Active vs Passive Voice

What is Active Voice? When the subject of a sentence PERFORMS the action. Frank built the house.

Active Example The blazing fire blistered the outside walls. Subject – fire Verb – blistered Object – walls

What is Passive Voice When the subject receives the action. When the “doer” of the action comes late in the sentence. The house was built by Frank

Why Does This Matter Active voice is stronger and more direct. We know who did something! More concise Passive voice is often vague and boring. Have to read more to find out who did something Verbose – “to be”

Active is Usually Better Immediately know the subject Know the doer of the action If we WANT to be vague – Passive Voice Academic writing is NOT to be vague!

Examples Active The nymphs dished it out. Passive It was dished out by the nymphs

Examples Active They broke into the Watergate Hotel. Passive The Watergate Hotel was broken into. By whom? Who ordered it? Very vague

Clues of Passive Voice 1)A form of the verb “to be”  As, is, are, was, were, etc 2)A past-participle  Past-tense for of a verb  Convicted, stolen 3)The word “by”  If the performer of the action is implied, unknown, or omitted

Scenario While rough housing with your brother, one of you broke a lamp. If your brother broke it, you’d say….. Active voice If you broke it, you’d say…. Passive voice….

Practice The art of Lucia Wilcox was admired by artists around the world. Exhibits of her paintings were shown all over the world. Her blindness was caused by a tumor near the optic nerve.

Practice Answers Artists from around the world admired Lucia Wilcox’s work. Museums showed exhibits of her work. A tumor near her optic nerve caused her blindness.

Summary Seek to write in the ACTIVE voice. More precise More clear PASSIVE voice Feels slow Feels vague