What is active voice?

A feature of sentences in which the subject performs theaction of the verb and the direct object is the goal or therecipient: The mechanic fixed the car.

What is Passive Voice?

A feature of sentences in which the object or goal of theaction functions as the sentence subject and the main verbphrase includes the verb to be and the past participle: The carwas fixed by the mechanic.

The DifferentActive Voice

Subject performs theaction denoted by theverb.

Each tense use its ownverb depend on theformula.

Only some tenses needverb be.

the subject (doer) andthe verb moves thesentence along.

Passive Voice

Subject receives theaction expressed by theverb.

All tenses use pastparticiple verb.

Verb be must always bepresent in every tense.

The agent (doer) of theaction is unimportant.

No by phrase.

Whether Transitive andIntransitive verbs can beused in the active.

It is used for most non-scientific writing. Usingactive voice for themajority of your sentencesmakes your meaning clearfor readers, and keeps thesentences from becomingtoo complicated or wordy.

Use by phrase if it’simportant to know theperformer.

Only transitive verbs canbe used in the passive.

It is mostly used inscientific or technicalwriting or lab reports,where the subject is notreally important but theprocess or principle beingdescribed is of ultimateimportance. It is alsouseful when describing,say, a mechanical process.

Change Active into PassiveMove the active sentence's direct object into the sentence'ssubject slot.

Place the active sentence's subject into a phrase beginningwith the preposition by.

Change Passive into Active

Add a form of the auxilary verb be to the main verb andchange the main verb's form.

Move the passive sentence's subject into the activesentence's direct object slot.

Remove the auxilary verb be from the main verb andchange main verb's form if needed.

Place the passive sentence's object of thepreposition by into the subject slot.

Tenses

Tense ActivePassive

(S + Be + Past Participle)

Simple PresentAgni cooks chicken curry.

Chicken curry is cooked by Agni.

Simple PastAgni cooked chickencurry.

Chicken curry was cooked by Agni.

Present ProgressiveAgni is cooking chicken curry.

Chicken curry is being cooked by Agni.

Past ProgressiveAgni was cooking chicken curry.

Chicken curry was being cooked by Agni.

Present PerfectAgni has cooked chicken curry.

Chicken curry has been cooked by Agni.

Past PerfectAgni had cooked chicken curry.

Chicken curry had been cooked by Agni.

Simple FutureAgni will cook chicken curry.

Chicken curry will be cooked by Agni.

Agni is going to cook chicken curry.

Chicken curry is going to be cooked by Agni.

Future PerfectAgni will have cook chicken curry.

Chicken curry will have been cooked by Agni.

Modal

ModalPassive

(S + Modal + Be + Past Participle)

Will Marie will be returned to the dorm.

Can Marie can’t be returned to the dorm.

Should Marie should be returned to the dorm.

May Marie may be returned to the dorm.

Ought to Marie ought to be returned to the dorm.

Must Marie must be returned to the dorm.

Might Marie might be returned to the dorm.

Has to Marie has to be returned to the dorm.

Supposed toMarie supposed to be returned to the dorm.

Had betterMarie had better be returned to the dorm.

How to Recognize Active – Passive Voice

1. Find the subject (the main character of the sentence).

2. Find the main verb (the action that the sentence identifies).

3. Examine the relationship between the subject and main verb.

Does the subject perform the action of the main verb? (If so,the sentence is active.)

Does the subject sit there while something else — named orunnamed –performs an action on it? (If so, the sentenceis passive.)

Can’t tell? If the main verb is a linking verb (“is,” “was,” “are,”“seems (to be),” “becomes” etc.), then the verb functions likean equals sign; there is no action involved — it merelydescribes a state of being.

Summary

In active the subject performs the action of the verb

Whether transitive and intransitive can be used in the active.

In passive the subject receive the action of the verb.

Only transitive can be use in the passive.

There’s always verb be in passive.

In passive all tenses use past participle.

By phrase use only if the performer important to be known.

1. Change into passive1. James climbed the ladder.

2. Children cannot open these bottles easily.

3. The boys pushed the tree over.

4. Corrosion had damaged the hull of the ship.

5. The government built a road right outside her front door.

2. Change into active1. The milk had been knocked over by a cat.

2. My books were stolen yesterday.

3. The football was kicked by Luke.

4. Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by plantationworkers.

5. The streets around the fire had been blocked off by thepolice.

3. Decide whether it is active or passive

1. Mark was eating an apple.

2. The picture was painted by Bob.

3. Tina opened the present.

4. The phone was being used by Mr. Thomas.

5. The card was made by Fred.

6. James hit the tree with his stick.

7. The man jumped off the step.

8. Daniel was watching the birds.

9. The pyramids were built thousands of years ago.

10. Several robberies were committed during the night.