Active and Passive Voice Example

Give a example of Active and Passive Voice 

Introduction 

Active and passive voice are two ways to structure sentences in English. In the active voice, the subject performs the action, making the sentence more direct. In the passive voice, the focus shifts to the action or the object receiving the action, which can be useful in different contexts.

Examples:

Present Simple Tense

• Active: She writes a letter.
• Passive: A letter is written by her.
• Active:She plays the piano.
• Passive:The piano is played by her.
• Active:They teach English.
• Passive:English is taught by them.
• Active: we play a game 
• Passive: a game is played by us.
• Active: Ram write a letter.
• Passive:a letter is written by Ram

Past Simple Tense

• Active: He built the house.
• Passive: The house was built by him.
• Active:She cooked dinner last night.
• Passive:Dinner was cooked by her last night
• Active:The teacher praised the students.
• Passive:The students were praised by the teacher.
• Active:We watched a movie yesterday.
• Passive:A movie was watched by us yesterday.
• Active:He discovered the error in the report.
• Passive:The error in the report was discovered by him.

Future Simple Tense

• Active: They will organize the event.
• Passive: The event will be organized by them.
• Active:She will clean the house tomorrow.
• Passive:The house will be cleaned by her tomorrow.
• Active:They will announce the results next week.
• Passive:The results will be announced by them next week.
• Active:The chef will prepare the meals.
• Passive:The meals will be prepared by the chef.
• Active:We will start the project soon.
• Passive:The project will be started by us soon.

Present Continuous Tense

• Active: She is painting the wall.
• Passive: The wall is being painted by her.
• Active:She is reading a novel.
• Passive:A novel is being read by her.
• Active:They are discussing the new policy.
• Passive:The new policy is being discussed by them.
• Active:The children are playing outside.
• Passive:The game is being played by the children.
• Active:We are organizing a meeting.
• Passive:A meeting is being organized by us.

Past Continuous Tense

• Active:She was writing an essay.
• Passive:An essay was being written by her.
• Active:They were preparing for the event.
• Passive:The event was being prepared for by them.
• Active:The students were studying for their exams.
• Passive:The exams were being studied for by the students.
• Active:We were waiting for the bus.
• Passive:The bus was being waited for by us.
• Active:He was fixing the car.
• Passive:The car was being fixed by him.

Present Perfect Tense

• Active: They have finished the project.
• Passive: The project has been finished by them.
• Active: They have painted the house.
• Passive: The house has been painted by them.
• Active: He has written the report.
• Passive: The report has been written by him.
• Active: We have booked the tickets.
• Passive: The tickets have been booked by us.
• Active: I have read the book.
• Passive: The book has been read by me.

Past Perfect Tense

• Active: She had completed the assignment.
• Passive: The assignment had been completed by her.
• Active: They had built the bridge.
• Passive: The bridge had been built by them.
• Active: He had cleaned the room.
• Passive: The room had been cleaned by him.
• Active: We had delivered the package.
• Passive: The package had been delivered by us.
• Active: I had solved the problem.
• Passive: The problem had been solved by me.

Future Perfect Tense

• Active: They will have launched the product.
• Passive: The product will have been launched by them.
• Active: She will have completed the task.
• Passive: The task will have been completed by her.
• Active: They will have repaired the car.
• Passive: The car will have been repaired by them.
• Active: He will have cooked dinner.
• Passive: Dinner will have been cooked by him.
• Active: I will have submitted the form.
• Passive: The form will have been submitted by me.

Conclusion:

Understanding both active and passive voice is essential for clear and effective communication. While the active voice is more direct, the passive voice helps to shift the focus onto the action itself, offering variety and flexibility in writing.

Dramatist in Indian Writing in English

  Pioneers of Indian English Drama: Lives and Works

 Or

A Comprehensive Look at Key Figures in Indian Theater

 Pre-Independence Dramatists

 Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

Rabindranath Tagore, born in Calcutta, was a polymath who reshaped Bengali literature and Indian art. Though primarily writing in Bengali, his works were often translated into English, sometimes by Tagore himself.

