1. {I cut the paper.
{The paper was cut by me.
2. {John broke the window.
{The window was broken by John.
3. {He caught a bird.
{A bird was caught by him.
With a certain form of the verb, its subject names the _actor_; with
another form of the verb, the subject names _the thing acted upon_. This
change in the form of the verb is called =voice=.
A transitive verb that represents the person or thing named by its
subject as acting is said to be in the =active voice=; as, James
_struck_ the horse.
A transitive verb that represents the person or thing named by its
subject as being acted upon is said to be in the =passive voice=; as,
The horse _was struck_ by James.
_Note_ (a).—The object in the active voice becomes the subject
in the passive voice, so that only transitive verbs can properly
be used in the passive voice. There are, however, some
exceptions to this principle. When an intransitive verb is
followed by a phrase made up of a preposition and noun, the
intransitive verb may often be used passively with the
preposition as an adverbial adjunct; as, I _despair_ of success.
Success _is despaired of_ by me. He _shot_ at a bird. A bird
_was shot at_ by him.
_Note_ (b).—The agent in the passive voice is indicated by the
preposition _by_.