Active Voice

A feature of sentences in which the

subject performs the action of the
verb and the direct object is the goal.

Active Voice

Uses direct action

verbs
Has a clearly defined
actor and action

Reasons to Use the Active Voice

Most writers prefer to use active
voice because it is more direct.
Compare
Active: The waiter dropped the tray of food.
Passive: The tray of food was dropped by the
waiter.

Reasons to Use the Active Voice

The active voice is less awkward and

clearly states relationship between
subject and action.
Compare
Passive: Your request for funding has
been denied by the review committee.
Active: The review committee has
denied your request for funding.

Passive Voice
A feature of sentences in which the
object or goal of the action functions
as the sentence subject and the main
verb phrase includes the verbto
beand the past participle

When we use passive voice??

The actor is unknown:
The cave paintings of Lascaux were made in the
Upper Old Stone Age. [We don't know who made
them.]

The actor is irrelevant:

An experimental solar power plant will be built in
the Australian desert. [We are not interested in who
is building it.]

When we use passive voice??

Talking about a general truth:
Rules are made to be broken. [By whomever, whenever.]

Emphasize the person or thing acted on.

For example, it may be your main topic:
Insulinwas first discovered in 1921 by researchers at
the University of Toronto. It is still the only treatment
available for diabetes.

When we use passive voice??

Writing in a scientific genre that
traditionally relies on passive voice.
Passive voice is often preferred in lab
reports and scientific research
papers, most notably in the Materials
and Methods section:
The sodium hydroxide was dissolved in water. This
solution was then titrated with hydrochloric acid.

The forms of To be
is, am, are

Simple Present Tense

was, were

Simple Past Tense

Present Continous Tense

being
Past Continous Tense

to be

Present PerfectTense
been
Past PerfectTense
Future Tense
be
Past Future Tense

The Formula of Active and Passive

Voice
Simple Present Tense

Active
(+) She
tells aVoice
story
(-) She does not tell a
story
(?) Does she tell a
story ?

S + verb 1 + s/es + O
S + do/does + not +
verb 1 + O
Do/Does + S + verb 1 +

A story
is told Voice
by her
Passive
A story is not told by her
Is a story told by her ?

O + to be + verb 3 + by +
S
O + to be + not + verb 3
+ by + S
to be + O + verb 3 + by +
S +?

The Formula of Active and Passive

Voice
Simple Past Tense

Active Voice
(+) She told a story
(-) She did not tell a
story
(?) Did she tell a story ?

S + verb 2 + O
S + did + not + verb 1 +
O
Did + S + verb 1 + O ?

A story
was told
by her
Passive
Voice
A story was not told by her
Was a story told by her ?

O + to be + verb 3 + by +
S
O + to be + not + verb 3
+ by + S
to be + O + verb 3 + by +
S +?

The Formula of Active and Passive

Voice
Present Continous Tense

Active Voice

Passive Voice

(+) She is telling a story A story is being told by her

A story is not being told by her
(-) She is not telling a
Is a story being told by her ?
story
(?) Is she telling a story ?
O + to be + being + verb 3 + by + S

S + to be + verb 1 + ing + O O + to be + not + being + verb 3 +

S + to be + not + verb 1 +ing + by + S
O
to be + O + being + verb 3 + by + S
+?
To be + S + verb 1 + ing + O ?

The Formula of Active and Passive

Voice
Past Continous Tense

Active Voice
(+) She was telling a story
(-) She was not telling a
story
(?) Was she telling a story

Passive Voice
A story was being told by her
A story was not being told by her
Was a story being told by her ?
?

O + was/were + being + verb 3 + by

S + was/were + verb 1 + ing + O + S
S + was/were + not + verb 1 +ing O + was/were + not + being + verb 3
+ by + S
+O
Was/were + S + verb 1 + ing + Was/were + O + being + verb 3 + by
+ S +?
O ?

The Formula of Active and Passive

Voice
Present Perfect Tense

Active Voice
(+) She has told a story
(-) She has not told a
story
(?) Has she told a
story ?

S + has/have + verb 3 + O
S + has/have + not + verb 3 + O

Has/have + S + verb 3 + O

Passive Voice
A story has been told by her
A story has not been told by
her
Has a story been told by her ?

O + has/have + been + verb 3 + by +

S
O + has/have + not + been + verb 3 +
by + S
Has/have + O + been + verb 3 + by + S
+?

The Formula of Active and Passive

Voice
Past Perfect Tense

Active Voice
Passive Voice
(+) She had told a story
A story had been told by her
(-) She had not told a
A story had not been told by her
story
Had a story been told by her ?
(?) Has she told a
story ?
O + had + been + verb 3 + by + S

S + had + verb 3 + O O + had + not + been + verb 3 +

by + S
S + had + not + verb 3
Had + O + been + verb 3 + by + S
+O
+?

Had + S + verb

+O

The Formula of Active and Passive

Voice
Future Tense

Active Voice
(+) She will tell a story
(-) She will not tell a
story
(?) Will she tell a story ?

A storyPassive
will be told
by her
Voice
A story will not be told by her
Will a story be told by her ?

O + will + be + verb 3 + by
+S
O + will + not +be + verb 3
S + will + verb 1 + O
+ by + S
S + will + not + verb 1 +
Will + O + verb 3 + by + S
O
+?
Will + S + verb 1 + O

The Formula of Active and Passive

Voice
Past Future Tense

Active Voice
A storyPassive
would beVoice
told by her
(+) She would tell a
A story would not be told by
story
her
(-) She would not tell a
Would a story told by her ?
story
(?)
Would she tell a
story ?

O + would + be + verb 3 + by + S

O + would + not + be +verb 3 +

S + would + verb 1 + O
by + S
S + would + not + verb 1 + O Would + O + verb 3 + by + S +?

Can you tell the difference?

The potholes are being repaired by
the workers. Hot, black, asphalt
was poured into the potholes by
the crew. Safe driving on the part
of the public is appreciated by the
road crew to insure their safety.
The workers are repairing the
potholes. The crew poured hot,
black asphalt into the potholes.
To insure their safety, the road
crew appreciates the safe driving
on the part of public.

Lets Practice
Change the sentences below to the
active voice.
1. The statue is being visited by hundreds of
tourists every year.
2. My books were stolen by someone yesterday.
3. These books had been left in the classroom by
a careless student.
4. Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by
plantation workers.
5. The house had been broken into by someone
while the owners were on vacation.

Lets Practice
Change the sentences below to the
passive voice.
1. Children open these bottles easily.
2. The government built a road right outside
her front door.
3. Mr. Ross broke the antique vase as he
walked through the store.
4. When she arrived, the changes amazed her.
5. The construction workers are making street
repairs all month long.