form of the verb 'to be' plus the past participle of the main verb. Understanding and correctly applying the passive voice is crucial for clear and concise communication, particularly in formal writing like that required for the UPSC examination. The given sentence, "She with a baby girl last week," requires transformation into the passive voice, incorporating the verb 'bless' appropriately.
The original sentence, "She with a baby girl last week," is incomplete and grammatically awkward. A more complete and sensible sentence would be, "She was blessed with a baby girl last week." Transforming this into the passive voice requires careful consideration.
Understanding Passive Voice Construction
The general structure of the passive voice is: Subject + be + past participle + (by + agent). The 'agent' (the one performing the action) is often omitted when it's unknown or unimportant.
Transformation Process
In this case, the action is 'blessing'. The original implied subject performing the action is not explicitly stated, suggesting a divine or natural occurrence. Therefore, the 'by + agent' part is typically omitted. The sentence can be transformed as follows:
- Identify the verb: 'bless'
- Past Participle: 'blessed'
- Auxiliary Verb: 'was' (since the original sentence implies past tense)
Corrected Passive Voice Sentence
The correct passive voice sentence is: "A baby girl was blessed to her last week." However, this sounds unnatural. A more natural phrasing, while still maintaining the passive voice, is: "She was blessed with a baby girl last week." This is the most appropriate and grammatically correct passive voice construction for the given context.
Alternative Phrasings and Considerations
While the above is the most accurate transformation, it's important to note that the original sentence is poorly constructed. A more natural active voice sentence would be: "She had a baby girl last week." or "She was delivered of a baby girl last week." The passive voice is often used when the actor is unknown or unimportant, or when the focus is on the action itself. In this case, the focus is on the blessing received.
Example of Incorrect Passive Voice
An incorrect attempt might be: "A baby girl blessed her last week." This reverses the roles and implies the baby girl performed the action of blessing, which is illogical.
Conclusion
In conclusion, transforming the incomplete sentence into the passive voice requires understanding the rules of passive voice construction and applying them correctly. While the original sentence is flawed, the most appropriate passive voice rendition is "She was blessed with a baby girl last week." This demonstrates a clear grasp of grammatical principles and the ability to construct coherent and meaningful sentences. The exercise highlights the importance of both grammatical accuracy and natural language flow.
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.