The Printable KISS Grammar Workbooks The KISS Workbooks Anthology
(Code and Color Key)

Rewriting Passive Verbs as Active & Active as Passive
Based on The Queen of the Pirate Isle, by Bret Harte

A. Passive to Active

1. The dark passage was illuminated (P) {by candles}. |

Candles illuminated the dark passage.
2. {At the mouth} {of the other tunnels} they were greeted (P) {by men} [Adv. (manner) to "were greeted" as if they [#1] were carrying tidings (DO) {of great joy}]. |
At the mouth of the other tunnels men greeted them as if they were carrying tidings of great joy. 
3. Part {of her existence} had been passed (P) {as a Beggar Child}. |
She passed part of her existence as a Beggar Child.
4. Patsey was {at once} enrolled (P) | and the banana *was* eaten (P). |
They enrolled Patsey at once and ate the banana.
5. It could only be discovered (P) {by a person} [Adj. to "person" who could not possibly know [DO that he or she had discovered it (DO)]], [Adj. to "person" who never could or would be able (PA) to enjoy it [#2] ], [Adj. to "person" who could never see it (DO), never feel it (DO), never, {in fact} know anything (DO) {at all} {about it }]! |
This passive version may be preferable to the active voice version. In the active voice, the main subject and verb are separated by three parallel "who" clauses, the first of which itself includes a subordinate clause. The last two contain compounded finite verbs. Such separation of subject and verb makes the sentence difficult for many people to read. The active voice puts the verb (and the meaningful subject) at the beginning, followed by the subordinate clauses.

Only a person [Adj. to "person" who could not possibly know [DO that he or she had discovered it (DO)]], [Adj. to "person" who never could or would be able (PA) to enjoy it [#2] ], [Adj. to "person" who could never see it (DO), never feel it (DO), never, {in fact} know anything (DO) {at all} {about it }], could discover it (DO)! |

B. Active to Passive

1. The entire band {of Red Rovers} accompanied them (DO). |

 They were accompanied by the entire band of Red Rovers.
2. Patsey's father worked this "diggings." (DO) |
These "diggings" were worked by Patsey's father.
3. The faces {of the men} below [#3] paled {in terror}. |
The faces of the men below were paled in terror.
4. The others repeated his extraordinary bow (DO) {with more or less exaggeration} {to the point} {of one humourist losing his balance [#4] }! |
His extraordinary bow was repeated by the others with more or less exaggeration to the point of one humourist losing his balance!
5. Then they saw the extended figure detach [#5] [DO of "detach" what looked {like a small black rope}] {from its shoulders} and throw it [#5] {to the girl}. |
Then the extended figure was seen to detach what looked like a small black rope from its shoulders and throw it to the girl.
Notes
1. You might want to have students discuss the ambiguity of the pronoun reference in this sentence. Who is the "they"? in the "if" clause -- "men"? or "them"?
2. "It" is the direct object of the verbal (infinitive) "to enjoy." The infinitive phrase functions as an adverb to the predicate adjective "able."
3. "Below" is a preposition with its object ellipsed -- "below *them*." The phrase identifies which men are meant so it functions as an adjective.
4. "Balance" is the direct object of "losing." "Losing" can be explained as a verbal (gerundive) that modifies "humorist," the object of the preposition. At KISS Level 5.8, some people will prefer to see "humourist losing balance" as the core of a noun absolute that functions as the object of "of."
5. "Figure" is the subject of the verbals (infinitives) "detach" and "throw." ("It" is the direct object of "throw.") The infinitive phrase functions as the direct object of "saw."