Mastering the active and passive voice is crucial for clear and effective communication in English. Understanding when and how to use each voice can significantly improve your writing and speaking skills.
This article provides a detailed exploration of the active and passive voice, covering their definitions, structures, usage rules, common mistakes, and advanced applications. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently use both voices.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of Active and Passive Voice
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories of Passive Voice
- Examples of Active and Passive Voice
- Usage Rules for Active and Passive Voice
- Common Mistakes with Active and Passive Voice
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Definition of Active and Passive Voice
The voice of a verb describes the relationship between the action (verb) and the participants (subject and object). There are two main voices in English: active and passive. The choice between active and passive voice can significantly impact the clarity and emphasis of your writing.
In the active voice, the subject performs the action expressed by the verb. The subject is the agent, or doer, of the action. Active voice constructions are generally more direct and concise.
In the passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed by the verb. The subject is acted upon, rather than performing the action. The passive voice is formed using a form of the auxiliary verb “to be” (is, are, was, were, been, being) followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Structural Breakdown
Understanding the structure of active and passive voice is key to using them correctly. The arrangement of the subject, verb, and object differs significantly between the two.
Active Voice Structure
The basic structure of an active voice sentence is: Subject + Verb + Object. The subject performs the action, and the object receives the action.
For example: The dog chased the ball. (Subject: The dog; Verb: chased; Object: the ball)
Passive Voice Structure
The basic structure of a passive voice sentence is: Subject + be + Past Participle (+ by + Agent). The subject receives the action, and the agent (the doer of the action) may or may not be included.
For example: The ball was chased by the dog. (Subject: The ball; Verb: was chased; Agent: the dog)
Types and Categories of Passive Voice
There are several variations of the passive voice, each serving a slightly different purpose. Understanding these variations can help you use the passive voice more effectively.
Agented Passive
The agented passive includes the agent (the doer of the action) in the sentence, typically introduced by the preposition “by.” This type of passive voice is used when it is important to identify who or what performed the action.
For example: The book was written by Jane Austen.
Agentless Passive
The agentless passive omits the agent. This is used when the agent is unknown, unimportant, obvious, or when the speaker/writer wants to avoid specifying the agent.
For example: The window was broken. (It’s not important or known who broke it.)
Passive with “Get”
The passive voice can also be formed using the verb “get” instead of “be.” This form is more informal and often implies that the action happened unexpectedly or unintentionally.
For example: He got fired from his job.
Examples of Active and Passive Voice
The following tables provide extensive examples of active and passive voice in various contexts. These examples illustrate the structural differences and the different uses of each voice.
Active Voice Examples
The table below presents 30 examples of sentences written in the active voice. Notice how the subject performs the action.
The active voice is generally more direct and easier to understand.
| # | Active Voice Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1 | The chef cooked the meal. |
| 2 | The students answered the questions. |
| 3 | The wind blew the trees. |
| 4 | The company developed a new product. |
| 5 | The artist painted a beautiful picture. |
| 6 | The cat caught the mouse. |
| 7 | The teacher taught the class. |
| 8 | The sun warmed the earth. |
| 9 | The rain watered the plants. |
| 10 | The children played games. |
| 11 | The engineer designed the bridge. |
| 12 | The programmer wrote the code. |
| 13 | The doctor examined the patient. |
| 14 | The lawyer presented the case. |
| 15 | The musician played the song. |
| 16 | The author wrote the book. |
| 17 | The gardener planted the flowers. |
| 18 | The baker baked the bread. |
| 19 | The driver drove the car. |
| 20 | The pilot flew the plane. |
| 21 | The detective solved the mystery. |
| 22 | The scientist conducted the experiment. |
| 23 | The reporter wrote the article. |
| 24 | The judge made the decision. |
| 25 | The team won the game. |
| 26 | The government implemented the policy. |
| 27 | The company launched the campaign. |
| 28 | The jury reached a verdict. |
| 29 | The students completed the assignment. |
| 30 | The audience applauded the performance. |
Passive Voice Examples
This table presents the passive voice equivalents of the active voice sentences from the previous table. Notice how the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence, and the verb is transformed using “to be” + past participle.
