ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

THE ACTIVE VOICE

When the subject of a sentence performs the action of a verb, the verb is in the active voice.
Examples: Hart Crane wrote The Bridge.
Jan sewed the curtains.
In the two sentences, the subjects [Hart Crane / Jan] do the action.

THE PASSIVE VOICE

When the subject of the verb receives the action -- is acted upon -- the verb is in the passive voice.
Examples: The Bridge was written by Hart Crane.
The curtains were sewn by Jan.
The subjects, The Bridge and The curtains, do not act; instead, the action is done to them.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE PASSIVE VOICE:

The passive voice is formed by using the past participle form of the verb plus the appropriate form of be as
a helping verb to indicate the tense.
Examples: My research paper is finished on time. (present tense passive)
My research paper was finished on time. (past tense passive)
My research paper has been finished for a week. (present perfect passive)
My research paper had been finished for a week before I handed it in. (past perfect passive)

WHEN SHOULD WE USE THE ACTIVE VOICE?

Most of the time, writers should use the active voice because it is clearer and more direct than the passive voice.

WHEN SHOULD WE USE THE PASSIVE VOICE?

When a writer wishes to emphasize what happened, and the person or thing acting is unknown or unimportant,
the passive voice should be used:
DDT was found in local soil samples.
[The use of the passive emphasizes the finding of DDT, not who found it.]
We were required to submit the essay by Thursday.
[The passive emphasizes what we had to do, not who was requiring it.]

The passive voice also enables the writer to emphasize the receiver [person or thing] of the action:
Darwin’s faith in fixed species was destroyed on his five-year trip on the Beagle.
[Emphasis is on the fact that Darwin’s faith was destroyed, not on who or what destroyed it.]
The art of the Greek sculptors of the great age is known to us by long familiarity.
[The passive emphasizes the art, not who knows it.]

Please note: Because constructions involving the passive voice can be awkward or wordy, a writer should use
the passive voice only when he has a good reason.
PRACTICE
Tell whether the following sentences are written in the active or passive voice.
1. Rockets were invented by the Chinese about A.D. 1000.
_____ Active _____ Passive

2. The repairman fixed the air conditioner.

_____ Active _____ Passive
3. Your thoughtless remarks hurt Alan.
_____ Active _____ Passive
4. The lost dog was found by the police officer.
_____ Active _____ Passive

Indicate which of the following active voice sentences are correctly rewritten in the passive voice.
5. The fire damaged most of our furniture.
a. Most of our furniture damaged the fire.
b. Most of our furniture was damaged by the fire.
c. Our furniture most of the fire damaged.

6. A careless smoker singed Marsha's new dress.

a. Marsha’s new dress was singed by a careless smoker.
b. A careless smoker has singed Marsha’s new dress.
c. Marsha’s new dress singed a careless smoker.

7. The quiet student in the back of the room solved the problem.
a. The problem solved the quiet student in the back of the room.
b. In the back of the room, the quiet student solved the problem.
c. The problem was solved by the quiet student in the back of the room.

8. The magician's tricks fascinated the children.

a. The children were fascinated by the magician’s tricks.
b. The magician’s tricks have fascinated the children.
c. The children fascinated the magician’s tricks.

Identify the following sentences as active or passive, and then change them, active to passive or passive to active.
9. Professor Amory scored the last algebra test very leniently. ____ active ____ passive

10. Carlos was hit on the head by the baseball. ____ active ____ passive

11. The election was decided by the votes in the state of Florida ____ active ____ passive