Life: Born into a prominent Brahmo family, Tagore was exposed to both Indian and Western influences from an early age. He began writing poetry as a child and published his first substantial poetry collection at the age of 16. Tagore's life was marked by personal tragedies, including the deaths of his wife and two children, which deeply influenced his work.

Major Works: 

- "Chitra" (1892): Based on the Mahabharata, this play explores gender roles and identity.

- "The Post Office" (1912): A symbolic play about a child's perception of death.

- "Red Oleanders" (1924): A political allegory critiquing authoritarianism.

- "Chandalika" (1938): Addresses caste discrimination and spiritual awakening.

Tagore's plays are characterized by their lyrical quality, philosophical depth, and blend of Indian spirituality with Western dramatic techniques. He often used symbolism and allegory to address social and political issues.

 Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950)

Sri Aurobindo was a philosopher, poet, and nationalist who later became a spiritual leader and developed Integral Yoga.

Life: Born in Calcutta, Aurobindo was educated in England from a young age. He returned to India in 1893 and became involved in the Indian independence movement. After a spiritual awakening in 1908, he moved to Pondicherry and focused on spiritual and philosophical pursuits.

Major Works:

- "Perseus the Deliverer" (1907): A verse drama based on Greek mythology.

- "Vasavadutta" (1915): A romantic tale set in ancient India.

- "Rodogune" (1920): A historical play set in ancient Syria.

- "The Viziers of Bassora" (1922): A romantic comedy inspired by Arabian tales.

Aurobindo's plays are notable for their poetic language, philosophical themes, and diverse cultural settings. They often explore the interplay between human aspirations and divine intervention.

 Post-Independence Dramatists

 Asif Currimbhoy (1928-2016)

Asif Currimbhoy was one of the most prolific Indian English playwrights of the post-independence era.

Life: Born in Mumbai, Currimbhoy was educated in India and the United States. He worked in the family business but devoted much of his time to writing plays that addressed contemporary Indian issues.

Major Works:

- "The Tourist Mecca" (1959): Explores the impact of tourism on Indian culture.

- "Goa" (1964): Deals with the Portuguese colonization of Goa.

- "The Hungry Ones" (1965): Addresses the Bengal famine of 1943.

- "An Experiment with Truth" (1969): A play about Mahatma Gandhi's life.

Currimbhoy's works are known for their realistic portrayal of Indian life and engagement with political and social themes. He often used historical events as a backdrop to explore contemporary issues.

Girish Karnad (1938-2019)

Girish Karnad was a playwright, actor, and director who wrote primarily in Kannada but translated his own works into English.

Life: Born in Maharashtra, Karnad grew up in a multilingual environment. He studied at Karnatak University and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. Karnad had a multifaceted career in theater, film, and television, both as a writer and performer.

Major Works:

- "Yayati" (1961): Based on a myth from the Mahabharata, exploring generational conflict.

- "Tughlaq" (1964): A historical play about the 14th-century Sultan of Delhi.

- "Hayavadana" (1971): Inspired by a tale from Kathasaritsagara, dealing with identity and perfection.

- "Naga-Mandala" (1988): Based on folk tales, exploring gender roles and marital relationships.

Karnad's plays are characterized by their use of history and mythology to comment on contemporary issues. He often employed traditional theatrical forms to explore modern themes.

 Mahesh Dattani (b. 1958)

Mahesh Dattani is a playwright and stage director, known for addressing contemporary urban issues in his works.

Life: Born in Bangalore, Dattani grew up in a Gujarati family. He initially worked in advertising before turning to theater full-time. Dattani founded his own theater company, Playpen, and has also worked in film and television.

Major Works:

- "Dance Like a Man" (1989): Explores gender roles and the world of Bharatanatyam dance.

- "Tara" (1990): Deals with gender discrimination and the separation of conjoined twins.

