English Grammar: Active and Passive Voice
English Grammar: Active and Passive Voice
English Grammar: Active and Passive Voice
Active and Passive Voice
Active voice and passive voice are two different forms of verb constructions used in English grammar to convey the relationship between the subject and the action of the sentence. They affect the structure and clarity of a sentence by highlighting different elements.
Active Voice
- Active Voice: In active voice sentences, the subject of the sentence performs the action, and the verb directly connects the subject to the action. Active voice sentences are straightforward and generally more direct, making them the preferred choice for most writing styles.
Example:
- Active Voice: “The chef prepares the delicious meal.”
In this sentence, “The chef” is the subject performing the action “prepares” the meal. The active voice clearly indicates who is doing the action.
Passive Voice
- Passive Voice: In passive voice sentences, the subject is no longer the “doer” of the action but instead becomes the “receiver” of the action. The action is emphasized rather than the subject. Passive voice is often used when the focus is on the action rather than the doer or when the doer is unknown or less important.
Example:
- Passive Voice: “The delicious meal is prepared by the chef.”
In this sentence, “The delicious meal” is the subject receiving the action “is prepared,” and the doer of the action (“the chef”) is mentioned after the verb with the preposition “by.”
Key Differences Between Active Voice and Passive Voice:
- Subject-Verb Relationship:
- Active Voice: The subject performs the action directly.
- Passive Voice: The subject receives the action, and the doer (if mentioned) appears after the verb.
- Clarity and Emphasis:
- Active Voice: Generally provides a clearer and more direct way of expressing information, focusing on the subject and the action.
- Passive Voice: Emphasizes the action or what is done to the subject, and the doer might not be explicitly mentioned.
- Structure:
- Active Voice: Subject + Verb + Object (if applicable)
- Passive Voice: Object (or subject as receiver of the action) + Form of “to be” + Past Participle of the main verb + “by” + Agent (optional)
An Example Comparing Active and Passive Voice
Active Voice: “The students answered the questions.” Passive Voice: “The questions were answered by the students.”
In summary, active voice and passive voice present different ways of constructing sentences, each with its own strengths and uses. Active voice is usually preferred for its clarity and straightforwardness, while passive voice can be used to shift focus or when the subject’s identity is less important. Understanding when and how to use each voice is important for effective and precise communication in English writing.
Active vs Passive Voice
Using active voice makes the sentence more direct, clear, and concise. It emphasizes the subject that performs the action. On the other hand, using passive voice shifts the focus to the action and the object of the sentence. It is often used to avoid mentioning the subject or to make the sentence sound more formal.
Here is an example to illustrate the difference:
- Active Voice: The boy kicked the ball.
- Passive Voice: The ball was kicked by the boy.
In the active voice, the focus is on the boy who performs the action, whereas in the passive voice, the focus is on the ball that receives the action.
Tips for Using Active and Passive Voice
- Use active voice when you want to emphasize the subject that performs the action.
- Use passive voice when you want to shift the focus to the object or to make the sentence sound more formal.
- Avoid using passive voice excessively, as it can make the sentence sound wordy and indirect.
- Choose the appropriate voice based on the context and purpose of the sentence.
- If you use passive voice, make sure to include the subject that performs the action at the end of the sentence.
When to Use Active Voice
Active voice is usually preferred in writing and speaking because it is more direct and concise. It is especially useful when you want to emphasize the subject of the sentence or when you want to make the action clear. Here are some examples:
- Active Voice: The teacher corrected the papers.
- Active Voice: The athlete broke the world record.
- Active Voice: The company hired a new employee.
In these sentences, the active voice emphasizes who performed the action and makes it clear what happened.
When to Use Passive Voice
Passive voice is often used when the focus of the sentence is on the action itself rather than the person or thing performing the action. It is also used to avoid blame or to make the sentence sound more formal. Here are some examples:
- Passive Voice: The papers were corrected by the teacher.
- Passive Voice: The world record was broken by the athlete.
- Passive Voice: A new employee was hired by the company.
In these sentences, the passive voice shifts the focus to the action and away from the person or thing performing the action.
- Use active voice to make the sentence more direct and concise.
- Use passive voice to shift the focus to the action rather than the person or thing performing the action.
- Use active voice to emphasize the subject and make it clear who is performing the action.
- Use passive voice to avoid blame or to make the sentence sound more formal.
- Choose the appropriate voice based on the context and purpose of the sentence.
- Use active voice to make the sentence more engaging and interesting.
- Use passive voice when you don’t know who performed the action or when the subject is unknown.
- Use active voice in academic writing to make your writing more clear and concise.
- Use passive voice in scientific writing to emphasize the process rather than the person or thing performing the action.
- Don’t overuse passive voice, as it can make the sentence sound wordy and indirect.
To summarize, the active and passive voices are two different ways of expressing the action of a sentence. The active voice emphasizes the subject performing the action, while the passive voice shifts the focus to the action itself. Knowing when to use each voice is important for effective communication in writing and speaking.
By understanding the difference between active and passive voice and when to use each one and mastering the use of active and passive voice, you can improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing and speaking.
