Transcript What are active and passive voice?

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
Len is troubled
by his grades.
Jennifer held the bat.
Mark sets up the shot.
Carl was captivated by the game.
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
Len’s grades trouble him.
or receives the action
Subject
Verb
Len is troubled by his grades.
What are active and passive voice?
When the subject of a verb performs the action,
the verb is in the active voice.
Subject
Active-voice
verb
The fire destroyed the house.
The subject fire performs the action
of destroying.
What are active and passive voice?
A verb in the active voice has a direct object,
which tells who or what receives the action.
Verb
Direct
object
Mrs. Rodriguez grows
growscorn
cornononher
herfarm.
farm.
The subject Mrs. Rodriguez
performs the action.
The direct object corn receives the
action.
What are active and passive voice?
A direct object tells who or what receives the
action of the verb. The direct object can be a
noun, a pronoun, or a noun with its modifiers.
Verb
Direct object
We heard the cheers of the crowd.
heard what?
cheers
What are active and passive voice?
When the subject of a verb receives the action,
the verb is in the passive voice.
Subject
Passivevoice verb
The house was destroyed
by the fire.
The subject house receives
the action of destroying.
What are active and passive voice?
Passive-voice constructions include a form of be,
the past participle of the verb, and sometimes
other helping verbs.
Form
of be
Past
participle
The funds were spent on new uniforms.
Helping Form
verb
of be
Past
participle
The funds have been spent on new uniforms.
What are active and passive voice?
Here are the forms of be that we can use to
create the passive voice.
Forms of be
am
are
is
was
were
be
been
being
What are active and passive voice?
A verb in the passive voice does not have a direct
object.
Subject
Passivevoice verb
Corn is
Corn
isgrown
grownononthe
thefarm.
farm.
The subject corn receives the action.
The performer of the action is not given.
What are active and passive voice?
Sometimes a prepositional phrase beginning with
by and telling who or what performs the action
follows the verb in the passive voice.
Passive-voice verb
Prepositional phrase
The mayor was elected. by the voters.
The prepositional phrase tells you that voters
performed the action of electing.
What are active and passive voice?
Sometimes in passive sentences the performer of
the action is not indicated at all.
Passive-voice verb
Her sculptures have been shown in
many other galleries.
The performer of the action is not given.
Passive-voice verb
Several sculptures were sold today.
The performer of the action is not given.
What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
1. Sean was startled by the crack of thunder.
2. The kitten tumbled playfully across the
floor.
3. Our old truck has been repaired many
times.
What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
1. Sean was startled by the crack of thunder.
Passive voice
The subject Sean receives the action of the verb.
What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
2. The kitten tumbled playfully across the floor.
Active voice
The subject kitten performs the action of the verb.
What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
3. Our old truck has been repaired many
times.
Passive voice
The subject truck receives the action of the verb.
What are active and passive voice?
On Your Own
Rewrite each sentence in the voice shown before the item
number.
(active)
1. The decision has been made by Mother.
(passive) 2. Leo sent that postcard.
(passive) 3. My manager has drafted a memo.
(active)
4. The poodle was treated by the veterinarian.
(active)
5. The race was won by Jackie.
(passive) 6. A wolf made those paw prints.
[End of Section]
What are active and passive voice?
Answers
Rewrite each sentence in the voice shown before the item
number.
(active)
1. The
decision
has been
made by Mother.
Mother
has made
the decision.
Thatsent
postcard
was sent by Leo.
(passive) 2. Leo
that postcard.
(passive) 3. My
manager
drafted
a by
memo.
A memo
has has
been
drafted
my manager.
(active)
The poodle
veterinarian
treatedby
the
poodle.
4. The
was treated
the
veterinarian.
(active)
Jackie
won
the
race.
5. The
race
was
won
by Jackie.
Those
(passive) 6. A
wolf paw
madeprints
thosewere
paw made
prints.by a wolf.
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs emphasize the action and the
performer of the action.
Active
voice
A tornado damaged her home.
Emphasis is on the tornado and the
action it performs.
Passive-voice verbs emphasize the receiver of
the action.
Passive
voice
Her home was damaged by a tornado.
Emphasis is on the home, which receives the
action.
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs
We usually prefer the active voice to the passive
because the active voice is more forceful and
direct.
Active
voice
He crossed the finish line just in time.
Forceful and direct
Passive
voice
The finish line was crossed just in
time.
Not very forceful or direct
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs
The active voice is also more concise than the
passive voice. Since active-voice verbs take fewer
words, they sound less awkward.
Active
voice
I will load the truck soon.
Clear and concise
Passive
voice
The truck will be loaded soon by me.
Awkward sounding
Uses of active and passive voice
Passive-voice verbs
In general, you should avoid using the passive
voice since sentences in the passive voice can
sound awkward and weak.
