1. Active and Passive Voice
Prof. Myrna Monllor Jiménez
English 112
copyright©Myrna Monllor Jiménez 2014

2. Three people interviewed me.
The Active Voice
Most of the time we speak and write using the active voice
The active voice is especially important in business writing because it is more dynamic
Three people interviewed me.

3. The Active Voice Refers to the main verb of the sentence
The subject of the sentence is performing the action
The assistant prepared the document.
The surgeons operated the patient.

4. Example 1
The students answered all the questions.
Subject Verb

5. Example 2
The mother gave the child the medicine.
Subject Verb

6. The Passive Voice
Is used in formal writing, such as scientific writing
Used when you want to omit or not mention the name of the person/s who performed the action

7. The Passive Voice
When you use the passive voice, the subject does not perform the action
The person/s or thing/s performing the action does/do not have to be mentioned in the sentence
If the performer of the action is mentioned, then his/her/its name will be included in a phrase beginning with the preposition by

8. The patient was examined by the pediatrician.
Verb Performer of the action
*Notice the preposition by in front of the
name of the performer of the action

9. The passive voice of a verb is formed with the verb BE and the past participle of a verb.
Miss López was given a job at Sony Corporation.
BE Past Participle

10. The most common passive voice forms are in the past tense
To express a sentence in the past passive voice, use was or were
I was told to visit the doctor on Friday.
They were interviewed by the CEO of the company.

11. Changing from active voice to passive voice
The gynecologist examined the patient.
Subject Verb Direct Object.
Passive Voice
The patient was examined by the gynecologist.
*Notice that the subject and the object have changed positions

12. Exercise We sent a letter to the President of USC.
The company hired many new employees.
He listed all his skills in the resumé.
The students answered the test.
Marta placed her book on the table.
They asked many questions at the meeting.
Isabel Allende wrote De amor y de sombra.
Many people saw the new advertisement.