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Active and Passive Voice: How they Differ, Usage Tips, and Examples

English

Active and Passive Voice: How they Differ, Usage Tips, and Examples

Reviewed by:

Aiswarya Ittianath

Active and Passive Voice Sentences in English

Understanding the distinction between active and passive voice is crucial for understanding English grammar. This page will explain the definitions and usage rules of active passive voice, offering detailed explanations and passive and active voice examples. By examining the key differences and learning how to apply each voice effectively, you’ll gain valuable insights into clearer and more impactful active and passive voice sentences. Explore this guide to enhance your writing skills and achieve greater precision in your communication.

Table of Content

1. Active and Passive Voice Sentences in English

2. Do you Know?

3. Voice

4. Two Voices in English Grammar

4.1

Active Voice

4.2

Passive Voice

4.3

Structure of Active and Passive Voice

5. Difference Between Active and Passive Voice

6. Rules of Voices for Conversion

6.1

Examples with Different Tenses

7. Passive and Active Voice Examples

7.1

Active Voice Examples:

7.2

Passive Voice Examples:

8. Tips for Using Active and Passive Voice

9. Test your Knowledge: Active and Passive Voice

10. Test your Knowledge: Correct Answers

11. Takeaways from this Page

FAQs

Do you Know?

Active voice focuses on the subject acting, while passive voice emphasizes the object receiving the action.
Active voice is generally considered clearer and more concise than passive voice.
Passive voice can sometimes sound more formal or impersonal than active voice.
Passive voice can be used to shift emphasis to the object of the sentence.
Excessive use of passive voice can make writing seem dull and bureaucratic.
The passive voice is formed with the form of the verb to be and the past participle of the main verb.
Passive voice is more common in scientific writing to emphasize objectivity.

Voice

In English grammar, voice refers to the form of a verb that indicates whether the subject of the sentence is performing the action or receiving it. It affects how a sentence is structured and how information is presented. Now let’s understand what is an active and passive voice.

Two Voices in English Grammar

English grammar primarily utilises two voices, active passive voice:

Active Voice: The subject of the sentence acts as the verb.
Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb.

Active Voice

Definition: In active voice, the subject performs the action expressed by the verb.

Structure: Subject + Verb + Object

Example:

"The cat (subject) chased (verb) the mouse (object)."

Characteristics:

The focus is on the subject doing the action.
Typically used to create clear and direct sentences.

Passive Voice

Definition: In passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed by the verb.

Structure: Subject + Form of "to be" + Past Participle + (by + Agent)

Example:

"The mouse (subject) was chased (verb) by the cat (agent)."

Characteristics:

The focus is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than the performer.
Often used when the doer is unknown or less important.

Structure of Active and Passive Voice

Active voice describes a sentence where the subject is the doer of an action. Its structure goes like this-

Subject + Verb+ Object

Passive voice expresses an action that is carried out on the subject of the sentence. Its structure is-

Object + verb +subject

Difference Between Active and Passive Voice

Below is the table to summarise the difference between active and passive voice for your better understanding-

Aspect	Active Voice	Passive Voice
Focus	The subject performs the action	The subject receives the action
Sentence Structure	Subject + Verb + Object	Subject + Form of "to be" + Past Participle + (by + Agent)
Example	"The chef (subject) cooked (verb) the meal (object)."	"The meal (subject) was cooked (verb) by the chef (agent)."
Use	Commonly used for clarity and directness	Used when the action or recipient is more important than the doer
Emphasis	Emphasises the performer of the action	Emphasises the action or the recipient of the action

Rules of Voices for Conversion

Conversion	Active to Passive	Passive to Active
1. Identify Subject, Verb, and Object	Find the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence.	Identify the subject, a form of "to be," past participle, and the agent in the passive sentence.
2. Move the Object to the Subject Position	Move the object of the active sentence to the subject position of the passive sentence.	Move the subject from the passive sentence back to the active position.
3. Adjust Verb Form	Use the appropriate form of "to be" (am, is, are, was, were) + past participle.	Change the verb to its base form and adjust the sentence structure accordingly.
4. Include the Agent (Optional)	Optionally, include the original subject (agent) at the end of the passive sentence with "by."	Remove the agent if it is not necessary or implied.
5. Ensure Agreement	Ensure that the verb form agrees with the new subject in number and tense.	Ensure that the verb form and tense match the original active sentence.

Examples with Different Tenses

Tense	Voice	Simple Tense	Continuous Tense	Perfect Tense	Perfect Continuous Tense
Present	Active	Alex reads books.	Alex is reading books.	Alex has read books.	Alex has been reading books.
	Passive	Books are read by Alex.	Books are being read by Alex.	Books have been read by Alex.	No Passive
Past	Active	Alex read books.	Alex was reading books.	Alex had read books.	Alex had been reading books.
	Passive	Books were read by Alex.	Books were being read by Alex.	Books had been read by Alex.	No Passive
Future	Active	Alex will read books.	Alex will be reading books.	Alex will have read books.	Alex will have been reading books.
	Passive	Books will be read by Alex.	No Passive	Books will have been read by Alex.	No Passive

Passive and Active Voice Examples

Active Voice Examples:

"The teacher explains the lesson."
"The dog bit the mailman."
"She writes a letter."
"The company launched a new product."
"The artist painted a beautiful mural."

