Active and Passive Voice

What is the difference between Active and Passive Vice?

The difference between Active and Passive Voice is as the terms are defined.

For example, in Active Voice the subject is performing or doing an action, thus the term doer. In Active Voice the subject is actively involved in the action.

On the other hand, in Passive Voice the doer is no longer the subject, and the subject is no longer participating in any action, but rather, the action is being done to the subject;  thus, the subject is now the receiver. In this voice, the sentence wants to emphasize the action and NOT who is doing the action.

If you consider all of the skills involved in learning a language: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, two are active and two are passive. Speaking and writing are skills that require action while listening and reading require little or no action, thus passive skills.

For example: The man is reading the newspaper. (Active Voice – The subject or the doer is reading.)

                       The newspaper is being read by the man. (Passive Voice – The subject in this sentence is not doing anything, but it is receiver of the action).

Can all sentences be written both in Active or Passive Voice?

The answer is No. Only those sentences that have a subject, a verb, and an OBJECT can be converted into Passive Voice.

There are many verbs that have no object. Some examples:

The woman is crying. (No object)

The students are going to the library. (No object)

The above sentences can ONLY be written in Active Voice. Verbs that do not have an object are called intransitive verbs. When you look a verb up in a dictionary, you will see an “i” after the verb.

On the other hand, if there is an object in the sentence, it can be written in Passive Voice. Some examples of sentences with an object are:

The man bought a newspaper. (Active Voice)

 The newspaper was bought by the man. (Passive Voice)

The above sentences can be written in both Active and Passive Voice because there is an object in the Active Voice, in this case, the newspaper. Verbs that have an object are called transitive verbs. When you look a verb up in a dictionary to determine if a verb can be in either Active or Passive Voice or both, you will see a “t” after the verb.

Why use Passive Voice?

Active Voice is preferred voice in English, because it is shorter, shorter, and more direct. Passive Voice, however, uses longer sentences and is used frequently in formal writing. There are several reasons to use Passive Voice. Some of the more common reasons are:

1.      When the subject or doer of the action is not known

Examples: The paper was left on my desk.

My wallet was stolen.

The alarm was rung.

2.      When the focus has to be about the receiver and not the doer

Examples: The telephone was discovered by Alexander Graham      Bell.

                   The bill was paid by the client.

3.      When the subject or doer is obvious or represents a large group and doesn’t need to be stated.

The test was given.

The suspect was arrested.

Rice is grown in China.

English is spoken in the United States.

4.      When the doer of the action is known but does not want to be mentioned because it might be something wrong.

      Examples: The top of the deck was ruined.

                         The window was broken.

5.      When are writing an essay or assignment and you want to vary the voice in your writing to avoid monotony

How is the Passive Voice Formed?

In statements The Passive Voice requires

The verb To Be + The Past Participle.

In Perfect Tenses in Passive Voice, the sentences require:

Some form of the verb HAVE (Have, Has, Had, Will Have) + BEEN + The Past Participle

In negative sentences, add the word NOT after the verb.

In questions follow the correct word order: Verb+ Verb + Subject in all questions EXCEPT when asking a question with WHO, use WHOM.

What do we use to show the doer in Passive Voice?

To show the doer we use the preposition BY followed by the doer.