A Table That Summarizes the Differences Between Active and Passive Voice:
| Active Voice | Passive Voice | |
| Focus | Subject performs the action | Action is performed on the subject |
| Structure | Subject + Verb + Object | Object + Verb + By + Subject |
| Clarity | Clear and concise | Can be wordy and indirect |
| Tone | Engaging and interesting | Formal or neutral |
| Use | Emphasizes subject | Shifts focus to action or avoids blame |
Detail about the different types of Active and Passive Voice
Simple Present Active Voice
In simple present active voice, the action is happening now and is performed by the subject. Here are some examples:
- The cat chases the mouse.
- The teacher corrects the papers.
- John writes a book.
In these examples, the present tense verb shows that the action is happening now.
Simple Present Passive Voice
In simple present passive voice, the action is happening now and is received by the subject. Here are some examples:
- The mouse is chased by the cat.
- The papers are corrected by the teacher.
- A book is written by John.
In these examples, the present tense verb shows that the action is happening now and is being received by the subject.
Simple Past Active Voice
In simple past active voice, the action happened in the past and was performed by the subject. Here are some examples:
- The cat chased the mouse yesterday.
- The teacher corrected the papers last night.
- John wrote a book last year.
In these examples, the past tense verb shows that the action happened in the past.
Simple Past Passive Voice
In simple past passive voice, the action happened in the past and was received by the subject. Here are some examples:
- The mouse was chased by the cat yesterday.
- The papers were corrected by the teacher last night.
- A book was written by John last year.
In these examples, the past tense verb shows that the action happened in the past and was received by the subject.
Future Active Voice
In future active voice, the action will happen in the future and will be performed by the subject. Here are some examples:
- The cat will chase the mouse tomorrow.
- The teacher will correct the papers later.
- John will write a book next year.
In these examples, the future tense verb shows that the action will happen in the future.
Future Passive Voice
In future passive voice, the action will happen in the future and will be received by the subject. Here are some examples:
- The mouse will be chased by the cat tomorrow.
- The papers will be corrected by the teacher later.
- A book will be written by John next year.
In these examples, the future tense verb shows that the action will happen in the future and will be received by the subject.
By understanding the different types of active and passive voice, you can choose the appropriate one to effectively communicate your message in writing and speaking.
FAQs About Active and Passive Voice:
Q. What is active voice?
A. Active voice is a type of sentence structure where the subject of the sentence performs the action.
Q. What is passive voice?
A. Passive voice is a type of sentence structure where the action is performed on the subject, rather than the subject performing the action.
Q. When should I use active voice?
A. Active voice is generally preferred in writing and speaking because it is more direct and concise. Use it to emphasize the subject and make it clear who is performing the action.
Q. When should I use passive voice?
A. Passive voice is often used when the focus of the sentence is on the action itself rather than the person or thing performing the action. It can also be used to avoid blame or to make the sentence sound more formal.
Q. What are the different types of active voice?
A. The different types of passive voice include simple present, simple past, and future.
Q. How do I know if a sentence is in active or passive voice?
A. Look at the structure of the sentence. If the subject is performing the action, it is in active voice. If the action is being performed on the subject, it is in passive voice.
Q. Can a sentence have both active and passive voice?
A. No, a sentence can only be in one voice at a time.
Questions for Practice:
Q. Which of the following sentences is in active voice?
A) The cake was eaten by John.
B) John ate the cake.
C) The cake was delicious.
D) None of the above.
Answer: B
Q. Which of the following sentences is in passive voice?
A) The teacher graded the papers.
B) The papers were graded by the teacher.
C) The students did well on the exam.
D) None of the above.
Answer: B
Q. Which of the following sentences is in active voice?
A) The book was read by the student.
B) The student read the book.
C) The book was interesting.
D) None of the above.
Answer: B
Q. Which of the following sentences is in passive voice?
A) The company hired a new employee.
B) A new employee was hired by the company.
C) The meeting was productive.
D) None of the above.
Answer: B
Q. Which of the following sentences is in active voice?
A) The door was opened by the dog.
B) The dog opened the door.
C) The door is open.
D) None of the above.
Answer: B
Q. Which of the following sentences is in passive voice?
A) The musician wrote a new song.
B) A new song was written by the musician.
C) The audience applauded.
D) None of the above.
Answer: B
Q. Which of the following sentences is in active voice?
A) The movie was watched by the family.
B) The family watched the movie.
C) The movie was entertaining.
D) None of the above.
Answer: B
Q. Which of the following sentences is in passive voice?
A) The chef prepared a delicious meal.
B) A delicious meal was prepared by the chef.
C) The guests enjoyed the food.
D) None of the above.
Answer: B
Q. Which of the following sentences is in active voice?
A) The ball was caught by the player.
B) The player caught the ball.
C) The ball bounced on the ground.
D) None of the above.
Answer: B
Q. Which of the following sentences is in passive voice?
A) The artist painted a beautiful picture.
B) A beautiful picture was painted by the artist.
C) The audience was engaged.
D) None of the above.
Answer: B