Passive Voice Examples:

"The lesson is explained by the teacher."
"The mailman was bitten by the dog."
"A letter is written by her."
"A new product was launched by the company."
"A beautiful mural was painted by the artist."

Tips for Using Active and Passive Voice

Clarity and Precision: Use active voice for clear and direct sentences. Opt for passive voice when the action or receiver is more important and understand the rules of voices, and what is an active and passive voice.
Audience Consideration: Choose the voice based on the context and audience. Active voice is generally preferred in most writing for its straightforwardness.
Variety in Writing: Use passive voice to vary sentence structure and emphasise different elements within your text.
Avoid Overuse: Overusing passive voice can make writing seem vague or convoluted. Balance it with an active voice for a more engaging text.
Purpose and Focus: Decide whether to highlight the action itself or the subject receiving the action, and use the appropriate voice to achieve that focus.

Test your Knowledge: Active and Passive Voice

Choose whether the following sentences are in active or passive voice and provide the correct conversion for each.

"The chef prepared a delicious meal."

Is this sentence in active or passive voice?
Convert the sentence to the opposite voice.

"The book was written by the author."

Is this sentence in active or passive voice?
Convert the sentence to the opposite voice.

"The students are completing their assignments."

Is this sentence in active or passive voice?
Convert the sentence to the opposite voice.

"The project will be completed by the team."

Is this sentence in active or passive voice?
Convert the sentence to the opposite voice.

"The teacher had explained the lesson before the test."

Is this sentence in active or passive voice?
Convert the sentence to the opposite voice.

Test your Knowledge: Correct Answers

Active Voice

Passive Voice: "A delicious meal was prepared by the chef."

Passive Voice

Active Voice: "The author wrote the book."

Active Voice

Passive Voice: "Assignments are being completed by the students."

Passive Voice

Active Voice: "The team will complete the project."

Active Voice

Passive Voice: "The lesson had been explained by the teacher before the test."

Takeaways from this Page

Understanding Voice in Grammar: Voice in grammar indicates whether the subject of a sentence performs or receives the action.
Active and Passive Voice Definitions: Active Voice: The subject performs the action (e.g., "The chef prepared a meal."), Passive Voice: The subject receives the action (e.g., "A meal was prepared by the chef.").
Conversion Rules: Different tenses require specific structures for converting between active and passive voice.
Usage and Application: Active voice is often preferred for its clarity and directness.
Practical Examples and Practise: Practising conversion between active and passive voice across various tenses helps in learning their usage.

FAQs on Active and Passive Voice: How they Differ, Usage Tips, and Examples

1. What is the easiest way to identify the Passive and Active voice in a sentence?

Generally, the active voice makes your writing a little loud, more direct as the name suggests, and more active. The subject does the action of the verb in the sentence. With the passive voice, the subject receives the action from the object or the performer of the sentence.

2. What is the Passive writing style?

Passive voice transforms a sentence in which the subject is always receiving an action. In contrast, active voice transforms a sentence in which the subject acts. ... To change a sentence from passive to active voice, determine who or what acts, and use that person or thing as the subject of the sentence.

3. Which voice is more commonly used in daily conversation?

Both are used - active voice is used when you are talking to someone directly, and passive voice is often used when reporting past events. So, depending on the situation, both are acceptable.

4. What would be the passive voice of “You can do it”?

The passive voice of “you can do it” would be “It can be done by you”.

5. How do I convert a sentence from active to passive voice?

Identify the object of the active sentence, move it to the subject position, use the appropriate form of the verb "to be" with the past participle, and optionally include the original subject with "by."

6. How do I convert a passive sentence to an active voice?

Identify the subject, the form of "to be," and the past participle. Rearrange the sentence by moving the agent (the original doer) to the subject position, changing the verb to its base form, and adjusting the sentence structure.

7. What are some common mistakes to avoid when using passive voice?

Common mistakes include overusing passive voice, which can lead to vague or wordy sentences. Ensure that the use of passive voice is purposeful and that it maintains clarity and engagement.

8. Can passive voice be used in formal writing?

Yes, passive voice is often used in formal writing, such as academic papers, scientific reports, and legal documents, where the focus is on the action or outcome rather than the doer.

9. How do tenses affect the conversion between active and passive voice?

Different tenses require specific forms of the verb "to be" combined with the past participle to form a passive voice. For example, the present simple active voice ("She writes a letter") becomes "A letter is written by her" in the passive voice.

10. Is it better to use active or passive voice in creative writing?

In creative writing, active voice is often preferred for its dynamic and vivid quality, but passive voice can be used effectively for stylistic purposes or to achieve specific effects, such as creating suspense or focusing on the action.