Self Teaching Unit:
Active / Passive Voice
ACTIVE / PASSIVE VOICE
Active voice
In most English sentences with an action verb, the subject performs the action denoted
by the verb.
These examples show that the subject is doing the verb's action.
Because the subject does or "acts upon" the verb in such sentences, the sentences are
said to be in the active voice.
To see how well you understand active voice, do Exercise 1.
Passive voice
One can change the normal word order of many active sentences (those with a direct
object) so that the subject is no longer active, but is, instead, being acted upon by the
verb - or passive.
Note in these examples how the subject-verb relationship has changed.
Active Voice
1. On Fridays, the team hits balls all afternoon.
Doer Subject: team
Action Verb: hits
2. The mouse took the cheese right out of the trap.
3. The group was strongly persuaded by what you said.
4. Mel's cat often scratches the furniture in the living room.
5. Later, my cousin flew into Baltimore from Chicago.
6. Major Brown patiently taught the new cadet the basics of
marching.
7. Against all odds, the contestant was picking all the right
answers.
8. With a microscope, a person can see the cells in a piece of hair.
9. The students have read that book twice now.
10.
In about an hour, the company had completed the
upholstery job.
1. On Fridays, the team hits balls all afternoon.
Doer Subject: team
Action Verb: hits
2. The mouse took the cheese right out of the trap.
Doer Subject: mouse
Action Verb: took
3. The group was strongly persuaded by what you said.
Doer Subject: group
Action Verb: was persuaded
4. Mel's cat often scratches the furniture in the living room.
Doer Subject: cat
Action Verb: scratches
5. Later, my cousin flew into Baltimore from Chicago.
Doer Subject: cousin
Action Verb: flew
6. Major Brown patiently taught the new cadet the basics of
marching.
Doer Subject: Major Brown
Action Verb: taught
7. Against all odds, the contestant was picking all the right
answers.
Doer Subject: contestant
Action Verb: was picking
8. With a microscope, a person can see the cells in a piece of
hair.
Doer Subject: person
Action Verb: can see
9. The students have read that book twice now.
Doer Subject: students
Action Verb: have read
10. In about an hour, the company had completed the
upholstery job.
Doer Subject: company
Action Verb: had completed
Passive Voice
1. Fourteen soldiers were given awards by the commanding
officer.
Doer subject: Soldiers
Action verb: were given
2. In due time everyone will be told about the program by the
director.
Doer subject: everyone
Action verb: will be told
3. The golden slipper was worn by Cinderella.
4. A note was taped to my door by the management company.
5. During my vacation, my garden was watered by my neighbor.
6. This key can be used by anyone.
7. For her own good, the advice should be heeded by Mary.
8. This fine Brazilian coffee was handpicked by the owner himself.
9. Flowers were placed at the memorial by the President.
10.
The speech will be interpreted by a specialist in Urdu.
1. Fourteen soldiers were given awards by the commanding officer.
Doer subject: Soldiers
Action verb: were given
2. In due time everyone will be told about the program by the
director.
Doer subject: everyone
Action verb: will be told
3. The golden slipper was worn by Cinderella.
Doer subject: slipper
Action verb: was worn
4. A note was taped to my door by the management company.
Doer subject: note
Action verb: was taped
5. During my vacation, my garden was watered by my neighbor.
Doer subject: garden
Action verb: was watered
6. This key can be used by anyone.
Doer subject: key
Action verb: can we used
7. For her own good, the advice should be heeded by Mary.
Doer subject: advice
Action verb: should be heeded
8. This fine Brazilian coffee was handpicked by the owner himself.
Doer subject: Brazilian coffee
Action verb: was handpicked
9. Flowers were placed at the memorial by the President.
Doer subject: flowers
Action verb: were placed
10. The speech will be interpreted by a specialist in Urdu.
Doer subject: speech
Action verb: will be interpreted