Grammar Guide

Passive and Active Voice

Passive and active voice have to do with a sentence’s subject and verb. A sentence is written in the active voice when the subject performs the verb’s action. 

Example: The dog chewed the carpet. 

The subject, the dog, performs the action, chewed.

A sentence is written in the passive voice when the subject receives the verb’s action. 

Example: My carpet was chewed by the dog.

The subject, the carpet, is receiving the action, chewed.

The passive voice adds additional words, in this example the preposition by and the verb was. Active voice is a stronger, more direct style of writing, and instructors often encourage using active voice wherever possible. However, there are some situations where passive voice is acceptable. 

One situation where passive voice might be used is in scientific lab reports, to promote objective writing. However, this standard is changing, and it is important to always check with your instructor if you are unsure whether to use passive or active voice. 

Example: 100mL of distilled water was poured into a 500mL beaker.

This is written in passive voice, rather than I poured 100mL of distilled water into a 500mL beaker, which is in active voice. 

Passive voice can also be used effectively in creative writing. You might want to be vague about who the subject of the sentence is, for example when assigning blame. 

Example: A mistake was made.

This avoids assigning blame to any specific person. In active voice the sentence would be I made a mistake, meaning the subject I takes responsibility for the mistake. 

 

Practice:

1. Mark if these sentences are in active or passive voice. For extra practice, try changing sentences in the passive voice to active. 

1. Joan was stopped by the crossing guard. 
2. He sent his dinner back to the kitchen. 
3. I wrote a great research paper. 
4. Some bad news was delivered. 
5. The car was towed to a garage down the street. 

2. Write this sentence in the active voice.

The sweater was exchanged for a different size because it didn’t fit. 

3. Your science professor has assigned you a lab report to be written in passive voice. You need to write about measuring the weight of a beaker. How would you write this sentence?  

 

Answers:

1. Passive or Active:

1. Passive
2. Active
3. Active
4. Passive
5. Passive

2. The customer exchanged the sweater for a different size because it didn’t fit. 

3. The weight of the beaker was measured. 

 

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