Understanding Active and Passive Voice

The question asks us to identify the sentence that is written in the passive voice. Understanding the difference between active and passive voice is crucial for mastering sentence structure in English.

Let's define both:

• Active Voice: In an active sentence, the subject performs the action. The structure is typically Subject + Verb + Object.
• Passive Voice: In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action. The structure often involves a form of the verb 'to be' followed by the past participle of the main verb. The doer of the action (the agent) may be mentioned using 'by'. The structure is typically Subject (receiver of action) + form of 'be' + Past Participle + (optional) by + Agent (doer of action).

Analyzing Each Sentence for Passive Voice

Let's examine each given sentence:

1. All his friends praised him.
   • Subject: All his friends (the ones doing the praising).
   • Verb: praised (active form).
   • Object: him (the one receiving the praise).
   • Analysis: The subject performs the action. This sentence follows the Subject + Verb + Object structure of active voice.
2. Renu planted many flowers in her garden.
   • Subject: Renu (the one doing the planting).
   • Verb: planted (active form).
   • Object: many flowers (what was planted).
   • Analysis: The subject performs the action. This is an active voice sentence.
3. Many students watched the football match.
   • Subject: Many students (the ones doing the watching).
   • Verb: watched (active form).
   • Object: the football match (what was watched).
   • Analysis: The subject performs the action. This sentence is in the active voice.
4. The accident victim was taken to the hospital by the police.
   • Subject: The accident victim (the one who received the action).
   • Verb phrase: was taken (form of 'be' + past participle 'taken').
   • Agent: the police (the ones who performed the action, introduced by 'by').
   • Analysis: The subject ('The accident victim') is not performing the action of taking; they are receiving it. The structure 'was taken' indicates the passive voice. The doer of the action ('the police') is mentioned using 'by'. This sentence fits the structure of passive voice.

Identifying the Correct Passive Voice Sentence

Based on the analysis, the sentence that is in the passive voice is "The accident victim was taken to the hospital by the police." This is because the subject of the sentence ('The accident victim') is receiving the action ('was taken') rather than performing it.

Revision Table: Active vs. Passive Voice

Additional Information on Passive Voice Use

While active voice is generally preferred for clarity and directness, passive voice is useful in certain situations:

• When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant (e.g., "The window was broken.").
• When you want to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer (e.g., "The discovery was made in 1905.").
• In scientific or technical writing where the process or result is more important than who performed it (e.g., "The sample was heated to 100°C.").
• When you want to avoid blaming someone (e.g., "Mistakes were made.").

Being able to identify both active and passive voice helps in understanding sentence meaning and choosing the appropriate voice for different writing purposes.