- "Final Solutions" (1993): Addresses communal tensions in India.

- "On a Muggy Night in Mumbai" (1998): One of the first Indian plays to openly discuss homosexuality.

Dattani's plays are known for their realistic dialogue, complex characters, and exploration of taboo subjects in Indian society. He often focuses on family dynamics and individual identity within the context of social pressures.

These dramatists, among others, have significantly contributed to the development and diversification of Indian English drama. Their works reflect the changing social, political, and cultural landscape of India while engaging with universal human themes. From Tagore's poetic symbolism to Dattani's contemporary realism, these playwrights have shaped Indian theater into a rich, multifaceted form of artistic expression.

Introduction of Drama

The Introduction and Development of Drama in Indian English Writing

 Ancient Roots of Indian Drama

The history of drama in India has a rich and glorious tradition that dates back to ancient times. The origins of Indian drama can be traced to the Vedic period, with early dramatic performances often depicting events from daily life, accompanied by music. These primitive performances included mock hunts where tribe members portrayed wild animals and hunters.

As time progressed, episodes from great Indian epics like The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, and The Bhagavadgita were enacted, a tradition that continues to this day, especially during festivals like Dussehra.

Sanskrit Drama

The formal beginning of Indian drama is often associated with Sanskrit plays. References to drama can be found in various ancient texts such as Patanjali's Vyakarna Mahabhashya, Vatsyayam's Kamasutra, and Panini's Ashtabhyam. The origin of Sanskrit drama dates back to around 1000 B.C.

Sanskrit drama, known as 'rupaka', was built around three primary constituents: Vastu (plot), Neta (hero), and Rasa (sentiment). The most significant work on Indian dance and drama from this period is Bharata's Natyasastra, which provides comprehensive information on the composition, production, and enjoyment of ancient drama.

Notable Sanskrit dramatists include Ashwaghosh, Bhasa, Shudraka, Kalidas, Harsha, Bhavabhuti, and others who contributed works like Mrichkatikam, Abhigyana Shakuntalam, and Uttar Ramacharitam.

Transition to Modern Drama

Sanskrit dramas were staged until approximately the 15th century. After this period, due to foreign invasions, dramatic activity in India almost ceased. However, from the 17th century onwards, various forms of Loknatya (People's Theatre) emerged in different states of India, such as Yatrakirtaniya in Bengal, Bhavai in Gujarat, and Tamasha in Maharashtra.

Rise of Modern Indian Drama

The rise of modern Indian drama can be traced to the 18th century, coinciding with the consolidation of British power in India. A significant milestone was the establishment of the 'Hindu Rangmanch' in Calcutta by Prasanna Kumar Thakur in 1831, where he staged an English translation of Bhavabhuti's Sanskrit drama Uttar Ramacharitam.

The launch of the famous Parsi Theatre in Bombay in 1852-1853 marked another important development, influencing theatrical practices across the country. Simultaneously, amateur theatre developed with the works of Bharatendu Harishchandra, who is considered the father of Hindi drama.

Indian English Drama: Early Phase

The journey of Indian English drama began with Krishna Mohan Banerji's "The Persecuted" in 1837. However, the real journey is often said to have started with Michael Madhu Sudan Dutt's "Is This Called Civilization" in 1871.

Two towering figures in early Indian English drama were Rabindranath Tagore and Sri Aurobindo. Although Tagore wrote primarily in Bengali, many of his plays were translated into English. His works, including "Chitra," "The Post Office," and "The King of the Dark Chamber," were deeply rooted in Indian ethos and ethics.

Sri Aurobindo, writing directly in English, produced five complete blank verse plays and six incomplete ones. His works, such as "Perseus the Deliverer" and "Vasavadutta," dealt with diverse cultures and historical periods, showing influences from both Elizabethan drama and Sanskrit playwrights.

