Using Active and Passive Voice

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Using Active and Passive Voice
What are active and passive voice? Active
voice Passive voice Retained object Uses of
active and passive voice Active-voice
verbs Passive-voice verbs Review A Review B
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What are active and passive voice?
Like people, verbs can be
Harry tosses the ball.
active
Jill fell in the mud.
or
Jim is confused by the question.
passive
Phil has been hit by a snowball.
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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
Chef Tanaka prepares the meal.
or receives the action
Subject
Verb
The meal is prepared by Chef Tanaka.
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What are active and passive voice?Active voice
When the subject of a verb performs the action,
the verb is in the active voice.
Active-voice verb
Subject
The tornado damaged many homes in the area.
The subject tornado performs the action of
damaging.
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What are active and passive voice?Active voice
A transitive verb in the active voice has a
direct object, which tells who or what receives
the action.
Direct object
Verb
Carol has adopted the puppy.
Carol has adopted the puppy.
The subject Carol performs the action.
The direct object puppy receives the action.
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What are active and passive voice?Transitive
verbs
A transitive verb has an objecta word that tells
who or what received the action.
Object
Transitive verb
Everyone cheered the football team during the
championship game.
The object team receives the action of cheered.
An intransitive verb does not have an object.
Intransitive verb
The gorilla roared.
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What are active and passive voice?Direct objects
A direct object is a noun, pronoun, or word group
that tells who or what receives the action of a
verb or shows the result of the action.
Direct object
Verb
board
Dan measured the board carefully.
measured what?
board
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What are active and passive voice?Passive voice
When the subject of a verb receives the action,
the verb is in the passive voice.
Passive-voice verb
Subject
Many homes in the area were damaged by the
tornado.
The subject homes receives the action of being
damaged.
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What are active and passive voice?Passive voice
Passive voice constructions include
form of be

past participle
were
returned
Other helping verbs may also be included.
form of be

