Transcript Active and Passive Voice: The Difference Between Happening and

Active and Passive Voice:
The Difference Between Happening and
Letting Something Happen
Defining Voice


VOICE is defined as the form a verb takes to
indicate whether the subject of the sentence
performs the action or receives the action.
Only transitive verbs, verbs that have an object,
can be used in the passive voice.
Defining Voice


ACTIVE VOICE – indicates that the subject
of the sentence is performing the action;
the verb has an object
PASSIVE VOICE – indicates that the
subject is the recipient of the action; the
verb does not have an object; consists of
a verb in the form of “be” and the past
participle of transitive verbs
Defining Voice

Active Voice
Direct and concise
 Uses precise,
strong verbs
 Usually preferable, but not always


Passive Voice



Often wordier than active voice
Contains many “be” verbs
Often used when writing objectively such as in
scientific reports
Examples of Voice

Active Voice – the subject is the doer



Mark threw the ball.
Sally drove Melissa to the store.
Passive Voice – the subject is the receiver


The ball was thrown by Mark.
Melissa was driven to the store by Sally.
A Matter of Style



Writing in active or passive voice is not a
matter of right or wrong, but it is a matter
of style.
Choosing one voice over the other is a
rhetorical choice.
You must choose whether you want to
emphasize the doer or the receiver of the
action.
When to Use Active Voice



Use active voice if you want to emphasize
the doer of the action.
Active voice is typically direct and concise;
the agent of the action is known
Use active voice if you want your writing
to be active with specific, precise, strong
verbs.
When to Use Passive Voice

Use the passive voice if
 you want to emphasize the receiver of the action.
 you are intentionally hiding the subject of the sentence.
 you are trying to minimize the guilt of the subject or
avoid mentioning the responsible party
 you wish to postpone mentioning the subject until later
or not at all
 you want to highlight
the action instead of the actor
Changing Passive Voice to Active
Voice



To change passive voice to active voice, you should
locate the performer of the action.
Next, make the performer of action the subject of
the sentence.
Then change the verb to indicate that the subject is
performing the action.




The exam was completed by Brandon. (Passive)
Brandon completed the exam. (Active)
The book was read by Susan. (Passive)
Susan read the book. (Active)
Shifting Voices

When you are writing be sure to avoid
shifting between active and passive voice
within the same sentence.


Ex. Erica packed her suitcase and was
flown to Paris. (Incorrect)
Erica packed her suitcase and flew to Paris.
(Correct)
Dangling Modifiers

When writing in passive voice, make sure to
avoid dangling modifiers.
The dog was found injured by Michael in the
backyard. (Incorrect)
 The dog was injured in the backyard and was found
by Michael. (Correct - passive)
 Michael found the injured dog
in the front yard.
(Correct - active)

The Choice is Yours

Write with a purpose! The rhetorical
choices you make can powerfully affect
the message you want to communicate
and how it is received.
 ACTIVE OR PASSIVE VOICE?
 THE CHOICE IS YOURS!