 Post-Independence Indian English Drama

The post-independence era saw a surge in Indian English drama. Notable playwrights of this period include:

1. Asif Currimbhoy: The most prolific playwright of this era, with over thirty plays to his credit, including "The Tourist Mecca" and "An Experiment With Truth."

2. Pratap Sharma: Known for "A Touch of Brightness" and "The Professor Has A War Cry."

3. Girish Karnad: A prominent figure who wrote in Kannada but whose works were widely translated. His plays like "Tughlaq" and "Hayavadana" blend history, myth, and contemporary reality.

4. Vijay Tendulkar: Although writing primarily in Marathi, his works were translated into English and had a significant impact. Plays like "Silence! The Court is in Session" and "Ghashiram Kotwal" dealt with societal issues and human violence.

5. Badal Sircar: A key figure in the New Theatrical Movement, Sircar created 'people's theatre' with plays like "Evam Indrajit" and "Pagla Ghoda."

6. Mahesh Dattani: The first Indian English playwright to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi award, known for plays like "Final Solutions" and "Dance Like a Man."

Women Playwrights and Feminist Theatre

The emergence of women playwrights added a new dimension to Indian English drama. Writers like Usha Ganguli and Mahasweta Devi contributed significantly, often focusing on women's issues and reinterpreting traditional myths from a feminist perspective. Mahasweta Devi's plays like "Mother of 1084" and "Water" dealt with political and social issues, particularly focusing on marginalized communities.

Innovative Voices and New Perspectives

Mohan Rakesh, though writing in Hindi, significantly influenced Indian English drama through translations of his works. His plays like "Ashadh Ka Ek Din" and "Leharon Ke Rajhansa" explore the crisis of contemporary man and human relationships, employing experimental techniques in language and theatrical elements. Mahashweta Devi emerged as a dramatist exploring challenging themes, with plays like "Mother of 1084" and "Bayen" focusing on social issues, political movements, and marginalized communities.

 Themes and Influences

Indian English drama has been characterized by its diverse themes, ranging from historical and mythological subjects to contemporary social and political issues. The plays often reflect the complexities of Indian society, dealing with topics such as colonialism, post-independence disillusionment, gender issues, caste discrimination, and the clash between tradition and modernity.

The dramatic techniques employed by Indian English playwrights show influences from both Western theatrical traditions and indigenous Indian forms. Many playwrights experimented with form and structure, blending elements from classical Sanskrit drama, folk theatre, and Western dramatic techniques.

 Conclusion

The journey of Indian English drama from its inception to the present day reflects the evolving cultural, social, and political landscape of India. It represents a unique fusion of Indian themes and sensibilities with the English language medium, creating a distinctive theatrical tradition within Indian literature. Despite challenges such as limited performance opportunities and a relatively small audience base, Indian English drama has continued to grow and evolve, making significant contributions to both Indian and world literature.

Reading comprehension

Reading Comprehension 

Here are  providing some tips to answer the comprehension passage questions of during the exam.

• Go through the entire passage thoroughly.
• Scan the passage quickly and try to find the main idea and theme on which the comprehension passage is based.
• Underline the important information in the passage.
• Now, read the question and go back to the unseen passage to find the answer.
• Avoid copy-pasting the answer from the comprehension passage. Try to frame the answer in your own words.
• To answer the vocabulary-based questions, like synonyms, antonyms, phrases, idioms etc., replace the word with the meaning. If the meaning is the same, then the answer is correct.
• To answer multiple choice questions, go through all the options and then mark the correct answer.

Example 

Paragraph 1

Dolphins are regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea and stories of them helping drowning sailors have been common since Roman times. The more we learn about dolphins, the more we realize that their society is more complex than people previously imagined. They look after other dolphins when they are ill, care for pregnant mothers and protect the weakest in the community, as we do. Some scientists have suggested that dolphins have a language but it is much more probable that they communicate with each other without needing words. Could any of these mammals be more intelligent than man? Certainly the most common argument in favor of man's superiority over them that we can kill them more easily than they can kill us is the least satisfactory. On the contrary, the more we discover about these remarkable creatures, the less we appear superior when we destroy them.