past participle
helping verb

have
returned
been
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What are active and passive voice?Passive voice
Passive voice constructions include a form of be,
the past participle of the verb, and sometimes
other helping verbs.
Form of be
Past participle
The paintings were returned to the museum.
Form of be
Past participle
Helping verb
The paintings have been returned to the museum.
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What are active and passive voice?Passive voice
The following forms of be can be used to create
the passive voice.
Forms of Be Forms of Be Forms of Be Forms of Be
am are is was
were be been being
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What are active and passive voice?Passive voice
A verb in the passive voice does not have a
direct object.
Passive-voice verb
Subject
The puppy has been adopted.
The puppy has been adopted.
The subject puppy receives the action.
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What are active and passive voice?Passive voice
Sometimes a verb in the passive voice is followed
by a prepositional phrase that begins with by and
tells who or what performs the action.
Prepositional phrase
Passive-voice verb
His watch was repaired.
by a jeweler.
The prepositional phrase tells you that a jeweler
performed the action of repairing.
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What are active and passive voice?Passive voice
Sometimes, a passive sentence does not indicate
the performer of the action.
Passive-voice verb
The Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s.
The performer of the action is not given.
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What are active and passive voice?Retained object
When a sentence in the active voice has both an
indirect object and a direct object . . .
Indirect object
Active-voice verb
Direct object
Ms. Cook gave each student a folder.
either object can become the subject when the
sentence is put in the passive voice.
Passive-voice verb
Passive-voice verb
Subject
Subject
Each student was given a folder (by Ms. Cook).
A folder was given to each student (by Ms. Cook).
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What are active and passive voice?Retained object
When an active sentence with both a direct and an
indirect object is put in the passive voice, the
object that does not become the subject serves as
the retained object.
Indirect object
Direct object
Active voice
Ms. Cook gave each student a folder.
Subject
Retained object
Passive voice
Each student was given a folder.
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What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in
the active or passive voice. If a sentence has a
retained object, identify it.
1. Oliver has borrowed several books from the
library.
2. Important data was gathered during the
expedition.
3. Before nap time, the children were read a
story.
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What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in
the active or passive voice. If a sentence has a
retained object, identify it.
1. Oliver has borrowed several books from the
library.
Active voice
The subject, Oliver, performs the action of
borrowing.
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What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in
the active or passive voice. If a sentence has a
retained object, identify it.
2. Important data was gathered during the
expedition.
Passive voice
The subject, data, receives the action of the
verb.
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What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in
the active or passive voice. If a sentence has a
retained object, identify it.
3. Before nap time, the children were read a
story.
Passive voice
The subject, children, receives the action of the
verb. In this sentence, story is the retained
object.
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What are active and passive voice?
On Your Own
Rewrite each sentence in the voice shown before
the item number. (active) 1. The movie review
was edited by Lenny. (passive) 2. Our entire
class signed the letter. (passive) 3. My
grandfather planted this garden. (active) 4. The
bike has been repaired by my older sister.
(active) 5. The tennis tournament was won by
Tyler. (active) 6. We were given a tour by Ms.
Hendrix.
End of Section
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What are active and passive voice?
Answers
Rewrite each sentence in the voice shown before
the item number. (active) 1. The book review was
edited by Lenny. (passive) 2. Our entire class
signed the letter. (passive) 3. My grandfather
planted this garden. (active) 4. The bike has
been repaired by my older sister. (active)
5. The chess tournament was won by Tyler.
(active) 6. We were given a tour by Ms. Hendrix.
Lenny edited the movie review.
The letter was signed by our entire class.
This garden was planted by my grandfather.
My older sister has repaired the bike.
Tyler won the tennis tournament.
Ms. Hendrix gave us a tour.
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Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs emphasize the action and the
performer of the action.
Active voice
The optician adjusted the eyeglasses.
Emphasis on the optician and the adjusting
Passive-voice verbs emphasize the receiver of the
action.
The eyeglasses were adjusted by the optician.
Passive voice
Emphasis on the eyeglasses, which receive the
action
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Uses of active and passive voiceActive-voice
verbs
Writers prefer the active voice because it is
more forceful and more direct.
Active voice
The group has reached a decision.
Forceful and direct
Passive voice
A decision has been reached by the group.
Not very forceful or direct
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Uses of active and passive voiceActive-voice
verbs
The active voice is also more concise than the
passive voice. Since active-voice verbs take
fewer words, they sound less awkward.
Active voice
Gina asked me to go to the game.
Clear and concise
Passive voice
I was asked by Gina to go to the game.
Awkward sounding
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Uses of active and passive voicePassive-voice
verbs
In general, you should avoid using the passive
voice since sentences in the passive voice can
sound awkward and weak.
The lawn will be mowed this weekend by Cynthia.
Cynthia will mow the lawn this weekend.
Awkward (passive voice)
Better (active voice)
A special bone was given to the dog by the little
boy.
The little boy gave the dog a special bone.
Weak (passive voice)
Better (active voice)
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Uses of active and passive voicePassive-voice
verbs
The passive voice does have its place, though.
Use the passive voice when

• you do not know who performed the action

Three microscopes have been taken from the
science lab.
Appropriate passive voice
The writer does not know who took the microscopes.
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Uses of active and passive voicePassive-voice
verbs
Use the passive voice when

• you do not want to reveal the performer of the
  action

Several flat notes were hit during the opening
number.
Appropriate passive voice
The writer does not want to say who hit the flat
notes.
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Uses of active and passive voicePassive-voice
verbs
Use the passive voice when

