Using Active and Passive Voice

What are active and passive voice?

Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs
Passive-voice verbs
Review A
Review B

What are active and passive voice?

Like people, verbs can be
active

or

passive

Billy kicks
the ball.

Josie plays the

instrument.

Kim is bothered
by a headache.

Jen has been

hurt by a friend.

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

The clown carries the balloons.

or receives the action
Subject

Verb

The balloons are carried by the

clown.

What are active and passive voice?

A verb in the active voice expresses an action
done by its subject.
ActiveSubject voice verb

My little sister painted the

picture.
Painting is the action done by the
sister. The subject sister performs
the action of painting.

What are active and passive voice?

A verb in the passive voice expresses an action
done to its subject.
Subject

Passivevoice verb

The picture was painted by my little

sister.
Painting is an action done to the picture.
The subject picture receives the action of
painting.

What are active and passive voice?

Passive-voice verbs consist of
a form of be +

a past participle

were planted
Passive-voice verbs can also include helping verbs.
a helping verb + a form of be + a past participle
have been planted

What are active and passive voice?

Forms of be
am

are

is

was

were

be

been

being

Some roses are planted there.

Some roses were planted there.
Some roses have been planted there.

What are active and passive voice?

A prepositional phrase that begins with by may
follow the passive-voice verb to tell who or what
performs the action.
Passive-voice
verb

Prepositional
phrase

The cat has been treated.by our vet.

The prepositional phrase tells you that our
vet performed the action of treating.

What are active and passive voice?

A prepositional phrase contains

a preposition
a noun or pronoun
(the object of the preposition)
any modifiers of the object
in

the strong
wind

wind

What are active and passive voice?

A passive-voice verb does not
have to be followed by a phrase
telling who or what performed the
action.

The cat has been treated by

The cat has been treated.
our vet.
A red jacket was left here by
A red jacket was left here.
someone.

What are active and passive voice?

For each sentence, tell whether the
boldface verb is in the active or the passive voice. Be
prepared to explain your answer.
1. On Sunday, Darnell studied geography.
2. Brianne was elected to the student council.
3. The keys have been lost by my cousin.
4. Kevin has unloaded the truck.

What are active and passive voice?

For each sentence, tell whether the
boldface verb is in the active or the passive voice. Be
prepared to explain your answer.
1. On Sunday, Darnell studied geography.
Active voice
The subject Darnell performs the action of
studying.

What are active and passive voice?

For each sentence, tell whether the
boldface verb is in the active or the passive voice. Be
prepared to explain your answer.
2. Brianne was elected to the student council.
Passive voice
The subject Brianne receives the action of
electing.

What are active and passive voice?

For each sentence, tell whether the
boldface verb is in the active or the passive voice. Be
prepared to explain your answer.
3. The keys have been lost by my cousin.
Passive voice
The subject keys receives the action of being
lost.

What are active and passive voice?

For each sentence, tell whether the
boldface verb is in the active or the passive voice. Be
prepared to explain your answer.
4. Kevin has unloaded the truck.
Active voice
The subject Kevin performs the action of
unloading.

What are active and passive voice?

On Your Own
Complete each sentence by adding the verb as indicated in
parentheses.
1. Excellent work _______ on that report. (done, passive
voice)
2. Mr. Yang _______ the certificates. (awarded, active voice)
3. Those photos _______ by Cody. (taken, passive voice)
4. This new software _______ clear images. (created, active
voice)
5. At the ceremony the mayor _______ the volunteers.
(honored, active voice)
[End of Section]

What are active and passive voice?

Possible Answers
Complete each sentence by adding the verb as indicated in
parentheses.
was done on that report. (done,
1. Excellent work __________
passive voice)
awarded the certificates. (awarded, active
2. Mr. Yang __________
voice)
were taken by Cody. (taken, passive
3. Those photos __________
voice)

4. This new software __________

clear images. (created,
created
active voice)
honored the volunteers.
5. At the ceremony the mayor __________
(honored, active voice)

Uses of active and passive voice

Active-voice verbs emphasize the action and the
performer of the action.
Active
voice

Lightning hit the tree.

Emphasis on the lightning and the action
it performs

Passive-voice verbs emphasize the receiver of

the action.
Passive
voice

The tree was hit by lightning.

Emphasis on the tree, which receives the action

Uses of active and passive voice

Active-voice verbs

Writers usually prefer the active voice because it is

more forceful and direct.
Active
voice

Our goalie made three great saves.

