1. Using active and passive voice
What are active and passive voice?
Active voice
Passive voice
Retained object
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs
Passive-voice verbs
Review A
Review B

2. What are active and passive voice?
Like people, verbs can be
Harry tosses the ball.
active
Jill fell in the mud. or
Jim is confused by the question.
passive
Phil has been hit by a snowball.

3. What are active and passive voice?
Voice is the form a verb takes to show whether the subject of the verb . . .
performs the action
Subject
Verb
Chef Tanaka prepares the meal.
or receives the action
Subject
Verb
The meal is prepared by Chef Tanaka.

4. What are active and passive voice? Active voice
When the subject of a verb performs the action, the verb is in the active voice.
Active-voice verb
Subject
The tornado damaged many homes in the area.
The subject tornado performs the action of damaging.

5. What are active and passive voice? Active voice
A transitive verb in the active voice has a direct object, which tells who or what receives the action.
Direct object
Verb
Carol has adopted the puppy.
Carol has adopted the puppy.
The subject Carol performs the action.
The direct object puppy receives the action.

6. What are active and passive voice? Transitive verbs
A transitive verb has an object—a word that tells who or what received the action.
Transitive verb
Object
Everyone cheered the football team during the championship game.
The object team receives the action of cheered.
An intransitive verb does not have an object.
Intransitive verb
The gorilla roared.

7. What are active and passive voice? Direct objects
A direct object is a noun, pronoun, or word group that tells who or what receives the action of a verb or shows the result of the action.
Verb
Direct object
Dan measured the board carefully.
board
measured what?
board

8. What are active and passive voice? Passive voice
When the subject of a verb receives the action, the verb is in the passive voice.
Subject
Passive-voice verb
Many homes in the area were damaged by the tornado.
The subject homes receives the action of being damaged.

9. What are active and passive voice? Passive voice
Passive voice constructions include
form of be +
past participle
were
returned
Other helping verbs may also be included.
helping verb +
form of be +
past participle
have
been
returned

10. What are active and passive voice? Passive voice
Passive voice constructions include a form of be, the past participle of the verb, and sometimes other helping verbs.
Form of be
Past participle
The paintings were returned to the museum.
Helping verb
Form of be
Past participle
The paintings have been returned to the museum.

11. What are active and passive voice? Passive voice
The following forms of be can be used to create the passive voice.
Forms of Be am
are is
was
were be
been
being

12. What are active and passive voice? Passive voice
A verb in the passive voice does not have a direct object.
Passive-voice verb
Subject
The puppy has been adopted.
The puppy has been adopted.
The subject puppy receives the action.

13. What are active and passive voice? Passive voice
Sometimes a verb in the passive voice is followed by a prepositional phrase that begins with by and tells who or what performs the action.
Passive-voice verb
Prepositional phrase
His watch was repaired.
by a jeweler.
The prepositional phrase tells you that a jeweler performed the action of repairing.

14. What are active and passive voice? Passive voice
Sometimes, a passive sentence does not indicate the performer of the action.
Passive-voice verb
The Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s.
The performer of the action is not given.

15. What are active and passive voice? Retained object
When a sentence in the active voice has both an indirect object and a direct object . . .
Active-voice verb
Indirect object
Direct object
Ms. Cook gave each student a folder.
either object can become the subject when the sentence is put in the passive voice.
Passive-voice verb
Passive-voice verb
Subject
Subject
Each student was given a folder (by Ms. Cook).
A folder was given to each student (by Ms. Cook).

16. What are active and passive voice? Retained object
When an active sentence with both a direct and an indirect object is put in the passive voice, the object that does not become the subject serves as the retained object.
Indirect object
Direct object
Active voice
Ms. Cook gave each student a folder.
Subject
Retained object
Passive voice
Each student was given a folder.

17. What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. If a sentence has a retained object, identify it.
1. Oliver has borrowed several books from the library.
2. Important data was gathered during the expedition.
3. Before nap time, the children were read a story.

18. What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. If a sentence has a retained object, identify it.
1. Oliver has borrowed several books from the library.
Active voice
The subject, Oliver, performs the action of borrowing.

19. What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. If a sentence has a retained object, identify it.
2. Important data was gathered during the expedition.
Passive voice
The subject, data, receives the action of the verb.

20. What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. If a sentence has a retained object, identify it.
3. Before nap time, the children were read a story.
Passive voice
The subject, children, receives the action of the verb. In this sentence, story is the retained object.

21. What are active and passive voice?
On Your Own
Rewrite each sentence in the voice shown before the item number.
(active) 1. The movie review was edited by Lenny.
(passive) 2. Our entire class signed the letter.
(passive) 3. My grandfather planted this garden.
(active) 4. The bike has been repaired by my older sister.
(active) 5. The tennis tournament was won by Tyler.
(active) 6. We were given a tour by Ms. Hendrix.
[End of Section]

22. What are active and passive voice?
Answers
Rewrite each sentence in the voice shown before the item number.
(active) 1. The book review was edited by Lenny.
(passive) 2. Our entire class signed the letter.
(passive) 3. My grandfather planted this garden.
(active) 4. The bike has been repaired by my older sister.
(active) 5. The chess tournament was won by Tyler.
(active) 6. We were given a tour by Ms. Hendrix.
Lenny edited the movie review.
The letter was signed by our entire class.
This garden was planted by my grandfather.
My older sister has repaired the bike.
Tyler won the tennis tournament.
Ms. Hendrix gave us a tour.

23. Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs emphasize the action and the performer of the action.
Active voice
The optician adjusted the eyeglasses.
Emphasis on the optician and the adjusting
Passive-voice verbs emphasize the receiver of the action.
Passive voice
The eyeglasses were adjusted by the optician.
Emphasis on the eyeglasses, which receive the action

24. Uses of active and passive voice Active-voice verbs
Writers prefer the active voice because it is more forceful and more direct.
Active voice
The group has reached a decision.
Forceful and direct
Passive voice
A decision has been reached by the group.
Not very forceful or direct

25. Uses of active and passive voice Active-voice verbs
The active voice is also more concise than the passive voice. Since active-voice verbs take fewer words, they sound less awkward.
Active voice
Gina asked me to go to the game.
Clear and concise
Passive voice
I was asked by Gina to go to the game.
Awkward sounding

26. Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs
In general, you should avoid using the passive voice since sentences in the passive voice can sound awkward and weak.
Better (active voice)
Awkward (passive voice)
Cynthia will mow the lawn this weekend.
The lawn will be mowed this weekend by Cynthia.
Better (active voice)
Weak (passive voice)
The little boy gave the dog a special bone.
A special bone was given to the dog by the little boy.

27. Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs
The passive voice does have its place, though. Use the passive voice when
you do not know who performed the action
Appropriate passive voice
Three microscopes have been taken from the science lab.
The writer does not know who took the microscopes.

28. Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs
Use the passive voice when
you do not want to reveal the performer of the action
Appropriate passive voice
Several flat notes were hit during the opening number.
The writer does not want to say who hit the flat notes.

29. Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs
Use the passive voice when
you want to emphasize the receiver of the action rather than the performer
Appropriate passive voice
Lasers are used in communication, industry, and medicine.
The writer wants to emphasize the lasers, not who is using them.

30. Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs
Some software programs can check your writing for verbs in the passive voice.
Grammar Gal Says...
Several key pieces of evidence were left at the crime scene. These clues have been studied thoroughly by detectives.

31. Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs
Keep in mind: The program cannot tell you why you used the passive voice. If you used it for a good reason, don’t try to change it to active voice.
Grammar Gal Says...
Several key pieces of evidence were left at the crime scene. These clues have been studied thoroughly by detectives.
Detectives have studied these
clues thoroughly.

32. Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. If the sentence is in the passive, tell whether the passive voice is appropriate.
1. Old medical instruments are collected by my cousin Maria.
2. We have visited that museum before.
3. The fire station on the town square was built in 1904.

33. Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. If the sentence is in the passive, tell whether the passive voice is appropriate.
1. Old medical instruments are collected by my cousin Maria.
Passive voice
The subject, instruments, receives the action of the verb. Passive voice is awkward in this sentence. The sentence would sound better in the active voice: My cousin Maria collects old medical instruments.

34. Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. If the sentence is in the passive, tell whether the passive voice is appropriate.
2. We have visited that museum before.
Active voice
The subject, We, performs the action of the verb.

35. Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. If the sentence is in the passive, tell whether the passive voice is appropriate.
3. The fire station on the town square was built in 1904.
Passive voice
The subject, fire station, receives the action of the verb. The passive voice is appropriate in this sentence. The emphasis is on the fire station, not on who built it.

36. Uses of active and passive voice
On Your Own
Identify each verb as active or passive voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.
_____ 1. The chickens are being fed by the farmer.
_____ 2. A lovely plant has been left on my doorstep!
_____ 3. The manager had hung a large, colorful poster in the store window.
_____ 4. The chapter on oceans was carefully read by Tim.
_____ 5. My brother has been sending me letters from college.
[End of Section]

37. Uses of active and passive voice
Answers
Identify each verb as active or passive voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.
_____ 1. The chickens are being fed by the farmer.
_____ 2. A lovely plant has been left on my doorstep!
_____ 3. The manager had hung a large, colorful poster in the store window.
_____ 4. The chapter on oceans was carefully read by Tim.
_____ 5. My brother has been sending me letters from college.
passive
The farmer is feeding the chickens.
passive
okay
active
passive
Tim carefully read the chapter on oceans.
active

38. Review A
For each sentence, tell whether the boldfaced verb is in the active or the passive voice.
1. The choir director immediately noticed Linda’s excellent singing voice.
2. Dr. Julia Gold is respected by her colleagues.
3. The missing money was replaced in the middle of the night.
4. Our group will perform a skit about the founding of the Jamestown settlement.
5. Has the basketball team really been practicing for two hours?

39. Review A
For each sentence, tell whether the boldfaced verb is in the active or the passive voice.
1. The choir director immediately noticed Linda’s excellent singing voice.
active
2. Dr. Julia Gold is respected by her colleagues.
passive
3. The missing money was replaced in the middle of the night.
passive
4. Our group will perform a skit about the founding of the Jamestown settlement.
active
5. Has the basketball team really been practicing for two hours?
active

40. Review B
Identify each sentence as active or passive voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.
_____ 1. We were hoping for clearer skies for the weekend.
_____ 2. Special effects are often used to create excitement in Hollywood blockbusters.
_____ 3. The test results were told to us by the principal.
_____ 4. Bill has carefully reviewed the chapter on constitutional amendments.
_____ 5. The halftime show was enjoyed by the crowd.
[End of Section]

41. Review B
Identify each sentence as active or passive voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.
active
_____ 1. We were hoping for clearer skies for the weekend.
passive
_____ 2. Special effects are often used to create excitement in Hollywood blockbusters.
okay
_____ 3. The test results were told to us by the principal.
passive
The principal told us the test results.
_____ 4. Bill has carefully reviewed the chapter on constitutional amendments.
active
passive
_____ 5. The halftime show was enjoyed by the crowd.
The crowd enjoyed the halftime show.

42. The End