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ROSA FORT HIGH AFJROTC
GRAMMAR PROGRAMMED TEXT
Lesson 5:
Passive Voice/Active Voice
INTRODUCTION
You can maximize your learning from this programmed text by following a few simple steps.
First, take a quick scan over the layout of the document. You’ll notice that this lesson is divided
into individual sections starting with a Reading Assignment, followed by a few Review
Questions, and concluded with Answers to Review Questions in the back. Once you are
familiar with the layout, complete the reading assignment and then answer the corresponding
questions (using pen or pencil) to the best of your ability (choose the correct response, complete
the sentence, fill in the blank, etc.). Check your work after answering all the questions. If you
find that you’ve made a mistake, make the appropriate correction and try to determine the reason
for your error before continuing with the lesson. If you do not understand the basis for the
correct response to a particular question, consult your flight instructor during normal duty hours.
Once complete, turn in this programmed text to your flight instructor to certify completion.
READING ASSIGNMENT
Passive Voice/Active Voice
A verb has two voices, active or passive. Simply stated, in the active voice, the subject is
performing an action; in the passive voice, the subject is being acted upon. For example:
The goalie slapped the puck away from the net. (The subject, goalie, is performing the
action.)
The puck was slapped away from the net by the goalie. (The subject, puck, is being acted
upon.)
It’s usually preferable to use the active voice when writing. In easy to read materials (books,
magazines, newspapers), 75% of sentences are in the active voice, while only 25% are in the
passive voice. According to the 1 June 1997 edition of The Tongue and Quill, military writers
commonly reverse the ratio of 75%:25%.
The passive voice is found in situations when the actor is unknown, obvious, better to be left
unnamed, or unimportant. For example:
The Eiffel Tower, the gigantic steel structure without walls, was built in 1889. (The actor(s),
steelworkers, are obvious to the reader.)
After the mixture had reached a temperature of 33 degrees Kelvin, an alkaline substance was
added. (The identity of the “mixer” is unknown.)
Pete Rose will be nominated for admission to the Baseball Hall of Fame by sportswriters.
(The actors, sportswriters, are not as important as the subject, Pete Rose.)
Summer school was made mandatory for all graduating seniors wanting to attend college.
(The decision maker(s) here obviously opted for anonymity whenever possible.)
Remember that only transitive verbs (those that can take a direct object) may be used in the
passive voice. The passive voice always consists of an auxiliary verb (a form of the verb “to be”)
plus the past participle of the main verb. Forms of the verb “to be” include: am, is, are, was,
were, be, being, and been. The past participle of a main verb will usually have the ending “ed”
(as in “was cooked”) or “en” (as in “are eaten”).
Verbs that cannot take a direct object are called intransitive verbs. A few examples of these are:
seem, become, bloom, laugh, arise, begin, come, fall, swim, and speak. None of these verbs will
be found in the passive form.
As we indicated previously, the active voice is usually preferred over the passive voice.
Whenever possible and wherever appropriate, the active voice should be the “voice of choice.”
In those instances where we can make a difference by changing a passive voice construction to an
active voice construction, The Tongue and Quill offers three, sure-fire solutions:

Put the actor (doer) before the verb.
Passive: The chinaware was broken by the packers.
Active: The packers broke the chinaware.

Drop part of the verb.
Passive: The ingredients are listed on the label.
Active: The list of ingredients is on the label.