• you want to emphasize the receiver of the action
  rather than the performer

Lasers are used in communication, industry, and
medicine.
Appropriate passive voice
The writer wants to emphasize the lasers, not who
is using them.
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Uses of active and passive voicePassive-voice
verbs
Some software programs can check your writing for
verbs in the passive voice.
Grammar Gal Says...
Several key pieces of evidence were left at the
crime scene. These clues have been studied
thoroughly by detectives.
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Uses of active and passive voicePassive-voice
verbs
Keep in mind The program cannot tell you why you
used the passive voice. If you used it for a good
reason, dont try to change it to active voice.
Grammar Gal Says...
Detectives have studied these
clues thoroughly.
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Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in
the active or passive voice. If the sentence is
in the passive, tell whether the passive voice is
appropriate.
1. Old medical instruments are collected by my
cousin Maria.
2. We have visited that museum before.
3. The fire station on the town square was built
in 1904.
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Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in
the active or passive voice. If the sentence is
in the passive, tell whether the passive voice is
appropriate.
1. Old medical instruments are collected by my
cousin Maria.
Passive voice
The subject, instruments, receives the action of
the verb. Passive voice is awkward in this
sentence. The sentence would sound better in the
active voice My cousin Maria collects old
medical instruments.
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Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in
the active or passive voice. If the sentence is
in the passive, tell whether the passive voice is
appropriate.
2. We have visited that museum before.
Active voice
The subject, We, performs the action of the verb.
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Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in
the active or passive voice. If the sentence is
in the passive, tell whether the passive voice is
appropriate.
3. The fire station on the town square was built
in 1904.
Passive voice
The subject, fire station, receives the action of
the verb. The passive voice is appropriate in
this sentence. The emphasis is on the fire
station, not on who built it.
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Uses of active and passive voice
On Your Own
Identify each verb as active or passive voice.
Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the
active voice. If the passive voice is
appropriate, leave the sentence as is. _____
1. The chickens are being fed by the farmer.
_____ 2. A lovely plant has been left on my
doorstep! _____ 3. The manager had hung a large,
colorful poster in the store window. _____
4. The chapter on oceans was carefully read by
Tim. _____ 5. My brother has been sending me
letters from college.
End of Section
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Uses of active and passive voice
Answers
Identify each verb as active or passive voice.
Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the
active voice. If the passive voice is
appropriate, leave the sentence as is. _____
1. The chickens are being fed by the farmer.
_____ 2. A lovely plant has been left on my
doorstep! _____ 3. The manager had hung a large,
colorful poster in the store window. _____
4. The chapter on oceans was carefully read by
Tim. _____ 5. My brother has been sending me
letters from college.
The farmer is feeding the chickens.
passive
okay
passive
active
passive
Tim carefully read the chapter on oceans.
active
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Review A
For each sentence, tell whether the boldfaced
verb is in the active or the passive voice.
1. The choir director immediately noticed Lindas
excellent singing voice.
2. Dr. Julia Gold is respected by her colleagues.
3. The missing money was replaced in the middle
of the night.
4. Our group will perform a skit about the
founding of the Jamestown settlement.
5. Has the basketball team really been practicing
for two hours?
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Review A
For each sentence, tell whether the boldfaced
verb is in the active or the passive voice.
1. The choir director immediately noticed Lindas
excellent singing voice.
active
2. Dr. Julia Gold is respected by her colleagues.
passive
3. The missing money was replaced in the middle
of the night.
passive
4. Our group will perform a skit about the
founding of the Jamestown settlement.
active
5. Has the basketball team really been practicing
for two hours?
active
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Review B
Identify each sentence as active or passive
voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence
in the active voice. If the passive voice is
appropriate, leave the sentence as is.
_____ 1. We were hoping for clearer skies for the
weekend.
_____ 2. Special effects are often used to create
excitement in Hollywood blockbusters.
_____ 3. The test results were told to us by the
principal.
_____ 4. Bill has carefully reviewed the chapter
on constitutional amendments.
_____ 5. The halftime show was enjoyed by the
crowd.
End of Section
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Review B
Identify each sentence as active or passive
voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence
in the active voice. If the passive voice is
appropriate, leave the sentence as is.
_____ 1. We were hoping for clearer skies for the
weekend.
active
_____ 2. Special effects are often used to create
excitement in Hollywood blockbusters.
passive
okay
_____ 3. The test results were told to us by the
principal.
The principal told us the test results.
passive
_____ 4. Bill has carefully reviewed the chapter
on constitutional amendments.
active
_____ 5. The halftime show was enjoyed by the
crowd.
passive
The crowd enjoyed the halftime show.
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The End