The agent (the original subject) is introduced by “by.”
| # | Passive Voice Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1 | The meal was cooked by the chef. |
| 2 | The questions were answered by the students. |
| 3 | The trees were blown by the wind. |
| 4 | A new product was developed by the company. |
| 5 | A beautiful picture was painted by the artist. |
| 6 | The mouse was caught by the cat. |
| 7 | The class was taught by the teacher. |
| 8 | The earth was warmed by the sun. |
| 9 | The plants were watered by the rain. |
| 10 | Games were played by the children. |
| 11 | The bridge was designed by the engineer. |
| 12 | The code was written by the programmer. |
| 13 | The patient was examined by the doctor. |
| 14 | The case was presented by the lawyer. |
| 15 | The song was played by the musician. |
| 16 | The book was written by the author. |
| 17 | The flowers were planted by the gardener. |
| 18 | The bread was baked by the baker. |
| 19 | The car was driven by the driver. |
| 20 | The plane was flown by the pilot. |
| 21 | The mystery was solved by the detective. |
| 22 | The experiment was conducted by the scientist. |
| 23 | The article was written by the reporter. |
| 24 | The decision was made by the judge. |
| 25 | The game was won by the team. |
| 26 | The policy was implemented by the government. |
| 27 | The campaign was launched by the company. |
| 28 | A verdict was reached by the jury. |
| 29 | The assignment was completed by the students. |
| 30 | The performance was applauded by the audience. |
Agentless Passive Examples
The following table presents 25 examples of agentless passive sentences. In these sentences, the agent (the doer of the action) is omitted because it is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.
| # | Agentless Passive Voice Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1 | The window was broken. |
| 2 | The letter was delivered. |
| 3 | The cake was eaten. |
| 4 | The car was stolen. |
| 5 | The project was completed. |
| 6 | The report was submitted. |
| 7 | The document was signed. |
| 8 | The money was found. |
| 9 | The house was built. |
| 10 | The road was closed. |
| 11 | The meeting was scheduled. |
| 12 | The concert was cancelled. |
| 13 | The package was shipped. |
| 14 | The food was prepared. |
| 15 | The beds were made. |
| 16 | The dishes were washed. |
| 17 | The floor was cleaned. |
| 18 | The clothes were ironed. |
| 19 | The grass was cut. |
| 20 | The lights were turned off. |
| 21 | The information was updated. |
| 22 | The system was upgraded. |
| 23 | The problem was solved. |
| 24 | The issue was addressed. |
| 25 | The matter was resolved. |
Passive with “Get” Examples
This table provides 20 examples of the passive voice formed with “get.” This form is more informal and often suggests an unexpected or unintentional action.
| # | Passive Voice with “Get” Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1 | He got fired from his job. |
| 2 | She got promoted to manager. |
| 3 | They got married last year. |
| 4 | The car got damaged in the accident. |
| 5 | The food got cold before we ate it. |
| 6 | The window got broken during the storm. |
| 7 | I got lost in the city. |
| 8 | The package got delivered late. |
| 9 | He got arrested for drunk driving. |
| 10 | She got accepted to Harvard. |
| 11 | The project got delayed due to funding issues. |
| 12 | The flight got cancelled because of the weather. |
| 13 | The contract got signed yesterday. |
| 14 | The email got sent to the wrong address. |
| 15 | The news got announced on television. |
| 16 | The meeting got postponed until next week. |
| 17 | The tickets got sold out within hours. |
| 18 | The job got finished ahead of schedule. |
| 19 | The problem got fixed by the IT department. |
| 20 | The situation got resolved peacefully. |
Usage Rules for Active and Passive Voice
Choosing between active and passive voice depends on the specific context and the desired emphasis. There are no hard and fast rules, but understanding the typical uses of each voice can help you make the right choice.
When to Use Active Voice
Use the active voice when:
- You want to emphasize the actor (the subject performing the action).
- You want to be clear and direct.
- You want to make your writing more concise and engaging.
- The actor is known and important.
Active voice is generally preferred in most writing situations, especially when clarity and directness are important.
When to Use Passive Voice
Use the passive voice when:
- You want to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action (the object).
