What are active and passive voice?
Verbs can be
active
Arnold kicked the ball.
or
passive
The ball was kicked by Arnold.
What are active and passive voice?
Voice is the form a verb takes to show whether
the subject of the verb . . .
performs the action (active)
Subject
Verb
Arnold kicked the ball.
or receives the action (passive)
Subject
Verb
The ball was kicked by Arnold.
What are active and passive voice?
When the subject of a verb performs the action,
the verb is in the active voice.
Subject
Active-voice
verb
The fire destroyed the house.
The subject fire performs the action
of destroying.
What are active and passive voice?
A verb in the active voice has a direct object,
which tells who or what receives the action.
Verb
Direct
object
Mrs. Rodriguez grows
growscorn
cornononher
herfarm.
farm.
The subject Mrs. Rodriguez
performs the action.
The direct object corn receives the
action.
What are active and passive voice?
When the subject of a verb receives the action,
the verb is in the passive voice.
Subject
Passivevoice verb
The house has been
destroyed by the fire.
The subject house receives
the action of destroying.
What are active and passive voice?
A verb in the passive voice does not have a direct
object.
Subject
Passivevoice verb
Corn is
Corn
isgrown
grownononthe
thefarm.
farm.
The subject corn receives the action.
The performer of the action is not given.
What are active and passive voice?
Passive-voice constructions include
• a form of be (am, is, are, was, were, be,
being, been),
• the past participle (-ed form) of the verb,
• and sometimes other helping verbs.
Form Past
of be participle
Corn is grown on Mrs. Rodriguez’s farm.
Helping Form
verb
of be
Past
participle
The house has been destroyed by fire.
What are active and passive voice?
Here are the forms of be that we can use to
create the passive voice.
Forms of be
am
are
is
was
were
be
been
being
The past participle form of the verb follows the
helping verb have, has, or had. It is usually the –ed form,
but may be different for an irregular verb.
He has walked home.
He has eaten the food.
What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
1. Sean was startled by the crack of thunder.
2. The kitten tumbled playfully across the
floor.
3. Our old truck has been repaired many
times.
What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
1. Sean was startled by the crack of thunder.
Passive voice
The subject Sean receives the action of the verb.
What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
2. The kitten tumbled playfully across the floor.
Active voice
The subject kitten performs the action of the verb.
What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
3. Our old truck has been repaired many
times.
Passive voice
The subject truck receives the action of the verb.
What are active and passive voice?
On Your Own
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.
[End of Section]
What are active and passive voice?
Answers
Rewrite each sentence in the voice shown before the item
number.
(active)
1. The
decision
has been
made by Mother.
Mother
has made
the decision.
Thatsent
postcard
was sent by Leo.
(passive) 2. Leo
that postcard.
(passive) 3. My
manager
drafted
a by
memo.
A memo
has has
been
drafted
my manager.
(active)
The poodle
veterinarian
treatedby
the
poodle.
4. The
was treated
the
veterinarian.
(active)
Jackie
won
the
race.
5. The
race
was
won
by Jackie.
Those
(passive) 6. A
wolf paw
madeprints
thosewere
paw made
prints.by a wolf.
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs
We usually prefer the active voice to the passive
because the active voice is more forceful and
direct.
Active
voice
He crossed the finish line just in time.
Forceful and direct
Passive
voice
The finish line was crossed just in
time.
Not very forceful or direct
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs
The active voice is also more concise than the
passive voice. Since active-voice verbs take fewer
words, they sound less awkward.
Active
voice
I will load the truck soon.
Clear and concise
Passive
voice
The truck will be loaded soon by me.
Awkward sounding
Uses of active and passive voice
Passive-voice verbs
Change passive voice sentences to active voice
sentences by flipping what comes before and
after the verb.
Subject
Passive Voice
A plane was taken to Chicago by our family.
New Subject
Active Voice
Our family took a plane to Chicago.
When you change the subjects, you also eliminate the “to be”
helping verb.
Uses of active and passive voice
Passive-voice verbs
You may have to assume the subject in to change
passive voice to active.
Subject
Passive Voice
A report was written. [by somebody]
New Subject
Active Voice
Somebody wrote a report.
Sometimes, we use the passive voice to be polite:
Mistake were made. vs. You made mistakes.
But generally, it is better to use active voice for effective writing.
Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. If it is written in passive
voice, change to active. Be prepared to explain your
answer.
1. Each morning I am awakened by the alarm.
2. The mayor thanked Angelo for his work.
3. How many donations have been made so
far this year?
Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
1. Each morning I am awakened by the alarm.
Passive voice
The subject I receives the action of the verb.
Passive voice is awkward in this sentence. The
sentence would sound better with an active-voice
verb: Each morning the alarm wakes me.
Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
2. The mayor thanked Angelo for his work.
Active voice
The subject mayor performs the action of the verb.
Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
3. How many donations have been made so
far this year?
Passive voice
The subject donations receives the action of the
verb. The passive voice is appropriate in this
sentence. The polite emphasis is on the donations.
Readers don’t know who made the donations.
Uses of active and passive voice
On Your Own
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.
[End of Section]
Uses of active and passive voice
Answers
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.
passive
______ 1. The
story Paulo
was edited
Paulo.
Rewrite:
editedby
the
story.
passive
______ 2. Rewrite: Somebody stole equipment from the lab.
______ 3. Finally the two boys reached an agreement.
active
passive
______ 4. The
coastline
been battered
badly
by the
Rewrite:
The had
hurricane
had badly
battered
the
hurricane.
coastline.
______ 5. Kara has been collecting books by her favorite
active
authors.
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 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. active
2. The firefighter was praised for her hard work and
dedication. passive
3. Several shops were damaged by the high winds.
passive
4. Ray will buy a bag of carrots and some red onions.
active
5. Have all the trails really been closed? passive
Review B
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.
_____ 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.
[End of Section]
Review B
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.
active
_____ 1. Kevin prepared carefully for the exam.
passive
_____ 2. Spanish
English
are spoken
myEnglish.
aunt.
Rewrite: and
My aunt
speaks
Spanishbyand
passive
_____ 3. The historic home was built in 1860.
active
_____ 4. The children are making origami animals.
_____ 5. Important
data
will be team
gathered
by our research
passive
Rewrite: Our
research
will gather
team.
important data.
The End