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Active and Passive Voices 1

This document discusses the active and passive voice in writing. It defines voice as the form a verb takes to indicate whether the subject performs or receives the action. The active voice shows the subject performing the action, while the passive voice shows the subject receiving the action. Strong writing generally uses the active voice as it is more direct and concise. The passive voice can be used to hide or minimize responsibility. Forming the passive voice requires using a form of "to be" along with the past participle of the main verb. Examples are provided to illustrate active and passive voice.

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Tricia Faye De Leon
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49 views

Active and Passive Voices 1

This document discusses the active and passive voice in writing. It defines voice as the form a verb takes to indicate whether the subject performs or receives the action. The active voice shows the subject performing the action, while the passive voice shows the subject receiving the action. Strong writing generally uses the active voice as it is more direct and concise. The passive voice can be used to hide or minimize responsibility. Forming the passive voice requires using a form of "to be" along with the past participle of the main verb. Examples are provided to illustrate active and passive voice.

Uploaded by

Tricia Faye De Leon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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USING ACTIVE

AND PASSIVE
VOICES OF THE
VERB
ENGL111

ENGL111
Verbs and Voice

Voice is the form a verb takes


to indicate whether the subject
of the verb performs or receives
the action.
There are two types of voices:
active voice and passive voice.
ACTIVE VOICE

Active voice is used to show that the subject of


the sentence is performing or causing the action.

Example:
Lebron threw the basketball before the buzzer.
Lebron shot the basketball from the free throw
line.
Lebron scored three points.
PASSIVE VOICE

Passive voice is used when the subject is the


recipient of the action.

Example:
The ball was thrown by Lebron.
The basketball was shot by Lebron.
The score was made by Lebron.
WHY DOES IT
MATTER?

STRONG WRITING USES


ACTIVE VOICE!!!!
WHY DOES IT MATTER?

 Active voice is more direct and concise.


 Passive voice is usually wordier.
WHEN WOULD YOU WANT TO USE
PASSIVE VOICE?

 When intentionally trying to hide the subject of the sentence.


For example, a politician might say, “A mistake has been made (by me)”
Hiding the subject helps him/her hide the blame.

 When intentionally trying to minimize the guilt of the subject.


For example, a cheating boyfriend might say, “Cheating was committed
by me.”

 When passive voice better emphasizes the main point of the message,
such as “Children were harmed by the drunk driver.”
FORM OF PASSIVE VOICE
VERBS

 The passive voice requires a "double verb" and will


always consist of a form of the verb "to be" and the
past participle (usually the "en/ed/t" form) of another
verb.
 Example:
Active: John baked the bread.
Passive: The bread was baked by John. (Was is
a form of the verb “be”.)
FORM OF PASSIVE VOICE
VERBS

 Writers should be familiar with the forms of "to be"


, often called linking verbs, so that they can easily
identify the passive voice in their work.

 Review the forms of "to be":


 am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
FORM OF PASSIVE VOICE VERBS

 Note the forms of "to be" in the examples of the verb "to deliver" in various
forms of the passive voice:
is delivered---------------had been delivered
was delivered------------is going to be delivered
is being delivered--------will be delivered
has been delivered------can be delivered
was being delivered-----should be delivered
PASSIVE VOICE
ACTIVE VOICE
The parcel is delivered by the rider to the given
The rider delivers the parcel to
the given address. address.
The rider can deliver the The parcel can be delivered by the rider to the
parcel to the given address. given address.
The rider has delivered the The parcel has been delivered by the rider
parcel to the given address. to the given address.
FORM OF PASSIVE VOICE VERBS

 Examples:
 Active: The children ate the cookies.
 Passive: The cookies were eaten by the children.

 Active: The gophers dig the tunnels.


 Passive: The tunnels are dug by the gophers.
LET’S PRACTICE

Directions: Change the sentences below to the


PASSIVE voice.
1. Someone stole my books yesterday.
ANSWER: My books were stolen by someone yesterday.
2. A careless student had left the books in the classroom.
ANSWER : The books had been left in the classroom by a
careless student.
3. Students will elect the president of the student council.
ANSWER: The president of the student council will be
elected by the students.
LET’S PRACTICE

 Directions: Change the sentences below to the active voice.


1. The statue is being visited by hundreds of tourists every year.
ANSWER: Hundreds of tourists are visiting the statue every year.
2. Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by plantation workers.
ANSWER: Plantation workers raise coffee in many parts of
Hawaii.
3. The house had been broken into by someone while the owners
were on vacation.
ANSWER: Someone had broken into the house while the owners
were on vacation.

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