Passive
voice

Three great saves were

made by our goalie.

The crowd cheered wildly.

Wild cheering was done

by the crowd.

Uses of active and passive voice

Passive-voice verbs

The passive voice does have its place, though.

Use the passive voice when
you do not know who performed the action
you do not want to reveal the performer of the
action
The flowers were left on her doorstep
early this morning.
A large donation has been made to the
charity fund.

Uses of active and passive voice

For each sentence, identify the boldface
verb as active or passive. Then, tell whether the
sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer
or (2) the receiver of the action.
1. Our librarian has formed a book club.
2. The printer has been repaired.
3. The band is selling cans of mixed nuts.
4. The roof was torn off by the high winds.

Uses of active and passive voice

For each sentence, identify the boldface
verb as active or passive. Then, tell whether the
sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer
or (2) the receiver of the action.
1. Our librarian has formed a book club.
Active voice
The subject librarian performs the action of the
verb. In this sentence, the action (forming) and
the performer of the action (the librarian) are
emphasized.

Uses of active and passive voice

For each sentence, identify the boldface
verb as active or passive. Then, tell whether the
sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer
or (2) the receiver of the action.
2. The printer has been repaired.
Passive voice
The subject printer receives the action of the
verb. In this sentence, the receiver of the action
(the printer) is emphasized.

Uses of active and passive voice

For each sentence, identify the boldface
verb as active or passive. Then, tell whether the
sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer
or (2) the receiver of the action.
3. The band is selling cans of mixed nuts.
Active voice
The subject band performs the action of the
verb. In this sentence, the action (selling) and
the performer of the action (the band) are
emphasized.

Uses of active and passive voice

For each sentence, identify the boldfaced
verb as active or passive. Then, tell whether the
sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer
or (2) the receiver of the action.
4. The roof was torn off by the high winds.
Passive voice
The subject roof receives the action of the verb.
In this sentence, the receiver of the action (the
roof) is emphasized.

Uses of active and passive voice

On Your Own
Complete each sentence by adding the verb as indicated in
parentheses. For each passive-voice sentence, tell why the
passive voice is used.
1. My sister __________ the parakeet. (fed, active voice)
2. Some books __________ from the library. (stolen,
passive voice)
3. Marion __________ that book three times. (read, active
voice)
4. You may not like it, but a decision __________. (made,
passive voice)
[End of Section]

Uses of active and passive voice

Possible Answers
1. My sister fed the parakeet. (fed, active voice)
2. Some books have been stolen from the library. (have
been stolen, passive voice)
We do not know who did the stealing.
3. Marion has read that book three times. (has read,
active voice)
4. You may not like it, but a decision has been made.
(has been made, passive voice)
The writer does not want to say who made the decision.

Review A
For each sentence, identify the boldface verb as active or
passive. Then tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the
action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
1. Snow slowly drifted across the road.
2. The swelling on Kellys arm was caused by a bee sting.
3. Several streetlights were blown over during the storm.
4. Raymond has set some birdseed out for the cardinals.

Review A
For each sentence, identify the boldface verb as active or
passive. Then tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the
action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
1. Snow slowly drifted across the road.
active; emphasizes action and performer
2. The swelling on Kellys arm was caused by a bee sting.
passive; emphasizes receiver of action
3. Several streetlights were blown over during the storm.
passive, emphasizes receiver of action
4. Raymond has set some birdseed out for the cardinals.
active; emphasizes action and performer

Review B
For each sentence, supply the verb as indicated in
parentheses.
1. Kennys fans __________ him on to victory. (cheer,
active voice)
2. The science class __________ the nature center. (visit,
active voice)
3. The Gettysburg Address __________ by Abraham
Lincoln. (write, passive voice)
4. The dogs __________ after their long exercise session.
(rest, active voice)
5. Most of the food __________ by Uncle Pablo. (prepare,
passive voice)
[End of Section]

Review B
For each sentence, supply the verb as indicated in
parentheses. (Possible answers)
cheered him on to victory. (cheer,
1. Kennys fans __________
active voice)
visited
2. The science class __________
the nature center. (visit,
active voice)
was written by Abraham
3. The Gettysburg Address ___________
Lincoln. (write, passive voice)
rested
4. The dogs __________
after their long exercise session.
(rest, active voice)
prepared by Uncle Pablo.
5. Most of the food was
____________
(prepare, passive voice)

The End