Better (active
Awkward
passive voice
voice)
My neighbor
parrot will
will
betake
taken
care
care
of of
myby my
neighbor
parrot
next
next
week.
week.
Better passive
Weak
(active
voice
voice)
All thetrail
Some
flooding
erosion
hashas
caused
beensome
caused
trail
by all the flooding.
erosion.
Uses of active and passive voice
Passive-voice verbs
The passive voice does have its place, though.
Use the passive voice when
• you want to emphasize the receiver of the
action
Appropriate
passive voice
Some remarkable fossils have been
found in the area.
Emphasis is on the fossils, which receive
the action. In this case, it is not important
who found the fossils.
Uses of active and passive voice
Passive-voice verbs
Use the passive voice when
• you do not know the performer of the action
Appropriate
passive voice
Are the peaches being harvested on
schedule?
Emphasis is on the peaches. We do not
know who is doing the harvesting.
Uses of active and passive voice
Passive-voice verbs
Use the passive voice when
• you do not want to reveal the performer of the
action
Appropriate
passive voice
Vicious rumors have been spread
about the politician.
Emphasis is on the rumors. The writer does
not want to say who has spread the rumors.
Uses of active and passive voice
Passive-voice verbs
Some software programs can
check your writing for verbs in the
passive voice.
Elections for class president are
held each spring. Strong
campaigns were run by last
year’s candidates.
Uses of active and passive voice
Passive-voice verbs
Keep in mind: The program
cannot tell you why you used the
passive voice. If you used it for a
good reason, don’t try to change
it to active voice.
Elections for class president are
held each spring. Strong L
campaigns were run by last
^
year’s candidates. ran strong
campaigns.
^
Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. If the sentence is in the
passive, identify whether the passive voice is
appropriate. Be prepared to explain your answer.
1. Each morning I am awakened by the alarm.
2. The mayor thanked Angelo for his work.
3. How many donations have been made so
far this year?
Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
1. Each morning I am awakened by the alarm.
Passive voice
The subject I receives the action of the verb.
Passive voice is awkward in this sentence. The
sentence would sound better with an active-voice
verb: Each morning the alarm wakes me.
Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
2. The mayor thanked Angelo for his work.
Active voice
The subject mayor performs the action of the verb.
Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is
in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain
your answer.
3. How many donations have been made so
far this year?
Passive voice
The subject donations receives the action of the
verb. The passive voice is appropriate in this
sentence. The emphasis is on the donations.
Readers don’t know who made the donations.
Uses of active and passive voice
On Your Own
Identify each verb as active or passive voice. Rewrite each
weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the
passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.
______ 1. The story was edited by Paulo.
______ 2. Some equipment has been stolen from the lab.
______ 3. Finally the two boys reached an agreement.
______ 4. The coastline had been battered badly by the
hurricane.
______ 5. Kara has been collecting books by her favorite
authors.
[End of Section]
Uses of active and passive voice
Answers
Identify each sentence as active or passive voice. Rewrite
each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If
the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.
passive
______ 1. The
story Paulo
was edited
Paulo.
Rewrite:
editedby
the
story.
passive
______ 2. Some equipment has been stolen from the lab.
active
______ 3. Finally the two boys reached an agreement.
passive
______ 4. The
coastline
been battered
badly
by the
Rewrite:
The had
hurricane
had badly
battered
the
hurricane.
coastline.
active
______ 5. Kara has been collecting books by her favorite
authors.
Review A
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or
passive voice.
1. Kareem admired his classmates’ exhibits at the science
fair.
2. The firefighter was praised for her hard work and
dedication.
3. Several shops were damaged by the high winds.
4. Ray will buy a bag of carrots and some red onions.
5. Have all the trails really been closed?
Review A
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or
passive voice.
1. Kareem admired his classmates’ exhibits at the science
fair. active
2. The firefighter was praised for her hard work and
dedication. passive
3. Several shops were damaged by the high winds.
passive
4. Ray will buy a bag of carrots and some red onions.
active
5. Have all the trails really been closed? passive
Review B
Identify each sentence as active or passive voice. Rewrite
each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the
passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.
_____ 1. Kevin prepared carefully for the exam.
_____ 2. Spanish and English are spoken by my aunt.
_____ 3. The historic home was built in 1860.
_____ 4. The children are making origami animals.
_____ 5. Important data will be gathered by our research
team.
[End of Section]
Review B
Identify each sentence as active or passive voice. Rewrite
each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the
passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.
active
_____ 1. Kevin prepared carefully for the exam.
passive
_____ 2. Spanish
English
are spoken
myEnglish.
aunt.
Rewrite: and
My aunt
speaks
Spanishbyand
passive
_____ 3. The historic home was built in 1860.
active
_____ 4. The children are making origami animals.
_____ 5. Important
data
will be team
gathered
by our research
passive
Rewrite: Our
research
will gather
team.
important data.
The End