Active and Passive Voice: Identifying, Examples, Formation Quiz

Active and Passive Voice: Identifying, Examples, Formation

Active and passive voice are essential grammatical concepts in English, influencing sentence structure, tone, and focus.

Identifying Active and Passive Voice

Active voice places the subject as the doer of the action. For example:

• The dog chases the ball. (Active voice)

Passive voice positions the target of the action first, using a form of "to be" followed by the past participle:

• The ball is being chased by the dog. (Passive voice)

Examples

Active voice:

• Shira likes birdwatching.
• She loves twilight.

Passive voice:

• Salsa dancing has always been loved by our community.
• Significant amounts of tuition are paid to the university every year, and many feel the level of service being paid for by students is not being received.

Formation

Active voice:

• Subject + verb + direct object
• E.g., The dog chases the ball.

Passive voice:

• Subject + be + past participle + adverbial phrase (optional)
• E.g., The ball is being chased by the dog.

Usage and Purpose

Active voice is preferred for clarity and focus on the subject, while passive voice is used to highlight the object of the sentence, to avoid naming the subject, or to vary sentence structure.

• Active voice:

  • Focus on the subject performing the action.
  • Clear and direct tone.
  • Useful in scientific writing or to stress the doer of the action.

• Passive voice:

  • Focus on the target of the action or the action itself rather than the subject.
  • Avoids naming the subject.
  • Useful in scientific reports, legal contexts, or to vary sentence structure.

In summary, active and passive voice are tools for structuring sentences and emphasizing different aspects of the action. Understanding these concepts will help you write more effectively and clearly.