ACTIVE VOICE Because the subject is being “acted upon” (or is
passive), such sentences are said to be in the passive
1. When the subject does or “acts upon” the verb, the
sentence is said to be in the active voice. These
examples show that the subject is doing the verb’s
actions.
 The old father (subject) gives (verb) the
money to the boy.
 Carlos Bulosan (subject) revealed (verb) the
reality about social discrimination in the text.
 The rich man (subject) accused (verb) the
poor family of stealing the spirit of his family’s
food by smelling.
 The judge (subject) pounded (verb) the
gavel.
 My brothers (subject) threw (verb) a small
change in a straw hat.
PASSIVE VOICE
2. When the subject receives the action of the verb, the
sentence is said to be in the passive voice. These
examples show how the subject-verb relationship has
change.
 The money is given by the old father to the
boy.
(active verb – gives: passive verb – is given)
 The reality about social discrimination was
revealed by Carlos Bulosan in the text.
(active verb – revealed: passive verb – was
revealed)
 The poor family was accused by the rich man
for stealing the spirit of his family’s food by
smelling.
(active verb – accused: passive verb – was
accused)
 The gavel was pounded by the judge.
(active verb – pounded: passive verb – was
pounded)
 A small change was thrown by my brothers in
a straw hat.
(active verb – threw: passive verb – was
thrown)
(active verb – threw: passive verb – was
thrown)
voice.
ACTIVE VOICE
1. When the subject does or “acts upon” the verb, the
sentence is said to be in the active voice. These
examples show that the subject is doing the verb’s
actions.
 The old father (subject) gives (verb) the
money to the boy.
 Carlos Bulosan (subject) revealed (verb) the
reality about social discrimination in the text.
 The rich man (subject) accused (verb) the
poor family of stealing the spirit of his family’s
food by smelling.
 The judge (subject) pounded (verb) the
gavel.
 My brothers (subject) threw (verb) a small
change in a straw hat.
PASSIVE VOICE
2. When the subject receives the action of the verb, the
sentence is said to be in the passive voice. These
examples show how the subject-verb relationship has
change.
 The money is given by the old father to the
boy.
(active verb – gives: passive verb – is given)
 The reality about social discrimination was
revealed by Carlos Bulosan in the text.
(active verb – revealed: passive verb – was
revealed)
 The poor family was accused by the rich man
for stealing the spirit of his family’s food by
smelling.
(active verb – accused: passive verb – was
accused)
 The gavel was pounded by the judge.
(active verb – pounded: passive verb – was
pounded)
 A small change was thrown by my brothers in
a straw hat.
Because the subject is being “acted upon” (or is
passive), such sentences are said to be in the passive
voice.
ACTIVE VOICE
1. When the subject does or “acts upon” the verb, the
sentence is said to be in the active voice. These
examples show that the subject is doing the verb’s
actions.
 The old father (subject) gives (verb) the
money to the boy.
 Carlos Bulosan (subject) revealed (verb) the
reality about social discrimination in the text.
 The rich man (subject) accused (verb) the
poor family of stealing the spirit of his family’s
food by smelling.
 The judge (subject) pounded (verb) the
gavel.
 My brothers (subject) threw (verb) a small
change in a straw hat.
PASSIVE VOICE
2. When the subject receives the action of the verb, the
sentence is said to be in the passive voice. These
examples show how the subject-verb relationship has
change.
 The money is given by the old father to the
boy.
(active verb – gives: passive verb – is given)
 The reality about social discrimination was
revealed by Carlos Bulosan in the text.
(active verb – revealed: passive verb – was
revealed)
 The poor family was accused by the rich man
for stealing the spirit of his family’s food by
smelling.
(active verb – accused: passive verb – was
accused)
 The gavel was pounded by the judge.
(active verb – pounded: passive verb – was
pounded)
  A small change was thrown by my brothers in
a straw hat.
(active verb – threw: passive verb – was
thrown)
Because the subject is being “acted upon” (or is
passive), such sentences are said to be in the passive
voice.