Learn about Active and Passive Voices

Activity:

Label the Following Sentences Active and Passive Voice

1. Anna made the chocolate cake.
2. The chocolate cake was made by Anna.
3. The tour package has been advertised by the travel agent.
4. The travel agent has advertised the tour package.
5. The picture will be colored by evening by my brother.
6. My brother will color the picture by evening.
7. The pencil on the floor had been broken by him.
8. He had broken the pencil on the floor.

Here are the answers!!!

Label the Following Sentences as Active and Passive Voice

1. Anna made the chocolate cake. ACTIVE  VOICE
2. The chocolate cake was made by Anna. PASSIVE VOICE
3. The tour package has been advertised by the travel agent. PASSIVE VOICE
4. The travel agent has advertised the tour package. ACTIVE VOICE
5. The picture will be colored by evening by my brother. PASSIVE VOICE
6. My brother will color the picture by evening. ACTIVE VOICE
7. The pencil on the floor had been broken by him. PASSIVE VOICE
8. He had broken the pencil on the floor. ACTIVE VOICE

Using Active and Passive Voice

What is a Voice?

The =verb form that indicates whether the subject of the verb performs or receives the action is called a voice.

There are two types of voice, namely:

1. Active voice
2. Passive voice

Active voice

First, let’s discuss the active voice

When the subject of the sentence (denoted by the verb) is the doer of the action, performer, or the cause of the action, it is said to be in an active voice.

Example:

John threw the basketball before the buzzer.

John shot the basketball from the free-throw line.

John scored five points.

Passive Voice

When the subject (denoted by the verb) is the recipient of the action, it is called a passive voice.

Example:

The ball was thrown by John.

The basket was shot by John.

The score was made by John.

How does Active and Passive Voice Differ?

• Active voice is direct.
• The subject directly acts on the object.
• The tone is clear and immediate.

Passive voice is

• Indirect
• Something is done to the subject or it is the receiver of action.
• The tone is roundabout.

Example:

Active:  Jennifer baked the bread.

Passive:  The bread was baked by Jennifer.  (Was – be a form of  the verb)

List of “be” verb forms used in the passive voice:

• am
• is
• are
• was
• were
• be
• being
• been

Study the following table.

Active          Passive

Kicks ——-is kicked

Is kicking ________is being kicked

kicked————-was kicked

was kicking—–was being kicked

Has kicked ———has been kicked

Had kicked———–had been kicked

Will kick—–will be kicked

Will have kicked —–will have been kicked

Passive voice is used:

1. To hide the subject of the sentence.

For example, your teacher might say, “The mistake was made by someone.”  Hiding the subject helps him/her hide the blame.

2. In reports, forms, evaluations, etc.
3. To better emphasize the main point of the message, such as “Children were harmed by the drunk driver.”

The passive is generally found in most formal kinds of texts like reports, forms, evaluations, etc.

when the person doing the action (the agent) is not needed.

Example: A small amount of water was added to the beaker while the mixture was heated using a Bunsen burner.

Use of Positive Voice in the Story:

SOURCE: (passage courtesy of ‘Grammar for Writing’ DfES)

Example: In the middle of the night Sebastian was woken by the most hideous scream. He jerked upright and his eyes sprang open. He was even more terrified by what he saw then. His flesh turned to goose bumps and his very blood curdled. His body was gripped by a paroxysm of horror.

Use of Passive Voice in Process Writing

Note the use of passive form:

Strawberry pulp and sugar  (a)are taken. They (b) are mixed nicely in a mixer-grinder. Yogurt and ice cubes(c) are added to this mixture. All the ingredients (d)are blended well.  The smoothie (e) is poured into tall

glasses. A straw (f)is arranged with a strawberry fan and is served immediately.