W R I T I N G B A S I C S ACTIVE vs. PASSIVE VOICE
D EFINITION
D EFINITION
ACTIVE VOICE
PASSIVE VOICE
In a sentence using active voice, the
subject of the sentence performs the
action expressed by the verb.
In a sentence using passive voice, the
subject is acted upon; he or she receives
the action expressed by the verb.
Examples Examples
The cat scratched the boy. Researchers
have conducted experiments to test the
hypothesis. Active voice is used
in most nonscientific writing.
Using active voice
makes your writing
clear & concise. The boy was scratched by the cat.
Experiments were conducted by
the researchers to test the
hypothesis.
US E O F PAS SIVE V OICE
WHEN TO USE IT
★ Emphasizing an object.
100 votes are required to pass the bill.
★ De-emphasizing an unknown subject/actor.
Over 120 different contaminants have been
dumped into the river.
US E O F ACTIVE VOIC E
★ If readers don’t need to know who is
CHANGING FROM PASSIVE TO
ACTIVE
responsible for the action.
Baby Sophia was delivered at 3:30 a.m. yesterday.
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Locate the “by the....” phrase or
consider who or what is
perform ing the action expressed
by the verb.
Make that person/thing the
subject of the sentence, and
change the verb accordingly.
Occasionally, you will need to infer
the who/what from the context in
the surrounding sentences.
PASSIVE VOICE The book is being read by most of the class.
ACTIVE VOICE Most of the class is reading the book.
The class is performing the action expressed by the
verb. In order to make the sentence into the active
voice, we make class the subject of the sentence and
change the verb to fit.
SPALDING UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER u LIBRARY 312 u P 502.873.4494 u [email protected] u
uLIBRARY 312 u P 502.873.4494 u [email protected] u