Acttive and Passive Voice

8/8/2019 Acttive and Passive Voice

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UNDERSTANDING ACTIVE AND

PASSIVE VOICE

The Path to Effective Writing


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Verbs and Voice

V oice is the form a verb takes toindicate whether the subject of the verb performs or receivesthe action.

There are two types of voice:active voice and passive voice .


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Active Voice

A ctive V oice indicates that thesubject of the verb is acting orthe subject of the sentenceperforms the action

Because the subject does or"acts upon" the verb in suchsentences, the sentences aresaid to be in the active voice .


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A: In a sentence using the activevoice, the subject of the sentencedoes the action.In a sentence using the passive

voice, the subject of the sentencereceives the action.


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Active Voice

These examples show that the subjectis d oing the verb's action.

The dog jumped onto the boy.Th e d og ( subject ) is d oing t h e jumping ( verb ).

K risty will give a book report to the class.K risty ( subject ) is d oing t h e giving ( verb ).

The computer ate my paper.Th e computer ( subject ) is d oing t h e eating ( verb ).


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Passive Voice

In a passive voice sentence , the subject of the sentence receives the action. The subject

becomes the passive recipient of the action.

Because the subject is being "acted upon" (oris passive ), such sentences are said to be inthe passive voice .


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Passive Voice

These examples show the subject beingacted upon by the verb.

A book report will be given by K risty to theclass.

R eport ( subject ) will be given ( verb ).M y paper was eaten by the computer.

P aper ( subject ) was being eaten ( verb ).


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Active versus Passive

A ctive VoiceM ore emphaticM ore concise

Used as the generalrule

Passive VoiceUsed when you wantto stress theimportance of theaction or its recipient.Used when the actor isunknown or irrelevant.Used when one wantsto avoid mentioningthe actor: Ex.M istakes were made.


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Reasons to Use the Active Voice

M ost writers prefer to use active voicebecause it is more direct.

CompareA ctive : The waiter dropped the tray of food.

P assive : The tray of food was droppedby the waiter.


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Reasons to Use the Active Voice

The active voice is less awkward and clearlystates relationship between subject and action.

ComparePassive :Your request for funding has been denied bythe review committee.A ctive : The review committee denied your request for

funding.The active voice sentence pattern propels thereader forward through your writing thusavoiding weak prose.


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When to Use Passive Voice

In general, the passive voice is less direct, lessforceful, and less concise than the activevoice.

Use the passive voice in the followingsituations:

Use passive voice when you do not know or

do not want to reveal the performer of anaction.

Use passive voice when you want toemphasize the receiver of an action.


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F orm of Passive Voice Verbs

Writers should be familiar with the forms of "to be" , often called linking verbs, so that

they can easily identify the passive voice intheir work.

Review the forms of " to be ":am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been


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F orm of Passive Voice Verbs

Examples:Passive : The cookies were eaten by the children.A

ctive: The children ate the cookies.

Passive : I write a letter.A ctive : A letter is written by me.

Acttive and Passive Voice

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