Determine the voice of the verb, active or passive.
1. Tony makes dinner every night.
2. A large fish was caught by Robin.
3. The teacher was called to the office.
4. Copy the math problems on your paper.
5. The webs were carefully spun by the spider.
6. The test is being handed out to the students.
7. Morgan smacked the ball out of the park.
8. The gymnast started her floor exercise.
9. The flowers were watered every other day.
10. Was the shelf built next to the fireplace?
Verbs and Voice
Voice is the form a verb takes to
indicate whether the subject of
the verb performs or receives the
There are two types of voice:
active voice and passive voice.
Active Voice
Active Voice – indicates that the
subject of the verb is acting
Because the subject does or "acts
upon" the verb in such sentences,
the sentences are said to be in the
active voice.
Active Voice
These examples show that the subject is doing the
verb's action.
The dog jumped onto the boy.
The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb).
Kristy will give a book report to the class.
Kristy (subject) is doing the giving (verb).
The computer ate my paper.
The computer (subject) is doing the eating (verb).
Passive Voice
In a passive voice sentence, the subject and object
flip-flop. The subject becomes the passive recipient
of the action.
Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is
passive), such sentences are said to be in the
passive voice.
These examples show the subject being acted upon
by the verb.
The boy was jumped on by the dog.
(subject) was Verb
A book report will be given by Kristy to the class.
(subject) will be given (verb).
My paper was eaten by the computer.
(subject) was(verb).
Reasons to Use the Active Voice
Most writers prefer to use active voice because it is
more direct.
Compare
Active: The waiter dropped the tray of
food.
Passive: The tray of food was dropped by
the waiter.
The active voice is less awkward and clearly states
relationship between subject and action.
Compare
Passive: Your request for funding has been denied by
the review committee.
Active: The review committee denied your request for
funding.
The active voice sentence pattern propels the
reader forward through your writing thus avoiding
weak prose.
When to Use Passive Voice
In general, the passive voice is less direct, less
forceful, and less concise than the active voice.
Use the passive voice in the following situations:
Use passive voice when you do not know or
do not want to reveal the performer of an
action.
Use passive voice when you want to
emphasize the receiver of an action.
Examples:
Passive: The cookies were eaten by the children.
Active: The children ate the cookies.
Passive: The tunnels are dug by the gophers.
Active: The gophers dug the tunnels.
Let’s Practice
Directions: Change the sentences below to the active
The statue is being visited by hundreds of tourists every
My books were stolen by someone yesterday.
These books had been left in the classroom by a careless
student.
Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by plantation
workers.
The house had been broken into by someone while the
owners were on vacation.
Let’s Practice
Directions: Change the sentences below to the
passive voice.
Children cannot open these bottles easily.
The government built a road right outside her front
Mr. Ross broke the antique vase as he walked
through the store.
When she arrived, the changes amazed her.
The construction workers are making street repairs
all month long.
1. Tony makes dinner every night.
2. A large fish was caught by Robin.
3. The teacher was called to the office.
4. Copy the math problems on your paper.
5. The webs were carefully spun by the spider.
6. The test is being handed out to the students.
7. Morgan smacked the ball out of the park.
8. The gymnast started her floor exercise.
9. The flowers were watered every other day.
10. Was the shelf built next to the fireplace?
Verbs and Voice
Voice is the form a verb takes to
indicate whether the subject of
the verb performs or receives the
There are two types of voice:
active voice and passive voice.
Active Voice
Active Voice – indicates that the
subject of the verb is acting
Because the subject does or "acts
upon" the verb in such sentences,
the sentences are said to be in the
active voice.
Active Voice
These examples show that the subject is doing the
verb's action.
The dog jumped onto the boy.
The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb).
Kristy will give a book report to the class.
Kristy (subject) is doing the giving (verb).
The computer ate my paper.
The computer (subject) is doing the eating (verb).
Passive Voice
In a passive voice sentence, the subject and object
flip-flop. The subject becomes the passive recipient
of the action.
Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is
passive), such sentences are said to be in the
passive voice.
These examples show the subject being acted upon
by the verb.
The boy was jumped on by the dog.
(subject) was Verb
A book report will be given by Kristy to the class.
(subject) will be given (verb).
My paper was eaten by the computer.
(subject) was(verb).
Reasons to Use the Active Voice
Most writers prefer to use active voice because it is
more direct.
Compare
Active: The waiter dropped the tray of
food.
Passive: The tray of food was dropped by
the waiter.
The active voice is less awkward and clearly states
relationship between subject and action.
Compare
Passive: Your request for funding has been denied by
the review committee.
Active: The review committee denied your request for
funding.
The active voice sentence pattern propels the
reader forward through your writing thus avoiding
weak prose.
When to Use Passive Voice
In general, the passive voice is less direct, less
forceful, and less concise than the active voice.
Use the passive voice in the following situations:
Use passive voice when you do not know or
do not want to reveal the performer of an
action.
Use passive voice when you want to
emphasize the receiver of an action.
Examples:
Passive: The cookies were eaten by the children.
Active: The children ate the cookies.
Passive: The tunnels are dug by the gophers.
Active: The gophers dug the tunnels.
Let’s Practice
Directions: Change the sentences below to the active
The statue is being visited by hundreds of tourists every
My books were stolen by someone yesterday.
These books had been left in the classroom by a careless
student.
Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by plantation
workers.
The house had been broken into by someone while the
owners were on vacation.
Let’s Practice
Directions: Change the sentences below to the
passive voice.
Children cannot open these bottles easily.
The government built a road right outside her front
Mr. Ross broke the antique vase as he walked
through the store.
When she arrived, the changes amazed her.
The construction workers are making street repairs
all month long.
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