- The actor is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.
- You want to avoid assigning blame or responsibility.
- You are writing in a scientific or technical context where objectivity is important.
- You want to maintain cohesion in a paragraph by keeping the same subject.
The passive voice is often used in scientific writing to describe processes without focusing on the person who performed the experiment. It’s also used in news reports when the perpetrator of a crime is unknown.
Avoiding Overuse of Passive Voice
While the passive voice has its uses, overuse can make your writing sound weak, indirect, and confusing. Strive for a balance between active and passive voice, and prioritize the active voice whenever possible.
Example of overuse: The report was written by the committee, and it was reviewed by the manager, and changes were made by the team. (Weak and wordy)
Improved (Active Voice): The committee wrote the report, the manager reviewed it, and the team made changes. (Clear and direct)
Common Mistakes with Active and Passive Voice
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using active and passive voice:
| Mistake | Incorrect Example | Correct Example |
|---|---|---|
| Unnecessary use of passive voice | The cake was eaten by me. | I ate the cake. |
| Confusing the agent in passive voice | The book was read to by my mother. | The book was read to me by my mother. |
| Using passive voice when the actor is clear and important | Mistakes were made. | The manager made mistakes. |
| Awkward passive constructions | It is believed that the earth is flat. | People believe that the earth is flat. |
| Incorrect verb tense in passive voice | The letter is writing. | The letter is being written. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of active and passive voice with these exercises.
Exercise 1: Identifying Active and Passive Voice
Identify whether each sentence is in the active or passive voice.
| # | Sentence | Voice (Active/Passive) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The chef prepared the dinner. | |
| 2 | The dinner was prepared by the chef. | |
| 3 | The dog is chasing the ball. | |
| 4 | The ball is being chased by the dog. | |
| 5 | The report was written last week. | |
| 6 | The students completed the assignment. | |
| 7 | The assignment was completed by the students. | |
| 8 | The car was driven by John. | |
| 9 | John drove the car. | |
| 10 | The thief stole the painting. |
Answer Key:
| # | Sentence | Voice (Active/Passive) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The chef prepared the dinner. | Active |
| 2 | The dinner was prepared by the chef. | Passive |
| 3 | The dog is chasing the ball. | Active |
| 4 | The ball is being chased by the dog. | Passive |
| 5 | The report was written last week. | Passive |
| 6 | The students completed the assignment. | Active |
| 7 | The assignment was completed by the students. | Passive |
| 8 | The car was driven by John. | Passive |
| 9 | John drove the car. | Active |
| 10 | The thief stole the painting. | Active |
Exercise 2: Converting Active to Passive Voice
Convert the following sentences from active to passive voice.
| # | Active Voice Sentence | Passive Voice Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The cat ate the fish. | |
| 2 | The company hired new employees. | |
| 3 | The rain damaged the crops. | |
| 4 | The teacher graded the exams. | |
| 5 | The artist created the sculpture. | |
| 6 | The wind knocked down the tree. | |
| 7 | The students organized the event. | |
| 8 | The chef cooked the meal. | |
| 9 | The manager approved the plan. | |
| 10 | The team built the house. |
Answer Key:
| # | Active Voice Sentence | Passive Voice Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The cat ate the fish. | The fish was eaten by the cat. |
| 2 | The company hired new employees. | New employees were hired by the company. |
| 3 | The rain damaged the crops. | The crops were damaged by the rain. |
| 4 | The teacher graded the exams. | The exams were graded by the teacher. |
| 5 | The artist created the sculpture. | The sculpture was created by the artist. |
| 6 | The wind knocked down the tree. | The tree was knocked down by the wind. |
| 7 | The students organized the event. | The event was organized by the students. |
| 8 | The chef cooked the meal. | The meal was cooked by the chef. |
| 9 | The manager approved the plan. | The plan was approved by the manager. |
| 10 | The team built the house. | The house was built by the team. |
Exercise 3: Converting Passive to Active Voice
Convert the following sentences from passive to active voice.
