There are two special forms for verbs called voice:
- Active voice
- Passive voice
The active voice is the "normal" voice. This is the voice that we use most of the time. You are probably already familiar with the active voice. In the active voice, the object receives the action of the verb:
| active | subject | verb | object |
| > | |||
| Cats | eat | fish. | |
The passive voice is less usual. In the passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb:
| passive | subject | verb | object |
| < | |||
| Fish | are eaten | by cats. | |
The object of the active verb becomes the subject of the passive verb:
| subject | verb | object | |
| active | Everybody | drinks | water. |
| passive | Water | is drunk | by everybody. |