Study the sentences in the columns A and B.
A - B
Meghna was swept away. - The waves swept Meghna away.
Almas’s grandfather was hit on the head. - Something hit Almas’s grandfather on the head.
Sixty visitors were washed away. - The waves washed away sixty visitors.
No animal carcasses were found. - People did not find any animal carcasses.
Compare the sentences in A to ones in B. Who is the ‘doer of the action in every case ? Is the ‘doer’ mentioned in A, or in B?
Notice the verbs in A : ‘was swept away’, ‘was hit’, ‘were washed away’, ‘were found’. They are in the passive form. The sentences are in the Passive Voice. In these sentences, the focus is not on the person who does the action.
In B, the ‘doer’ of the action is named. The verbs are in the active form. The sentences are in Active Voice.
(i) The doer is ‘the waves’ (The waves swept Meghna away.)
(ii) The doer is ‘something’ (Something hit Almas’s grandfather on the head.)
(iii) The doer is ‘the waves’ (The waves washed away sixty visitors.)
(iv) The doer is ‘people’ (People did not find any animal carcasses.)