The exact passive voice form of the question 'Do they fly kites?' is Are kites flown by them?
Understanding Passive Voice in Questions
Transforming an active voice question into its passive equivalent requires careful attention to the tense and the structure of the question. The core idea of the passive voice is to shift the focus from the doer of the action (the agent) to the receiver of the action (the object).
Simple Present Interrogative Transformation
For questions in the simple present tense (like "Do they fly kites?"), the process involves:
- Identifying the object of the active sentence, which becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
- Using the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb "to be" (is/are) at the beginning of the question.
- Using the past participle form of the main verb.
- Optionally including the original subject as an agent using "by + agent."
Example Breakdown:
| Active Voice Question | Passive Voice Question |
|---|---|
| Do they fly kites? | Are kites flown by them? |
In this transformation:
- "Kites" (the object in active voice) becomes the subject in passive voice.
- "Are" (form of 'to be' agreeing with 'kites') starts the question.
- "Flown" is the past participle of 'fly'.
- "By them" specifies the original doer of the action.
General Rules for Forming Passive Voice
The passive voice is constructed using a form of the verb "to be" followed by the past participle of the main verb. The choice of the "to be" verb depends on the tense of the original active sentence.
- Active Voice Structure: Subject + Verb + Object
- Passive Voice Structure: Object + Form of "to be" + Past Participle of Verb + (by + Subject)
Consider another scenario: if the active voice sentence is in the present continuous tense, such as "They are flying kites," its passive form would highlight the ongoing nature of the action. In this case, the passive voice becomes Kites are being flown by them. This demonstrates how the auxiliary verb structure ("are being") adapts to reflect the continuous aspect of the original active sentence.
Key Takeaways for Passive Voice Questions:
- Focus Shift: The emphasis moves from who is doing the action to what is being done.
- Auxiliary Verbs: The correct form of "to be" (is, are, was, were, has been, had been, will be, etc.) is crucial and matches the tense of the active voice and the new subject.
- Past Participle: Always use the past participle of the main verb.
- Agent (Optional): The "by + agent" phrase is used when the doer of the action is important to mention; otherwise, it can be omitted.
For more information on passive voice transformations, you can consult reputable grammar resources, such as those found on English language learning sites like the British Council.
