Active and Passive Voice

Defining Voice
Voice is a characteristic of verbs which indicates the relation of the verbs action to its subject. The voice of a verb may be either active or passive.

Active Voice
Active voice verbs are used when the subject is acting in a sentence. Example:
Cindy steered the boat.

Steered is an active verb because it allows the subject to undertake an action.

Passive Voice

Passive voice verbs are used when the subject is being acted upon in a sentence. Example:
The mountains peak was reached by Ed Danvers.

Was reached are considered passive because they indicate that the subject (peak) is receiving an action.

ACTIVE VOICE Someone robbed this bank.

PASSIVE VOICE This bank was robbed (by someone).

Rule 1: We use Passive Voice in cases where we dont know who or what is the cause of action.

ACTIVE VOICE I write this poem.

PASSIVE VOICE This poem is written by me.

The PASSIVE VOICE is built with a form of to-be (tenses) and the past participle. Use by to add who or what is responsible for an action.

TENSE PRESENT PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PAST PAST PERFECT FUTURE

PASSIVE VOICE The box isnt open. The box has been opened. My bike was stolen. This song had been recorded. This song will be loved by everyone.

The passive voice- modal auxiliary

ACTIVE VOICE I can answer this question. PASSIVE VOICE This question can be answered (by me)

Here the word order of a statement is auxiliary (can, must, may, ought, should, etc) + be + past participle

TEST YOURSELF:
ACTIVE VOICE You should open the window. He must prepare for his English Test. You ought to wash the car. The kids need not buy bread. Has anyone done this already? Someone must feed the cat. PASSIVE VOICE The window should be opened. His English test must be prepared for. This car ought to be washed. Bread need not be bought.

Has this already been done? The cat must be fed.

PASSIVE VOICE - Verbs with Prepositions

ACTIVE VOICE I have already paid for your new bike. PASSIVE VOICE Your new bike has already been paid for.

Rule:

Verbs and their Prepositions e.g. ask for, talk about, may not be separated in the passive.

PASSIVE VOICE- THE PROGRESSIVE

ACTIVE Manav is reading the magazine at the moment. PASSIVE VOICE The magazine is being read by Manav at the moment.

Rule: To make a passive statement in the present/past progressive use to-be + being + past participle

EXERCISE
ACTIVE You should cut out this photograph. We were not laughing at you Had Marc drawn this picture? We would never have given the book away. They could not offer him money. Will our teacher write a test? PASSIVE The photograph should be cut out. You were not being laughed at. Had this picture been drawn by Marc? This book would never have been given away. Money could not be offered to him. Will a test be written (by our teacher)?

So What?
Although both constructions are grammatically correct, the active voice is usually more effective in academic and business writing because it is simpler and more direct. The passive construction is effective only when the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant. Examples The cruiseliner was hijacked. The ball was hit. The town was quarantined.

Review
Active voice verbs: Verbs that indicate the sentences subject as actively acting:
Marvin hit the ball.

Passive voice verbs: Verbs that indicated the sentences subject as being acted upon:
The ball was hit by Marvin

Quiz
Decide which of the following sentences use the passive voice and which sentences use the active voice. Correct the sentences that contain either inappropriate uses of passive voice or an abrupt shift from active to passive voice. Example: -Before I began my research, only German fascism was studied by me. Passive construction -Before I began my research, I only studied German fascism.

Professor Warren assigned each group a research project; however, the documentary sources were not located.
Incorrect Active-Passive Shift Professor Warren assigned each group a research project; however, he could not locate the documentary sources.

For the opening flag ceremony, a dance was choreographed by Kema Jones to Bill Withers song Lean on Me.

Passive Construction
For the opening flag ceremony, Kema Jones choreographed a dance to Bill Withers song Lean on Me.

When the tickets are ready, the travel agent notifies the client. Each ticket is then listed on a daily register form, and a copy of the itinerary is filed.
Incorrect Active-Passive Shift When the tickets are ready, the travel agent notifies the client. The agent then lists the ticket on a daily register form and files a copy of the itinerary.