Change the verb.
Passive: The propeller shaft has not been received.
Active: The propeller shaft has not arrived.
In conclusion, use the active voice predominantly and the passive voice sparingly. It will help
keep your writing crisp and your audience interested and pining for more. After all, which
version of Voltaire’s famous quote would you rather hear:
“That which you say might not be agreed to by me, but your right to say it will be defended to the
death by me.”
OR
“I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.
This concludes the reading assignment portion of the PT on passive voice/active voice. Now that
you’ve had an opportunity to review both passive and active voice forms and uses, it’s time for
you to take it to the next level! The following series of questions will reveal whether you have
achieved the desired level of expertise with passive voice/active voice or if you need further
study in this area. As explained in the introduction, the correct answer and rationale for each
question is located at the back for your ready reference. Consult the answer bank only after you
have completed all questions. If you miss a question, read the provided rationale and go back
over the corresponding section of the reading assignment if necessary. Do your best to
thoroughly understand this material. If anything is unclear to you, ask your instructor for
assistance. Good luck!
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Change the following sentences from passive voice to active voice.
1.
Chocolate chip cookies are not enjoyed by Mike.
2.
The final exams were successfully passed by everybody in the training squadron.
3.
By blasting past the field in the final stretch, each race was won by her in signature fashion.
4.
The rules of grammar must be adhered to by Air Force supervisors.
5.
His worst fear would be realized after he entered the underground cavern.
6.
Uncle Phil’s entire estate was left to his niece Alexis.
7.
The record for most shutouts was held by a goalie in the all-boy’s Saturday Mud League.
8.
The sad songs are sung by Sue.
9.
Later that afternoon, the troops were addressed by the commandant herself.
10. In less than 12 hours, 30 inches of wet snow was dropped by the winter storm.
11. For several years, the twins were brought up by their great aunt.
12. His parents were greatly concerned about his lack of manners.
13. The stand of old-growth pines was ripped out by the force of the twin tornadoes.
14. Nearly one-third of the software company’s workforce was impacted by the recession.
15. The dance troupe’s final performance was cancelled due to a lack of ticket sales.
16. Sixteen stained-glass windows were broken by vandals Saturday night.
17. None of the questions was answered satisfactorily by the burglary suspects.
18. Two of the plane’s four engines had been repaired just prior to takeoff.
19. The law school graduates were given a standing ovation by the audience.
20. The long-stem roses were carefully placed into a crystal vase by the professional florist.
Determine whether each of the following statements is true or false.
21. A transitive verb can be used in the passive voice.
a. true
b. false
22. The verb “to seem” is an example of an intransitive verb.
a. true
b. false
23. The passive voice is used in approximately 37% of sentences found in written materials.
a. true
b. false
24. Military writers tend to parallel civilian writers in their use of the active and passive voices.
a. true
b. false
25. The active voice is preferred over the passive voice.
a. true
b. false
26. The passive voice comprises an auxiliary verb with a form of the verb “to be” plus the past
participle of the main verb.
a. true
b. false
27. The passive voice is preferred when the actor is either unknown or unimportant.
a. true
b. false
28. In an everyday newspaper, approximately 75% of sentences are written in the active voice.
a. true
b. false
ANSWERS TO REVIEW QUESTIONS
1.
Mike does not enjoy chocolate chip cookies.
2.
Everybody in the training squadron successfully passed the final exams.
3.
She ran each race in signature fashion by blasting past the field in the final stretch.
4.
Air Force supervisors must adhere to the rules of grammar.
5.
He would realize his worst fear after he entered the underground cavern.
6.
Uncle Phil left his entire estate to his niece Alexis.
7.
A goalie in the all-boy’s Saturday Mud League held the record for most shutouts.
8.
Sue sings the sad songs.
9.
Later that afternoon, the commandant herself addressed the troops.
10. The winter storm dropped 30 inches of wet snow in less than 12 hours.
11. For several years, their great aunt brought up the twins.
12. His lack of manners greatly concerned his parents.
13. The force of the twin tornadoes ripped out the stand of old-growth pines.
14. The recession impacted nearly one-third of the software company’s workforce.
15. Due to a lack of ticket sales, the dance troupe cancelled its final performance.
16. Vandals broke sixteen stained-glass windows Saturday night.
17. The burglary suspects answered none of the questions satisfactorily.
18. This sentence might best be left as is. The actor is both unknown and unnecessary.
However, with the inclusion of an action agent subject, such as the noun mechanics, we
could rewrite the sentence as follows: The mechanics repaired two of the plane’s four
engines just prior to takeoff.
19. The audience gave the law school graduates a standing ovation.
20. The professional florist carefully placed the long-stem roses into a crystal vase.
21. a.
22. a.
23. b.
24. b.
25. a.
26. a.
27. a.
28. a.