Active and Passive Voice in Grammar

Active vs Passive Voice

Active Voice

• The subject of the sentence performs the action described by the verb.
• The focus is on the doer or the performer of the action.
• Typically, the subject comes before the verb in the sentence.

Examples:

• The dog bites the man. (The dog is performing the action of biting.)
• The teacher writes the lesson plan. (The teacher is performing the action of writing.)

Passive Voice

• The subject of the sentence receives the action described by the verb.
• The focus is on the recipient of the action.
• Typically, the subject comes after the verb in the sentence, or the doer of the action is not mentioned.

Examples:

• The man was bitten by the dog. (The man is receiving the action of being bitten.)
• The lesson plan was written by the teacher. (The lesson plan is receiving the action of being written, and the doer is mentioned.)
• The new policy has been implemented. (The doer of the action is not mentioned.)

Key differences

• In active voice, the subject performs the action, whereas in passive voice, the subject receives the action.
• Active voice tends to be more direct and clear, while passive voice can be more ambiguous or vague.
• Passive voice can be used to convey a more formal or objective tone, or to emphasize the action rather than the doer.

Active vs Passive Voice

Active Voice

• The subject of the sentence performs the action described by the verb, emphasizing the doer or performer of the action.
• The subject typically comes before the verb in the sentence.
• Examples include "The dog bites the man" and "The teacher writes the lesson plan", where the subject (dog and teacher) performs the action (bites and writes).

Passive Voice

• The subject of the sentence receives the action described by the verb, focusing on the recipient of the action.
• The subject typically comes after the verb in the sentence, or the doer of the action may not be mentioned.
• Examples include "The man was bitten by the dog" and "The lesson plan was written by the teacher", where the subject (man and lesson plan) receives the action (was bitten and was written).
• The doer of the action may not be mentioned, as in "The new policy has been implemented".

Key Differences

• Active voice highlights the doer, while passive voice emphasizes the action or recipient.
• Active voice tends to be more direct and clear, while passive voice can be more ambiguous or vague.
• Passive voice can be used for formal or objective tone, or to emphasize the action rather than the doer.