Active vs. Passive Active vs. Passive VoiceVoice

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Why should writers Why should writers think about their verbs?think about their verbs?

“Verbs are the most important of all your tools. They push the sentence forward and give it momentum. Active verbs push hard; passive verbs tug fitfully.”

-- William Zinsser,-- William Zinsser, On Writing WellOn Writing Well

What is Active Voice?What is Active Voice? In the Active voice, the subject In the Active voice, the subject

performs the action.performs the action.

For example:For example:Joseph draws a picture.Joseph draws a picture.

Joseph is the subject and he is Joseph is the subject and he is doing something (drawing).doing something (drawing).

What is passive voice?What is passive voice?

In passive voice the subject is In passive voice the subject is acted upon.acted upon.

For example:For example:The picture was drawn by Joseph.The picture was drawn by Joseph.

In this case, the drawing is the In this case, the drawing is the subject and it is being acted upon subject and it is being acted upon by Joseph.by Joseph.

When to use passive When to use passive voicevoice

Use passive voice when you do not wish to Use passive voice when you do not wish to emphasize the subject of the sentence.emphasize the subject of the sentence.

Example:Example: Smoking is prohibited. (passive)Smoking is prohibited. (passive) The management prohibits smoking. The management prohibits smoking.

(active)(active)

The passive sentence takes attention away from The passive sentence takes attention away from management, so they do not have to be in the role management, so they do not have to be in the role of the “bad guys.”of the “bad guys.”

Passive Voice (con’d)Passive Voice (con’d) Also use passive voice when you wish to Also use passive voice when you wish to

emphasize what happened and the emphasize what happened and the person or thing acting is unknown or person or thing acting is unknown or unimportant.unimportant.

ExampleExample Poisonous gases were found in six Poisonous gases were found in six

factories.factories.

The use of passive emphasizes the finding of The use of passive emphasizes the finding of

gases, not who found them.gases, not who found them.Note:Note: Because passive voice often leads to awkward or wordy Because passive voice often leads to awkward or wordy

constructions, use passive voice sparingly and with good reason.constructions, use passive voice sparingly and with good reason.

When to use active voiceWhen to use active voice

Use active voice unless you are required Use active voice unless you are required or have very specific reasons for doing or have very specific reasons for doing otherwise.otherwise.

Active voice generally leads to more Active voice generally leads to more concise writing. concise writing.

It clarifies who is performing the action.It clarifies who is performing the action.

Remember: Staying active is a healthy practice, especially in your writing!

How to avoid passive How to avoid passive voicevoice

Many English verbs have been changed Many English verbs have been changed into useful nouns with the use of a suffix. into useful nouns with the use of a suffix.

Announce – announcementAnnounce – announcement

Propose - proposalPropose - proposal

Depart – departureDepart – departure

Meet – meeting Meet – meeting For active voice sentences use the verb For active voice sentences use the verb

instead of the noun form of these kinds of instead of the noun form of these kinds of words.words.

Rewrite the following Rewrite the following sentences by changing nouns sentences by changing nouns to verbs.to verbs.

The two scientists could not arrive at The two scientists could not arrive at a conclusion on anything.a conclusion on anything.

They held discussions on several They held discussions on several topics.topics.

However, neither could put forth a However, neither could put forth a proposal for a plan. proposal for a plan.

They only made a translation of They only made a translation of previous studies. previous studies.

Possible AnswersPossible Answers

The two scientists could not The two scientists could not concludeconclude anything. anything.

They They discusseddiscussed several topics. several topics. However, neither However, neither proposedproposed a plan. a plan. They only They only translatedtranslated previous previous

studies.studies.

Changing From Passive Changing From Passive to Active Voiceto Active Voice

The seeds were scattered by Jessica.The seeds were scattered by Jessica. A healthy harvest is expected by A healthy harvest is expected by

Jessica Jessica and her father. her father.

Another way of preserving Another way of preserving active voice is by placing the active voice is by placing the noun/s doing the action before noun/s doing the action before the verb. Try it!the verb. Try it!

AnswersAnswers

Jessica scattered the seeds.Jessica scattered the seeds. Jessica and her father Jessica and her father

expected a healthy harvest.expected a healthy harvest.

Avoid forms of the verb Avoid forms of the verb to to bebe

All passives consist of a form of the verb to be All passives consist of a form of the verb to be (am, is, are, was, were, being, been) plus a (am, is, are, was, were, being, been) plus a past participle. past participle.

Example:Example: The boy The boy was impressedwas impressed by Ms. Jones. by Ms. Jones.

A A past participlepast participle is the is the eded form of regular form of regular verbs for irregular verbs: en, n, t) and can fill verbs for irregular verbs: en, n, t) and can fill the empty slot in this sentence: “I had _______ the empty slot in this sentence: “I had _______ it.” it.”

Revise by avoiding to be Revise by avoiding to be verbsverbs

Houses were destroyed by the Houses were destroyed by the storm.storm.

The cake was eaten by me.The cake was eaten by me. Inexpensive ways for people to Inexpensive ways for people to

have fun are provided by parks.have fun are provided by parks. Oxygen was discovered in 1774 by Oxygen was discovered in 1774 by

Joseph Priestley.Joseph Priestley. A kitten was chosen by the family A kitten was chosen by the family

to have as a pet.to have as a pet.

Possible AnswersPossible Answers

The storm destroyed housesThe storm destroyed houses I ate the cake.I ate the cake. Parks provide inexpensive fun.Parks provide inexpensive fun. Joseph Priestley discovered Joseph Priestley discovered

oxygen in 1774.oxygen in 1774. The family chose a kitten as a The family chose a kitten as a

pet. pet.

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So What?So What? Although both constructions are Although both constructions are

grammatically correct, the active voice is grammatically correct, the active voice is usually more effective in academic and usually more effective in academic and business writing because it is simpler and business writing because it is simpler and more direct. The passive construction is more direct. The passive construction is effective only when the doer of the action effective only when the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant. is unknown or irrelevant.

ExamplesExamples The cruise liner was hijacked.The cruise liner was hijacked. The ball was hit.The ball was hit. The town was quarantined.The town was quarantined. © UWF Writing Lab © UWF Writing Lab

SummarySummary

Use active voice unless specified Use active voice unless specified otherwise.otherwise.

Make sure the subject is acting and not Make sure the subject is acting and not being acted upon.being acted upon.

Use the verb form of words with suffixesUse the verb form of words with suffixes Place subjects in front of the action they Place subjects in front of the action they

perform (this often eliminates to be perform (this often eliminates to be verbs) verbs)

Avoid to be forms of verbs Avoid to be forms of verbs

Works consultedWorks consulted

Ebest, Sally Barr and Charles T. BrusawEbest, Sally Barr and Charles T. Brusaw. . Writing from A to ZWriting from A to Z. Mountain View: . Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing, 2000.Mayfield Publishing, 2000.

Keen, Michael and Katherine H. Adams.Keen, Michael and Katherine H. Adams. Easy Access.Easy Access. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2002. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2002.

Troyka, Lynn Quitman. Troyka, Lynn Quitman. Quick Access.Quick Access. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001.2001.