In English grammar, the choice between active and passive voice plays a significant role in how we express actions. While passive voice can be useful in certain situations, there are verbs that simply do not work well in passive constructions. In this guide, we’ll explore the list of verbs that cannot be used in passive voice, provide examples for better understanding, and offer insights into when to use active voice instead.
What is Passive Voice?
Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb, rather than performing the action itself. This can often lead to a less direct or clear sentence structure. In contrast, active voice is where the subject performs the action of the verb.
Verbs That Cannot Be Used in Passive Voice
Certain verbs do not lend themselves well to passive voice constructions due to their inherent nature or meaning. These verbs typically require an active subject to carry out the action. Here are some examples:
1. Intransitive Verbs
Intransitive verbs are those that do not take a direct object, meaning they do not transfer the action to an object. They typically describe actions that are self-contained or do not affect an external object.
Examples:
a. “The train arrives at 9 PM.” (Here, “arrives” does not have a direct object.) b. “He sleeps peacefully.” (In this sentence, “sleeps” is the intransitive verb.)
Since there is no direct object being acted upon by the subject in these sentences, there’s no way to restructure them into passive voice.
2. Stative Verbs
Stative verbs express a state, condition, or state of being rather than an action. They describe a situation or state that is generally not performed onto an object.
Examples:
a. “She knows the answer.”
The verb “knows” in this sentence indicates a state of knowledge possessed by the subject “She.” It expresses a mental state rather than an action directed towards an object. The sentence does not involve any action being performed onto an object; rather, it describes the subject’s awareness or familiarity with something.
Why it can’t be passive? Passive voice constructions require a direct object that receives the action of the verb. Since “knows” doesn’t involve an action directed towards an object, there is no object to become the subject in a passive construction. Therefore, “knows” cannot be used in passive voice.
b. “He belongs to a wealthy family.”
The verb “belongs” in this sentence denotes a state of belonging or membership possessed by the subject “He.” It indicates a relationship or connection rather than an action directed towards an object.
Why it can’t be passive? Similar to the previous example, “belongs” describes a state or condition rather than an action performed onto an object. Passive voice constructions require an action directed towards an object, but “belongs” does not involve such action. Therefore, it cannot be transformed into passive voice.
Stative verbs typically denote a state or condition and lack the dynamic action required for passive voice. Attempting to convert these into passive voice constructions would be awkward or nonsensical.
3. Reciprocal Verbs
Reciprocal verbs indicate actions that are performed mutually between two or more subjects. These actions involve a reciprocal relationship where each subject is both the doer and the receiver of the action.
Examples:
a. “They meet each other every Sunday.”
The verb “meet” in this sentence indicates a reciprocal action where two or more subjects come together or encounter each other. It implies a mutual interaction or engagement between the subjects involved.
Why it can’t be passive? Passive voice constructions require a clear subject that performs the action and an object that receives the action. However, in this sentence, the action of meeting is reciprocal—it involves both parties engaging with each other. Attempting to convert this sentence into passive voice would disrupt the mutual nature of the action. Therefore, “meet” cannot be used in passive voice.
b. “The friends embraced warmly.”
The verb “embraced” in this sentence denotes a physical gesture of affection or greeting between friends. It implies an action where one or more individuals hold each other closely in a warm and affectionate manner.
Why it can’t be passive? Similar to the previous example, “embraced” describes a reciprocal action between the friends. Both parties are actively involved in the embrace, and there is no clear distinction between the doer and the receiver of the action. Trying to transform this sentence into passive voice would disrupt the natural flow of the action. Hence, “embraced” cannot be used in passive voice.
Reciprocal verbs inherently involve multiple subjects engaging in an action together. Trying to construct passive voice sentences with these verbs would result in confusing or grammatically incorrect structures.
4. Weather Verbs
Weather verbs describe natural phenomena such as rain, snow, thunder, etc. These actions are considered impersonal and do not involve a specific agent performing the action.
Examples:
a. “It rains heavily in the monsoon season.”
The verb “rains” in this sentence describes a natural phenomenon—rainfall. It indicates the occurrence of rain without specifying any subject performing the action. The subject “It” is often used as a placeholder in weather-related sentences.
Why it can’t be passive? The verb “rains” is inherently impersonal, describing a weather event without any specific agent performing the action. Passive voice constructions require a clear subject performing the action, which is absent in this sentence. Therefore, “rains” cannot be transformed into passive voice.
b. “Snow falls gently on the mountains.”
Similar to the previous sentence, the verb “falls” in this sentence describes a natural occurrence—snowfall. It conveys the descent of snow without attributing the action to a specific subject.
Why it can’t be passive? As with the first example, “falls” describes an impersonal weather event. There is no specific agent performing the action of snowfall. Passive voice constructions necessitate a clear subject performing the action, which is lacking here. Hence, “falls” cannot be used in passive voice.
Weather verbs describe natural processes or phenomena that are not performed by a specific subject. Passive voice constructions require a clear subject performing the action, which is absent in these cases.
When to Use Active Voice Instead
Active voice is often preferred over passive voice in various situations for several reasons:
- Clarity and Directness. Using active voice can make a sentence clearer and more direct by highlighting the subject performing the action. This helps readers or listeners immediately identify who is responsible for the action and what is happening.
- Conciseness. Active voice is generally more concise than passive voice. It allows for more straightforward and to-the-point sentences, which can enhance readability and understanding. Active voice often eliminates the need for extra words that passive voice might require.
- Emphasis on the Subject. Active voice is particularly useful when the subject carrying out the action is known and crucial to the sentence’s meaning. It puts the focus on the doer of the action rather than the recipient, which can be essential in certain contexts.
- Avoiding Awkwardness. There are instances where using passive voice can lead to awkward or unclear sentences. In such cases, opting for active voice helps in presenting the information in a more natural and easily comprehensible way.
By recognizing these situations and understanding when active voice is more appropriate, writers and speakers can effectively convey their messages with precision, succinctness, and clarity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the list of verbs that cannot be used in passive voice is essential for clear and effective communication in English writing. By recognizing these verbs and knowing when to use active voice instead, writers can ensure that their writing is concise, direct, and grammatically correct.
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