Question

Please change to passive voice -
1. They fixed the time at 10'O clock.
2. They saw the clouds thundering.
3. One uses milk for making butter and cheese.
Thanks

Answer 1

Firstly, let me give you an example.
Active Voice: I answered the question.
Passive Voice: The question was answered by me.

Hence, with this example, let's answer number one.
1. They fixed the time at 10 o' clock.
Passive Voice: The time was fixed at 10 o' clock. Can you try the next one?

Answer 2

Thanks gabo. the answers should be...
2. The clouds were seen thundering by them.
3. Milk is used for making butter and cheese.
My teacher is not agreeing with these three answers.

Answer 3

I'm not a professional English teacher or something, I must say. To be quite honest, those answers look correct to me, but perhaps you shouldn't trust my word. :P

I suggest you double check and compare with your classmates if in any case you are unsure. Although, I believe that three questions wouldn't hurt you.

Much luck!

PS It's just Gab, by the way.

Answer 4

Hello Gab,
My teacher says...
1. 10'O clock was the fixed time
2. Thundering clouds could be seen by them
3. Butter & cheese is made using milk.
Howeve, I can't agree with her.

Answer 5

Here's my take on these three, with the active verbs and their passive equivalents highlighted --

They *fixed* the time at 10 o'clock.

The time *was fixed* at 10 o'clock.


They *saw* the clouds thundering.

Thundering clouds *were seen.* (i.e., by them -- but you needn't include this phrase)


One *uses* milk for making butter and cheese.

Milk *is used* for making butter and cheese.


In the three solutions that you quote, kizhakke, here's what's going on.

(1)
10 o'clock was the fixed time.

The verb is "was" -- there is no past participle, and so there is no passive verb phrase. This is the straightforward use of "to be" as a linking verb, with a predicate nominative. The noun phrase "the fixed time" refers back to, and identifies, the noun subject "10 o'clock." This is NOT a passive construction.

(2)
Thundering clouds could be seen by them.

While there is a passive construction here in "could be seen," you'll note that it contains a conditional within that verb phrase, in "could." The passive construction "could be seen" is the reconfiguration of the active "could see," as in "They could see the clouds thundering." So this is not the straightforward passive equivalent of the original that you cite in your question. It introduces a change in the verb phrase that has nothing to do with the change simply from active to passive.

(3)
Butter and cheese is made using milk.

Again, while this is passive -- the "is made" tells you that -- it is not the most direct translation to passive from the active you cite as the original. In the original, the verb is "uses." The phrase "for making" is a prepositional phrase containing a gerund ("making"), which is a verb form used not as a verb but as a noun. The direct translation from active to passive involves converting the original active ("uses") to passive ("is used"). What this solution does instead is pulls out the gerund of the original ("making"), converts it into a passive verb, and converts the original active verb ("using") conversely into a gerund. It's completely twisted -- in terms of JUST moving from active to passive. It is, as I said, a passive sentence.

Answer 6

Dear Redwood Girl,

Excellent!
Thank you very much for the explicit and clear answer...and thanks for retrieving this valuable thread.
On Monday, there's going to be fire works in our grammar class. You ARE better than Wren&Martin...I'm your fan...love

Answer 7

The thanks for the retrieval of that info go to farmdawgnation, who was kind enough to hunt it down for us and bring it back. On the discussion of the passive, you're welcome! Let me know if any other questions arise on this point. (Or any others.)

Answer 8

Oh! Sure I'll...God bless you!