Active Passive Voice Questions Long
In active and passive voice sentences, emphasis refers to the focus or importance given to a particular element of the sentence. It is the way in which the writer or speaker highlights or draws attention to a specific subject or object.
In active voice sentences, the emphasis is usually on the subject, as it is the doer of the action. The subject performs the action, and the sentence structure is typically subject + verb + object. For example, "John ate the cake." Here, the emphasis is on John, as he is the one who performed the action of eating the cake.
On the other hand, in passive voice sentences, the emphasis is often on the object or the receiver of the action. The subject receives the action, and the sentence structure is typically object + verb + subject. For example, "The cake was eaten by John." Here, the emphasis is on the cake, as it is the object that was acted upon.
However, it is important to note that the emphasis can be shifted in both active and passive voice sentences by using certain techniques. In active voice sentences, the emphasis can be shifted by using fronting or by placing the object at the beginning of the sentence. For example, "The cake, John ate." Here, the emphasis is on the cake, even though it is an active voice sentence.
Similarly, in passive voice sentences, the emphasis can be shifted by using the by-phrase or by omitting the agent altogether. For example, "The cake was eaten." Here, the emphasis is on the cake, and the agent (John) is not mentioned, thus shifting the focus solely on the object.
In summary, the concept of emphasis in active and passive voice sentences revolves around highlighting the subject or the object of the sentence. The choice of active or passive voice, as well as the sentence structure and word order, can be manipulated to shift the emphasis and draw attention to a specific element in the sentence.