Passive Voice
Active vs. Passive Voice
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To tell if a construction is active or passive
simply look at the subject:
If the subject is the "doer of the action," the
sentence is active.
 If the subject is the "receiver of the action," the
sentence is passive.
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If you do something, you're active; if you have
something done to you, you're passive.
Passive Voice
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Form of “to be” verb + past participle = Passive Voice.
 am, are, is, was, were, be, become, became
Example: The bone was eaten by Peggy.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = eaten
Find the main verb and re-word the sentence using only
the main verb.
Example: Peggy ate the bone.
Passive Voice
The police car was chased by the dog.
Passive Voice
The police car was chased by Big Dog.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = chased
Passive Voice
The police car was chased by Big Dog.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = chased
The dog chased the police car.
Passive Voice
Every bite of food was eaten by us.
Passive Voice
Every bite of food was eaten by us.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = eaten
Passive Voice
Every bite of food was eaten by us.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = eaten
We ate every bite of food.
Passive Voice
The letter was mailed by Marilyn.
Passive Voice
The letter was mailed by Marilyn.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = mailed
Passive Voice
The letter was mailed by Marilyn.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = mailed
Marilyn mailed the letter.
Passive Voice
At each concert, at least one tune from a wellknown opera was sung by the soprano.
Passive Voice
At each concert, at least one tune from a wellknown opera was sung by the soprano.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = sung
Passive Voice
At each concert, at least one tune from a wellknown opera was sung by the soprano.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = sung
At each concert, the soprano sang at least one tune
from a well-known opera.
Passive Voice
Large chunks of asbestos-laden material will be
removed from the hallways on the second and
third floors by asbestos abatement teams.
Passive Voice
Large chunks of asbestos-laden material will be
removed from the hallways on the second and
third floors by asbestos abatement teams.
“to be” verb = be
main verb = will + removed
Passive Voice
Large chunks of asbestos-laden material will be
removed from the hallways on the second and
third floors by asbestos abatement teams.
“to be” verb = be
main verb = will + removed
Asbestos abatement teams will remove large
chunks of asbestos-laden material from the
hallways on the second and third floors.
Passive Voice
When her house was invaded, Penelope had to
think of ways to delay her remarriage.
Passive Voice
When her house was invaded, Penelope had to
think of ways to delay her remarriage.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = invaded
Passive Voice
When her house was invaded, Penelope had to
think of ways to delay her remarriage.
“to be” verb = was
main verb = invaded
After suitors invaded her house, Penelope had to
think of ways to delay her remarriage.
Passive Voice
Heart disease is considered the leading cause of
death in the United States.
Passive Voice
Heart disease is considered the leading cause of
death in the United States.
“to be” verb = is
main verb = considered
Other possible verbs?
Passive Voice
Heart disease is considered the leading cause of
death in the United States.
“to be” verb = is
main verb = considered
Research points to heart disease as the leading
cause of death in the United States.
Researchers have concluded that heart disease is
the leading cause of death in the United States.
Passive Voice
“Do not be a lazy thinker”
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The working class was marginalized.
African Americans were discriminated against.
Women were not treated as equals.
A number of things are indicated by these
results.
These results indicate a number of things.
 Further analysis showed/suggested/yielded…
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Weak Verbs
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Weak Verb: He is the leader of the people.
Strong Verb: He leads the people.
Weak Verbs
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Weak Verb: He is the leader of the people.
Strong Verb: He leads the people.
Weak Verb: She was the first to finish.
Strong Verb: She finished first.
Weak Verbs
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Weak Verb: He is the leader of the people.
Strong Verb: He leads the people.
Weak Verb: She was the first to finish.
Strong Verb: She finished first.
Weak Verb: Like most people, Bob is afraid of public
speaking.
Strong Verb: Like most people, Bob fears public
speaking.
Weak Verbs
Public speaking is the one thing that most people fear
more than death.
Weak Verbs
Public speaking is the one thing that most people fear
more than death.
Most people fear public speaking more than death.
Weak Verbs
Bob is full of worry about looking foolish.
Weak Verbs
Bob is full of worry about looking foolish.
Bob worries about looking foolish.
Weak Verbs
He is a student who has enrolled in a speech class.
Weak Verbs
He is a student who has enrolled in a speech class.
He has enrolled in a speech class.
Weak Verbs
Preparation of a speech is something that Bob learns how
to do.
Weak Verbs
Preparation of a speech is something that Bob learns how
to do.
Bob learns how to prepare a speech.