Using active and passive voice

Using active and passive voiceUsing active and passive voiceWhat are active and passive voice?

Uses of active and passive voice

Active-voice verbs

Passive-voice verbs

Review A

Review B

What are active and passive What are active and passive voice?voice?

Like people, verbs can be

Mark sets up the shot.

Jennifer held the bat.

Len is troubled by his grade.

Carl was captivated by the game.

active or passive


Voice is the form a verb takes to show whether the subject of the verb . . .

performs the action

or receives the action

Len’s grades are troubling him.

Subject Verb

Subject Verb

Len is troubled by his grades.

When the subject of a verb performs the action, the verb is in the active voice.


The fire destroyed the house.

The subject fire performs the action of destroying.

SubjectActive-voice

verb

Mrs. Rodriguez grows corn on her farm.

What are active and passive What are active and passive voice?voice?A verb in the active voice has a direct object,

which tells who or what receives the action.

Mrs. Rodriguez grows corn on her farm.

VerbDirect object

The subject Mrs. Rodriguez performs the action.

The direct object corn receives the action.


When the subject of a verb receives the action, the verb is in the passive voice.

The house was destroyed by the fire.

The subject house receives the action of destroying.

SubjectPassive-

voice verb


Passive-voice constructions include a form of be, the past participle of the verb, and sometimes other helping verbs.

Form of be

Past participle

The funds were spent on new uniforms.

Form of be

Past participle

The funds have been spent on new uniforms.

Helping verb

Corn is grown on the farm.


A verb in the passive voice does not have a direct object.

Corn is grown on the farm.

Subject

The subject corn receives the action.

The performer of the action is not given.

Passive-voice verb


Sometimes a prepositional phrase beginning with by and telling who or what performs the action follows the verb in the passive voice.

The mayor was elected.

The prepositional phrase tells you that voters performed the action of electing.

by the voters.

Prepositional phrasePassive-voice verb

What are active and passive What are active and passive voice?voice?Sometimes in passive sentences the performer of

the action is not indicated at all.

Her sculptures have been shown in many other galleries.


Passive-voice verb

Several sculptures were sold today.


Passive-voice verb

[End of Section]

Rewrite each sentence in the voice shown before the item number.

(active) 1. The decision has been made by Mother.

(passive) 2. Leo sent that postcard.

(passive) 3. My manager has drafted a memo.

(active) 4. The poodle was treated by the veterinarian.

(active) 5. The race was won by Jackie.

(passive) 6. A wolf made those paw prints.

On Your Own


Uses of active and passive Uses of active and passive voicevoice

Active-voice verbs emphasize the action and the performer of the action.

A tornado damaged her home.Active voice

Emphasis is on the tornado and the action it performs.

Her home was damaged by a tornado.Passive voice

Emphasis is on the home, which receives the action.

Passive-voice verbs emphasize the receiver of the action.


Active-voice verbsActive-voice verbsWe usually prefer the active voice to the passive because the active voice is more forceful and direct.

He crossed the finish line just in time.Active voice Forceful and direct

The finish line was crossed just in time.

Passive voice

Not very forceful or direct

Uses of active and passive voiceUses of active and passive voiceActive-voice verbsActive-voice verbs

The active voice is also more concise than the passive voice. Since active-voice verbs take fewer words, they sound less awkward.

I will load the truck soon.Active voice

Clear and concise

Passive voice

Awkward sounding

The truck will be loaded soon by me.

Uses of active and passive voiceUses of active and passive voicePassive-voice verbsPassive-voice verbs

In general, you should avoid using the passive voice since sentences in the passive voice can sound awkward and weak.

Some trail erosion has been caused by all the flooding.

My parrot will be taken care of by my neighbor next week.

Awkward passive voice

Weak passive voice

Better (active voice)

Better (active voice)

All the flooding has caused some trail erosion.

My neighbor will take care of my parrot next week.


The passive voice does have its place, though. Use the passive voice when

• you want to emphasize the receiver of the action

Some remarkable fossils have been found in the area.

Appropriate passive voice

Emphasis is on the fossils, which receive the action. In this case, it is not important who found the fossils.


Use the passive voice when

• you do not know the performer of the action

Are the peaches being harvested on schedule?


Emphasis is on the peaches. We do not know who is doing the harvesting.


Use the passive voice when

• you do not want to reveal the performer of the action

Vicious rumors have been spread about the politician.


Emphasis is on the rumors. The writer does not want to say who has spread the rumors.

[End of Section]

Identify each verb as active or passive voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.

______ 1. The story was edited by Paulo.

______ 2. Some equipment has been stolen from the lab.

______ 3. Finally the two boys reached an agreement.

______ 4. The coastline had been battered badly by the hurricane.

______ 5. Kara has been collecting books by her favorite authors.

On Your Own


Review A

For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice.

1. Kareem admired his classmates’ exhibits at the science fair.

2. The firefighter was praised for her hard work and dedication.

3. Several shops were damaged by the high winds.

4. Ray will buy a bag of carrots and some red onions.

5. Have all the trails really been closed?

Review B

[End of Section]

_____ 1. Kevin prepared carefully for the exam.

_____ 2. Spanish and English are spoken by my aunt.

_____ 3. The historic home was built in 1860.

_____ 4. The children are making origami animals.

_____ 5. Important data will be gathered by our research team.

Identify each sentence as active or passive voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.

The End

Using active and passive voice

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