Using Active and Passive Voice
What 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 voice?
Like people, verbs can be
active
Billy kicks
the ball.
Josie plays the
instrument.
or
passive
Kim is bothered
by a headache.
Jen has been
hurt by a friend.
What are active and passive voice?
Voice is the form a verb takes to show whether
the subject of the verb . . .
performs the action
Subject
Verb
The clown carries the balloons.
or receives the action
Subject
Verb
The balloons are carried by the
clown.
What are active and passive voice?
A verb in the active voice expresses an action
done by its subject.
ActiveSubject voice verb
My little sister painted the
picture.
Painting is the action done by the
sister. The subject sister performs
the action of painting.
What are active and passive voice?
A verb in the passive voice expresses an action
done to its subject.
Subject
Passivevoice verb
The picture was painted by my little
sister.
Painting is an action done to the picture.
The subject picture receives the action of
painting.
What are active and passive voice?
Passive-voice verbs consist of
a form of be +
a past participle
were planted
Passive-voice verbs can also include helping verbs.
a helping verb + a form of be + a past participle
have been planted
What are active and passive voice?
A prepositional phrase that begins with by may
follow the passive-voice verb to tell who or what
performs the action.
Passive-voice
verb
Prepositional
phrase
The cat has been treated.by our vet.
The prepositional phrase tells you that our
vet performed the action of treating.
What are active and passive voice?
On Your Own
Complete each sentence by adding the verb as indicated in
parentheses.
1. Excellent work _______ on that report. (done, passive
voice)
2. Mr. Yang _______ the certificates. (awarded, active voice)
3. Those photos _______ by Cody. (taken, passive voice)
4. This new software _______ clear images. (created, active
voice)
5. At the ceremony the mayor _______ the volunteers.
(honored, active voice)
[End of Section]
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs emphasize the action and the
performer of the action.
Active
voice
Lightning hit the tree.
Emphasis on the lightning and the action
it performs
Passive-voice verbs emphasize the receiver of
the action.
Passive
voice
The tree was hit by lightning.
Emphasis on the tree, which receives the action
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs
Writers usually prefer the active voice because it is
more forceful and direct.
Active
voice
Our goalie made three great saves.
Passive
voice
Three great saves were
made by our goalie.
The crowd cheered wildly.
Wild cheering was done
by the crowd.
Uses of active and passive voice
Passive-voice verbs
The passive voice does have its place, though.
Use the passive voice when
• you do not know who performed the action
• you do not want to reveal the performer of the
action
The flowers were left on her doorstep
early this morning.
A large donation has been made to the
charity fund.
Uses of active and passive voice
On Your Own
Complete each sentence by adding the verb as indicated in
parentheses. For each passive-voice sentence, tell why the
passive voice is used.
1. My sister __________ the parakeet. (fed, active voice)
2. Some books __________ from the library. (stolen,
passive voice)
3. Marion __________ that book three times. (read, active
voice)
4. You may not like it, but a decision __________. (made,
passive voice)
[End of Section]
Review A
For each sentence, identify the boldface verb as active or
passive. Then tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the
action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
1. Snow slowly drifted across the road.
2. The swelling on Kelly’s arm was caused by a bee sting.
3. Several streetlights were blown over during the storm.
4. Raymond has set some birdseed out for the cardinals.
Review B
For each sentence, supply the verb as indicated in
parentheses.
1. Kenny’s fans __________ him on to victory. (cheer,
active voice)
2. The science class __________ the nature center. (visit,
active voice)
3. The Gettysburg Address __________ by Abraham
Lincoln. (write, passive voice)
4. The dogs __________ after their long exercise session.
(rest, active voice)
5. Most of the food __________ by Uncle Pablo. (prepare,
passive voice)
[End of Section]
The End