Active and Passive Voice in Writing

What is the main reason for avoiding shifts in verb voice or mood in writing?

What characterizes an active voice sentence?

What is required to change a sentence from active to passive voice?

What is an example of a sentence in active voice?

What is the term for the form of a verb that indicates whether the subject performs or receives the action?

What is a direct object in a sentence?

Why can't the sentence 'Mischievous monkeys live in the jungle' be changed to passive voice?

Why is it generally preferable to use the active voice over the passive voice?

When is it preferable to use the passive voice?

What does the mood of a sentence indicate?

What is the purpose of the subjunctive mood in a sentence?

What is the correct way to rewrite the sentence 'If Josh were more experienced, he will be able to help us'?

What is the effect of shifting from one mood to another in a sentence?

What is the mood of the verb 'be' in the sentence 'The lawyer requested that her client be treated fairly'?

How can the sentence 'Arrive early, but will you be attending the meeting?' be rewritten to correct the shift in mood?

Understanding Active and Passive Voice

In active voice, the subject performs the verb's action, e.g., "Mary fed the kitten." Mary is the subject, and she is doing the feeding.
In passive voice, the subject is acted upon by the verb, e.g., "The kitten was fed by Mary." The kitten is the subject, and it is being acted upon by the verb "fed."
To change a sentence from active to passive voice, it needs to contain a direct object, which is a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb.

Shifts in Verb Voice

When a sentence has two or more verbs, both verbs should stay in the same voice to avoid confusing the reader.
Inappropriate shifts in verb voice can occur when switching from active to passive voice or vice versa, e.g., "When Jim turned on the microwave, a crackling sound was heard." To fix this, rewrite the sentence to maintain a consistent voice, e.g., "When Jim turned on the microwave, he heard a crackling sound."

Preference for Active Voice

Active voice tends to flow more smoothly and is easier to understand.
Passive voice may be used when the doer of the action is unknown, unwanted, or not needed in the sentence, e.g., "The exams have been graded." or "Sometimes our efforts go unnoticed."

Types of Mood

The indicative mood indicates something by making a statement, asking a question, or exclaiming something, e.g., "Isabella leaves tomorrow."
The imperative mood gives a command or makes a request, e.g., "Eat whatever your grandmother makes for dinner."
The subjunctive mood is used to express a hypothetical situation or a wish, e.g., "I wouldn't go there if I were you" or "The lawyer requested that her client be treated fairly."

Avoiding Shifts in Mood

Shifts in mood can disrupt the feel of the writing and confuse the reader.
To avoid shifts, ensure that verbs in a sentence or paragraph stay in the same mood, e.g., "If Josh were more experienced, he would be able to help us."

Learn about the importance of consistent verb voice in writing. Understand the differences between active and passive voice to improve your essays and research papers.