Questions

1. Why are dolphins regarded as the friendliest creatures in the sea?

2. What historical accounts support the idea that dolphins help humans?

3. How has our understanding of dolphin society changed over time?

4. In what ways do dolphins care for one another within their communities?

5. What is the scientific debate regarding dolphin communication?

Paragraph 2

It was the summer of 1936. The Olympic Games were being held in Berlin. I wasn't worried about all this. I'd trained, sweated and disciplined myself for six years, with the Games in mind. While I was going over on the boat, all I could think about was taking home one or two of those gold medals; I had my eye especially on the long jump. A year before I'd set the world record of 26 feet 8½ inches. Everyone expected me to win that Olympic event hands down (without difficulty).

I was in for a surprise. When the time came for the long jump trials, I was startled (surprised) to see a tall boy hitting the pit (jumping) at almost 26 feet on his practice leaps. He turned out to be a German named Luz Long. Every German was evidently hoping that he would win the jump. I too was determined to go out there and really prove myself.

1. What event was being held in Berlin during the summer of 1936?

2. How long had the narrator trained for the Olympic Games?

3. What was the narrator's main goal during the Olympic Games?

4. What specific event was the narrator focused on winning?

5. What world record had the narrator set a year before the Olympics?

6. How did the narrator feel upon seeing the tall boy during the long jump trials?

7. Who was the tall boy competing against the narrator in the long jump?

8. What distance was the tall boy achieving in his practice leaps?

9. What were the hopes of the German spectators regarding the long jump event?

10. What was the narrator determined to prove during the long jump competition?

Paragraph 3

In July 1976, my wife Mary, son Jonathan, 6, daughter Suzanne, 7, and I set sail from Plymouth, England, round the-world voyage made 200 years earlier by Captain James Cook. For the longest time, Mary and I a 37-year-old businessman - had dreamt of sailing explorer (adventurer). For the past 16 years we had spent all our leisure time travelling in British waters.

Our boat Wavewalker, a 23 metre, 30 ton wooden-framed beauty. We had spent months fitting it out and testing it in the roughest weather.The first leg of our planned three-year, 1,05,000 kilometre journey passed pleasantly. We sailed down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town. There, before heading east, we took on two crewmen American Larry Vigil and Swiss Herb Seigler - to help us tackle one of the world's roughest seas, the southern Indian Ocean. -On our second day out of Cape Town, we began to encounter strong gales (storms). The size of the waves was alarming - metres, as high as our main up to 15 mast.

1. In which month and year did the narrator and his family set sail on their voyage?

2. What was the starting point of their round-the-world voyage?

3. Who was the famous explorer whose voyage they were retracing?

4. What were the names and ages of the narrator's children at the time of the voyage?

5. What was the name of the narrator's boat?

6. What were the dimensions and type of the boat mentioned in the paragraph?

7. How long had the narrator and his wife been dreaming of a sailing adventure?

Dialogue Writing

Introduction

Dialogue Writing is an important skill in English. It involves writing conversations between people, which helps make stories more interesting. Dialogues need to be clear and to the point. They are used in novels, stories, and plays. Always use correct punctuation, such as exclamation marks and question marks, and put dialogues in quotation marks. Plato, a famous Greek philosopher, was one of the first to use dialogue in writing.

What is Dialogue Writing in English?

Dialogue Writing is about creating conversations between characters. Good dialogue makes stories engaging and memorable. It should be short, use correct punctuation, and be easy to understand. Each speaker’s lines should be in a new paragraph. Use quotation marks to show where the dialogue begins and ends.

