The passive voice transformation of "Do you like their parents?" is Are their parents liked by you?
Converting 'Do You Like Their Parents?' to Passive Voice
Transforming sentences from active to passive voice, especially interrogative ones, requires a clear understanding of grammatical rules. The active voice emphasizes the doer of the action, while the passive voice emphasizes the action itself and its recipient.
Understanding Passive Voice for Interrogative Sentences
When converting an active voice question in the simple present tense to passive voice, you shift the focus from the subject performing the action to the object receiving it. The structure changes significantly, often involving a form of "to be" and the past participle of the main verb.
Here's a breakdown of the steps involved:
- Identify the components: In the active sentence "Do you like their parents?", "you" is the subject, "like" is the verb, and "their parents" is the object.
- Make the object the new subject: "Their parents" becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
- Choose the correct form of 'to be': Since "their parents" is plural and the original tense is simple present, use "Are."
- Use the past participle of the main verb: The past participle of "like" is "liked."
- Add 'by' and the original subject: Include "by you" to indicate who performs the action.
- Formulate the question: Since it's a question, the "to be" verb comes at the beginning.
Active vs. Passive Voice Transformations
The table below illustrates how active voice questions in the simple present tense are converted into their passive voice counterparts, including the specific example of your query.
| Active Voice (Simple Present Interrogative) | Passive Voice (Simple Present Interrogative) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Do you like their parents? | Are their parents liked by you? | "Their parents" becomes the subject, "Are" precedes it, and "liked" is the past participle of "like." |
| Do they like their parents? | Are their parents liked by them? | "Their parents" is the object, "Are" initiates the question, "liked" is the verb, and "by them" specifies the agent. |
| Does he read the book? | Is the book read by him? | "The book" is singular, so "Is" is used. "Read" is both the base and past participle form. |
| Do we clean the house? | Is the house cleaned by us? | "The house" is singular, requiring "Is." "Cleaned" is the past participle of "clean." |
Key Considerations for Conversion
- Past Participle is Crucial: Always remember to use the past participle form of the main verb in the passive voice. A common error is using the base form or simple past form instead. For instance, using "like" instead of "liked" would be grammatically incorrect in passive constructions.
- Agreement with New Subject: The form of the "to be" verb (is, are) must agree with the new subject of the passive sentence. If the new subject is plural, use "Are"; if singular, use "Is."
- The Agent ('by' phrase): While the 'by' phrase (e.g., "by you," "by them") is often included to specify the original doer of the action, it can be omitted if the agent is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context. However, for a direct transformation of a question like this, including it provides a complete conversion.
Understanding these principles enhances your ability to manipulate sentence structure effectively, which is vital for clear and varied communication in English grammar. For more detailed information on passive voice, you can refer to reputable grammar resources like those found at Purdue OWL or Grammarly.
