Understanding the Limitations of Passive Voice in Sentences: 'He Goes to School'
The concept of changing a sentence from active to passive voice is an essential skill for writers and learners of English. However, certain sentences, particularly those employing intransitive verbs, cannot be converted into passive form. This article will explore why the sentence 'He goes to school' cannot be changed into a passive construction, and provide insights into the nature of intransitive verbs and the sentence structure involved.
The Importance of Sentence Structure
When considering the conversion of a sentence from active to passive voice, it is crucial to understand the structure of the sentence. Active voice typically follows the subject-verb-object (SVO) order. In a passive construction, this order is reversed, often resulting in the sentence beginning with the object of the active voice, followed by the verb in its passive form, and then the agent (if provided).
The Nature of Intransitive Verbs
An intransitive verb is a verb that does not require a direct object and can stand alone, providing a complete meaning without one. Examples include 'goes,' 'sleeps,' 'stands,' and 'comes.' These verbs express actions that occur independently and do not imply the need for a receiver of the action. In contrast, transitive verbs require a direct object to complete the meaning of the sentence.
Why 'He Goes to School' Can't Be Made Passive
The sentence 'He goes to school' is intransitive because the verb 'goes' does not require or accept an object. Consequently, there is no agent (a doing word) or object (a receiving word) that can be shifted to a position in the passive construction.
Explanatory Example
Let us look at the active sentence: 'He goes to school.' The sentence is complete and clear with no need for modification. Attempting to make this sentence passive would result in: 'To school goes he.' This is not only grammatically incorrect but also carries no meaning.
Other Examples of Intransitive Verbs
Other intransitive verbs include 'sleeps,' 'comes,' 'stands,' and 'wakes.' These verbs exemplify actions that occur independently without involving a receiver or an object. Trying to make these verbs passive results in sentences with no clear meaning.
Examples of Intransitive Verb Sentences
The sentence 'They come to the office' would become 'To the office comes they,' which is not a meaningful sentence.
The sentence 'He goes to the station' cannot be made passive as 'To the station goes he.'
The sentence 'She can not like to do' also cannot be made passive as 'To do can not she like.'
Conclusion
In conclusion, the sentence 'He goes to school' cannot be changed into a passive construction because it is an intransitive sentence with no object. Intransitive verbs, which do not take a direct object, inherently prevent the creation of a meaningful passive voice construction. To effectively utilize passive voice, one must ensure the sentence contains a transitive verb that can take an object to create a viable passive sentence.