Tips for Writing Good Dialogues

• 1. Keep It Short: Avoid long dialogues to keep readers interested.
• 2. Use Correct Tenses: Make sure the tenses match the time of the conversation.
• 3. Keep Language Simple: Use easy-to-understand words.
• 4. Include Multiple Speakers: Dialogue must involve at least two people.
• 5. Separate Speakers: Start a new paragraph for each new speaker.
• 6. Use Proper Punctuation: Place punctuation marks inside quotation marks.
• 7. Quotation Marks: Use quotation marks to show the start and end of a dialogue.
• 8. Use Dialogue Tags: Add commas to separate dialogue from tags and reflect the speaker’s tone and personality.

Examples of Dialogues

Planning a Vacation

   Aarush: “Hi Ravish! How are you? I’ve been waiting for an hour. Where were you?”

   Ravish: “Hey! I’m fine. Sorry, I was late because of the traffic.”

   Aarush: “No problem. Clean your hands and tell me about your job.”

   Ravish: “Thanks for reminding me. I’m not happy with my job. I work a lot and don’t get paid on time.”

   Aarush: “That’s tough. I’m thinking of taking a break from this busy life.”

   Ravish: “Me too! I have an idea.”

   Aarush: “What is it? You seem excited.”

   Ravish: “We have a week off this month. Let’s plan a vacation!”

   Aarush: “Great idea! We can invite Muskan, Avi, and Tanya. A group trip sounds fun.”

   Ravish: “Yes, we can go to Shimla or Mussoorie. It’s snowing there.”

   Aarush: “Perfect! I know a friend in Shimla who can help us find a good hotel.”

   Ravish: “I’m in! Let’s plan and book soon.”

   Aarush: “Let’s call the others and organize everything.”

   Ravish: “Sounds good. See you soon.”

   Aarush: “See you!”

Choosing a Course

   Student: “Good morning, Sir. How are you?”

   Teacher: “I’m fine, thank you. How can I help you?”

   Student: “I’m deciding which course to take during the vacation.”

   Teacher: “There are many options online. Make a list and choose based on your interests.”

   Student: “I’m choosing between Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science.”

   Teacher: “All are interesting, but you’ve always liked Artificial Intelligence.”

   Student: “Yes, I think it’s important for the future.”

   Teacher: “Then go for it. You can switch later if needed.”

   Student: “Great! Thanks for the advice.”

Graduation Plans

Riya: “I can’t believe we’re graduating tomorrow!”

 Jatin: “Time went by so fast. What are your plans after graduation?”

   Riya:“I got an internship at a well-known company.”

    Jatin: “That’s fantastic! It’s a great start for your career.”

   Riya: “I’m excited but a bit nervous.”

   Jatin: “You’ve worked hard. Enjoy the next steps.”

Exam Stress

Rahul: “I’m really stressed about the upcoming exams.”

   Yash: “Take a deep breath. You’ve prepared well.”

  Rahul: “I feel overwhelmed by so much material.”

   Yash: “Break it into smaller parts. It’s easier to handle.”

  Rahul: “You’re right. I’ll make a study plan.”

 Yash: “Also, remember to take breaks and take care of yourself.”

  Rahul: “Thanks for your help. I needed that.”

Planning a Birthday Party

 Ram: “I’m planning a surprise party for Shyam’s birthday.”

Raju: “That’s nice! How can I help?”

Ram: “I need help with decorations and the guest list.”

 Raju: “I’ll take care of it. We’ll make it special.”

 Ram: “Thanks! Shyam will be thrilled.”

  Raju: “Let’s start planning. It will be a great party!”

Practice Questions for Dialogue Writing

1. Write a dialogue between Manisha and her father discussing her career.

2. Write a dialogue between three friends talking about their teachers.

3. Write a dialogue between the Principal and the coordinator of Arya Public School discussing school renovations.

4. Write a dialogue between Amina and her brother about online exams.

5. Write a dialogue between Vijay and Mina discussing politics.

6. Write a dialogue between Ashu and his mother about social media.

Conclusion

Dialogue Writing helps bring conversations to life in stories. Keep dialogues short, clear, and engaging. Use proper punctuation and quotation marks to show who is speaking. Separate each speaker’s dialogue into new paragraphs to make it easy to follow.