Understanding Active and Passive Voice

1
Understanding Active and Passive Voice

• The Path to Effective Writing

2
Verbs and Voice

• Voice is the form a verb takes to indicate
  whether the subject of the verb performs or
  receives the action.
• There are two types of voice active voice and
  passive voice.

3
Active Voice

• Active Voice indicates that the subject of the
  verb is acting
• Because the subject does or "acts upon" the verb
  in such sentences, the sentences are said to be
  in the active voice.

4
Active Voice

• These examples show that the subject is  doing
  the verb's action.
• The dog jumped onto the boy.
• The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb).
• Chloe will give a book report to the class.
• Chloe (subject) is doing the giving (verb).
• The computer ate my paper.
• The computer (subject) is doing the eating
  (verb).

5
Passive Voice

• In a passive voice sentence, the subject and
  object flip-flop. The subject becomes the passive
  recipient of the action.
• Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is
  passive), such sentences are said to be in the
  passive voice.

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Passive Voice

• These examples show the subject being acted upon
  by the verb.
• The boy was jumped on by the dog.
• Boy (subject) was being jumped on (verb)
• A book report will be given by Chloe to the
  class.
• Report (subject) will be given (verb).
• My paper was eaten by the computer.
• Paper (subject) was being eaten (verb).

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Reasons to Use the Active Voice

• Most writers prefer to use active voice because
  it is more direct.
• Compare
• Active The waiter dropped the tray of food.
• Passive The tray of food was dropped by the
  waiter.

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Reasons to Use the Active Voice

• The active voice is less awkward and clearly
  states a relationship between the subject and the
  action.
• Compare
• Passive Your request for funding has been denied
  by the review committee.
• Active The review committee denied your request
  for funding.
• The active voice sentence pattern propels the
  reader forward through your writing thus avoiding
  weak prose.

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When to Use Passive Voice

• In general, the passive voice is less direct,
  less forceful, and less concise than the active
  voice.
• Use the passive voice in the following
  situations
• Use passive voice when you do not know or do not
  want to reveal the performer of an action.
• Use passive voice when you want to emphasize the
  receiver of an action.

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Examples

• Awkward Passive My bicycle was repainted by
  Skye.
• Deliberate Passive My bicycle was repainted.
  (The performer is not mentioned and the emphasis
  is on the bicycle.)

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Form of Passive Voice Verbs

• The passive voice requires a "double verb" and
  will always consist of a form of the verb "to be"
  and the past participle (usually the "en/ed/t"
  form) of another verb.
• Example
• Active Rustum baked the bread.
• Passive The bread was baked by Rustum. (Was
  is a form of the verb be.)

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Form of Passive Voice Verbs

• Writers should be familiar with the forms of "to
  be" , often called linking verbs, so that they
  can easily identify the passive voice in their
  work.
• Review the forms of "to be"
• am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been

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Avoid forms 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 past
  participle.
• Example The boy was impressed by Ms. Jones.
• A past participle is the ed form of regular
  verbs for irregular verbs en, n, t) and can
  fill the empty slot in this sentence I had
  _______ it.

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Form of Passive Voice Verbs

• Note the forms of "to be" in the examples of the
  verb "to kick" in various forms of the passive
  voice
• is kicked----------------had been kickedwas
  kicked-------------is going to be kickedis being
  kicked---------will be kickedhas been
  kicked-------can be kickedwas being
  kicked------should be kicked

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Form of Passive Voice Verbs

• Often passive voice sentences will contain a "by"
  phrase indicting who or what performed the
  action.
• Passive sentences can be easily transformed into
  active sentences when the object of the
  preposition "by" is moved to the subject position
  in the sentence.

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How to avoid passive voice

• Many English verbs have been changed into useful
  nouns with the use of a suffix.
• Announce announcement
• Propose - proposal
• Depart departure
• Meet meeting
• For active voice sentences use the verb instead
  of the noun form of these kinds of words.

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Form of Passive Voice Verbs

• Examples
• Passive The cookies were eaten by the children.
• Active The children ate the cookies.
• Passive The tunnels are dug by the gophers.
• Active The gophers dug the tunnels.

18
Tell whether each verb in the following sentences
is in active voice or passive voice. Find the
verb. Then ask who or what is completing the
action.

1. Trees were being blown over by the wind.
2. The streetlights made long, scary shadows on the
   sidewalk.
3. The cave was explored by Mrs. Roskowskis class.
4. The Gettysburg Address was written by Abraham
   Lincoln.
5. Saba considered the book an inspiration.
6. The cake had been eaten by the time Chloe
   arrived.
7. Vivians fans cheered her on to victory.
8. The snow drifted over the fence and across the
   road.
9. The swelling on Marys arm was caused by a bee
   sting.
10. Sabrina and Roxanne were setting out birdseed for
    the birds.

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1. Trees were being blown over by the wind. passive
2. The streetlights made long, scary shadows on the
   sidewalk. active
3. The cave was explored by Mrs. Roskowskis class.
   passive
4. The Gettysburg Address was written by Abraham
   Lincoln. passive
5. Saba considered the book an inspiration. active
6. The cake had been eaten by the time Chloe
   arrived. passive
7. Vivians fans cheered her on to victory. active
8. The snow drifted over the fence and across the
   road. active
9. The swelling on Marys arm was caused by a bee
   sting. passive
10. Sabrina and Roxanne were setting out birdseed for
    the birds. active

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Directions Change the sentences below to the
active voice.

• The statue is being visited by hundreds of
  tourists every year.
• My books were stolen by someone yesterday.
• These books had been left in the classroom by a
  careless student.
• Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by
  plantation workers.
• The house had been broken into by someone while
  the owners were on vacation.

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Directions Change the sentences below to the
passive voice.

• Children cannot open these bottles easily.
• The government built a road right outside her
  front door.
• Mr. Larsen broke the antique vase as he walked
  through the store.
• When she arrived, the changes amazed her.
• The construction workers are making street
  repairs all month long.

22
In two paragraphs, describe the scene below. Use
active voice only. Pay close attention to your
verb usage.