| # | Passive Voice Sentence | Active Voice Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The letter was written by her. | |
| 2 | The car was washed by Tom. | |
| 3 | The cake was baked by my mother. | |
| 4 | The law was passed by the government. | |
| 5 | The book was read by the students. | |
| 6 | The door was opened by the wind. | |
| 7 | The song was sung by the choir. | |
| 8 | The prize was won by him. | |
| 9 | The report was submitted by the team. | |
| 10 | The problem was solved by the engineer. |
Answer Key:
| # | Passive Voice Sentence | Active Voice Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The letter was written by her. | She wrote the letter. |
| 2 | The car was washed by Tom. | Tom washed the car. |
| 3 | The cake was baked by my mother. | My mother baked the cake. |
| 4 | The law was passed by the government. | The government passed the law. |
| 5 | The book was read by the students. | The students read the book. |
| 6 | The door was opened by the wind. | The wind opened the door. |
| 7 | The song was sung by the choir. | The choir sang the song. |
| 8 | The prize was won by him. | He won the prize. |
| 9 | The report was submitted by the team. | The team submitted the report. |
| 10 | The problem was solved by the engineer. | The engineer solved the problem. |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, here are some more complex aspects of the passive voice.
Passive Voice with Reporting Verbs
Reporting verbs (e.g., say, believe, think, know) are often used in the passive voice to report opinions or beliefs without specifying who holds them. This is common in formal writing and news reports.
Active: People say that he is a talented musician.
Passive: He is said to be a talented musician.
Passive: It is said that he is a talented musician.
Cleft Sentences and Passive Voice
Cleft sentences use the structure “It + be + emphasized element + that/who + rest of the sentence” to highlight a particular part of the sentence. The passive voice can be used within a cleft sentence to shift the focus.
Active: John broke the window.
Cleft (emphasizing John): It was John who broke the window.
Cleft (emphasizing the window, with passive voice): It was the window that was broken by John.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about active and passive voice.
- What is the difference between active and passive voice?
In active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., “The dog chased the ball”). In passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g., “The ball was chased by the dog”).
- When should I use the passive voice?
Use the passive voice when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or you want to emphasize the action or receiver of the action. It’s also common in scientific and technical writing.
- Is it wrong to use the passive voice?
No, it’s not inherently wrong, but overuse of the passive voice can make your writing sound weak and indirect. Use it strategically and balance it with the active voice.
- How do I convert a sentence from active to passive voice?
Identify the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence. The object becomes the subject in the passive sentence. Use a form of “to be” + past participle of the verb, and add “by + agent” if necessary.
- What is an agentless passive sentence?
An agentless passive sentence is a passive construction where the doer of the action (the agent) is not mentioned. This is often because the agent is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context. For example, “The window was broken” is an agentless passive because we don’t know or care who broke the window.
- Why is the passive voice often used in scientific writing?
The passive voice is favored in scientific writing because it allows the writer to focus on the experiment or results rather than the person performing the experiment. This helps maintain an objective and impersonal tone, which is considered important in scientific discourse. For example, instead of saying “I added 10ml of acid,” a scientist might write “10ml of acid was added.”
- How does the use of “get” in the passive voice differ from using “be”?
When “get” is used in the passive voice (e.g., “He got fired”), it often implies that the action happened unexpectedly, unintentionally, or with some degree of surprise. It’s also more informal than using “be” (e.g., “He was fired”). The “get” passive often suggests a more personal or emotional involvement in the action.
- Can all active sentences be converted into passive sentences?
No, not all active sentences can be easily converted into passive sentences. Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be transformed into the passive voice. Intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take a direct object) cannot be used in the passive voice. For example, you can’t make a passive sentence from “He sleeps” because “sleeps” is intransitive.
Conclusion
Understanding and mastering the active and passive voice is an essential skill for effective communication. While the active voice is generally preferred for its clarity and directness, the passive voice serves specific purposes and can be a valuable tool when used appropriately.
By understanding the structure, usage rules, and common mistakes associated with each voice, you can improve your writing and speaking skills and communicate your ideas more effectively.
Remember to practice converting sentences between active and passive voice, and pay attention to the context and desired emphasis when choosing which voice to use. With practice, you’ll be able to confidently and effectively use both voices to enhance
your communication.