ACTIVE & PASSIVE VOICE Verbs can appear in two different voices: Active Voice Passive Voice

ACTIVE VOICE A verb is in the active voice when the subject is doing something. In the active voice, the subject usually comes before the verb.

ACTIVE VOICE Many teachers prefer that students always write in the active voice. Active voice is most commonly used in both spoken language and writing.

ACTIVE VOICE EXAMPLES Everyone had a good time at the party. Everyone is the subject. Had is the verb. The subject, everyone, is performing the action, had, so the sentence is in active voice. The students ate pizza for lunch. Students is the subject. Ate is the verb. The subject, students, is performing the action, ate, so the sentence is in active voice. Colorful parrots live in the rainforest. Parrots is the subject. Live is the verb. The subject, parrots, is performing the action, live, so the sentence is in active voice.

PASSIVE VOICE In the passive voice, the action is being done to the subject. The person who is performing the action usually appears in a prepositional phrase, which comes after the verb.

PASSIVE VOICE The prepositional phrase by the… is most commonly used in passive voice. However, a sentence does not need a by the… phrase to be in passive voice. Ask yourself, “What is the subject of the sentence?” and “Is the subject the one who is performing the action?”

ACTIVE VOICE EXAMPLES A good time was had by everyone at the party. Time is the subject. Was had is the verb. Time is not performing the action; everyone is performing the action of having a good time.  The sentence is in passive voice. Pizza was eaten by the students for lunch. Pizza is the subject. Was eaten is the verb. Pizza is not performing the action; the students are performing the action of eating the pizza.  The sentence is in passive voice. Living in the rainforest were colorful parrots. Living is the subject. Were is the verb. Living is not performing the action; the parrots are performing the action of living in the rainforest.  The sentence is in passive voice.

PASSIVE VOICE You will not always know who is performing the action in a passive sentence. Remember to ask whether the subject is performing the action or not. EXAMPLE The package was delivered on time. Package is the subject. Was delivered is the verb. The package is not performing the action; a person, who is not named in the sentence, must have delivered the package.  The sentence is in passive voice.