Seismologists have examined data concerning the recent earthquake, and reports will be filed.
Incorrect Active-Passive Shift Seismologists have examined data concerning the recent earthquake, and they will file reports.

Problems of famine, pollution, dwindling resources, and arms control were discussed by the senator. - Passive construction The senator discussed problems of famine, pollution, dwindling resources, and arms control.

 Whenever an error was found by Mrs. Clark, the entire paper had to be rewritten by the student.
Passive Construction

Whenever an error was found by Mrs. Clark, the student had to rewrite the entire paper.

Active versus Passive Voice

Are the following sentences in the active or the passive voice?

My professor is teaching three courses. These three courses are taught by the same professor. The Economist is read by many students and professionals. I enjoy reading The Economist. The issue of electoral reform was discussed by the students.

Q: What is the difference between the active and the passive voice?

A: In an sentence using the active voice, the subject of the sentence does the action. In a sentence using the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action.

Examples:
Active: Active sentences (subject) focus (action, done by the subject) on the person doing the action.
Passive: The recipient of the action (subject) is focused (action, not done by the subject), on in a passive sentence.

Examples:
Active: The explorers climbed the tallest mountain in the range.

Passive: The tallest mountain in the range was climbed by the explorers.

Examples:
Active: This great scholar compiled the largest collection of Shakespeares sources.
Passive: The largest collection of Shakespeares sources was compiled by this scholar.

Active versus Passive

Active Voice More emphatic More concise Used as the general rule Passive Voice Used when you want to stress the importance of the action or its recipient. Used when the actor is unknown or irrelevant. Used when one wants to avoid mentioning the actor: Ex. Mistakes were made.

Q: So whats the problem?

A: 1. You should not switch voices in the same sentence! 2. Be careful with the grammatical construction.

Examples of switching voices in the same sentence:

i. The contentious issue was contemplated as the debaters prepared to present their arguments. ii. Once the books were finished, the writers talked to the publisher. iii. The pipes in the kitchen were fixed, then the plumber started repairing the showers.

Switching voices can confuse the reader. If your reader is confused, then your writing is not effective or efficient.

Q: How do I fix it (switching voices)?

A: Make all parts of your sentence consistent. Usually, you should change the passive voice to the active voice.

Corrections:
Incorrect: Once the books were finished, the writers talked to the publisher.
Correct: Once the writers finished their books, they talked to the publisher.

Corrections:
Incorrect: The pipes in the kitchen were fixed, then the plumber started repairing the showers.
Correct: The plumber fixed the pipes in the kitchen then started repairing the showers.

Examples of Mistaken Grammatical Construction in the Passive Voice:

i. ii. iii. iv. v. The horses will groomed. The great fir tree had cut down. The hungry bear would shot by the hunter. Shoes is made in the factory. Bicycles should not be leaving in the driveway. vi. This skyscraper will finish in 2009.

Q: How do I fix it (mistaken grammatical construction in the passive voice)?

1. Make sure to know who is receiving the action and who is doing the action. 2. Verify that you have BE + past participle in your sentence! 3. Verify your tenses and your subject-verb agreement!

Corrections:
Incorrect: The horses will groomed.

Correct:

The horses will be groomed.

Corrections:
Incorrect: The great fir tree had cut down.
Correct: The great fir tree had been cut down.

Corrections:
Incorrect: The hungry bear would shot by the hunter. Correct: The hungry bear would be shot by the hunter.

Self Test:
Correct the following sentences if there is an inconsistency in voice.

- The new product design will finish very soon. - They was cooking dinner when I arrived. - The preparations had all be finished when the guests arrived. - The refreshments are going to be provide by Karen.

-Mistakes had made by the politicians. - The dinner was eaten as the guests got to know each other better. - Dubliners wrote by James Joyce.