Active and Passive Voice

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
VOICE
Wea Isabella Kaye S. Chua - BSN305
PRE-TEST
 Directions: Identify whether the following
sentences are written in the active or passive voice.
Then write the doer of the action.
1. The desk was being cleaned by Mark.

2. The man paint the wall.
3. The dog is fed by Anna.
4. The book was written by Danielle Steel .
5. The family went to he park.
PRE-TEST ANSWERS
1. Passive – Mark
2. Active – man
3. Passive – Anna
4. Passive – Danielle Steel
5. Active - family
Defining VOICE
 “Voice” is a characteristic of verbs which
indicates the relation of the verb’s action to its
subject.
 The voice of a verb may be either active or

passive.
Active Voice
 In active voice sentences the subject does the action.
 Active voice verbs are used when the subject is acting

in a sentence.
Example:
Angela browse the book.
Browse is an active voice because it allows the subject to

undertake an action.
Passive Voice
 In passive voice sentences the subject receives the action.
 Passive voice verbs are used when the subject is being

acted upon in a sentence.
 You can recognize passive-voice expressions because the

verb phrase will always include a form of the verb to be,
such as am, is, was, were, are, or been (the presence of a be-
verb, however, does not necessarily mean that the sentence
is in passive voice). Another way to recognize passive-
voice sentences is that the verb may be followed by a "by..."
phrase which indicates the agent performing the action.
Passive Voice
Example:
The book was browsed by Angela.
Was browsed is considered passive because it indicates

that the subject (book) is receiving an action.
Verb Tenses
 SIMPLE PRESENT
 Active:
 Example: The company ships the computers to many foreign
countries.
 Passive:
 Example: Computers are shipped to many foreign countries.
 PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
 Active:
 Example: The chef is preparing the food.
 Passive:
 Example: The food is being prepared.
Verb Tenses
 SIMPLE PAST
 Active:
 Example: The delivery man delivered the package yesterday.
 Passive:
 Example: The package was delivered yesterday.
 PAST PROGRESSIVE
 Active:
 Example: The producer was making an announcement.
 Passive:
 Example: An announcement was being made.
Verb Tenses
 FUTURE
 Active:
 Example: Our representative will pick up the computer.
 Passive:
 Example: The computer will be picked up.
 PRESENT PERFECT
 Active:
 Example: Someone has made the arrangements for us.
 Passive:
 Example: The arrangements have been made for us.
Verb Tenses
 PAST PERFECT
 Active:
 Example: They had given us visas for three months.
 Passive:
 Example: They had been given visas for three months.
 FUTURE PERFECT
 Active:
 Example: By next month we will have finished this job.
 Passive:
 Example: By next month this job will have been finished.
Verb Tenses
 Modals
 Active:
 Example: You can use the computer.
 Passive:
 Example: The computer can be used.
Active Voice
 Sentences in active voice are generally, though not
always, clearer and more direct than those in
passive voice. Sentences in active voice are also
more concise than those in passive voice because
fewer words are required to express action in active
voice.
Passive Voice
 The sentence that uses the passive voice is less direct.
It is, however, not incorrect to use the passive voice.
 Sometimes the use of passive voice can create long

and awkward sentences that cause the reader to lose
interest or become confused. Also, overuse of the
passive voice throughout an essay can cause your
writing to seem flat and uninteresting. Passive voice
can be useful, however, when the identity of the person
performing the action is irrelevant, unknown, or
purposefully left out.
Changing Active to Passive Voice
 When a verb which takes an object is changed from
the Active Voice to the Passive Voice, in order to
preserve the meaning of the sentence, the former
object becomes the subject of the verb, and the
former subject may be preceded by the preposition
by, and placed after the verb.
Example:
Active: The squirrel ate the nut.
Passive: The nut was eaten by the squirrel.
Changing Passive to Active
 When a verb is changed from the Passive Voice to the

Active Voice, in order to preserve the meaning of the
sentence, the former subject becomes the object of the
verb, and, if the sentence includes a phrase beginning
with the preposition by, the former object of the
preposition becomes the subject of the verb.
Example:
Passive: The wine was ordered by the dealer.
Active: The dealer ordered the wine.
POST-TEST
 Directions: Rewrite the passive voice sentences as
active voice sentences.
1. Passive: The dog was hit by the car.
2. Passive: The house will be built by the construction
crew in five months.
 Direction: Rewrite the active voice sentences as

passive voice sentence.
3. Active: Julie answered the question.
4. Active: The dolphins have learned many tricks.
POST-TEST
Direction: Fill in the blanks with suitable active and passive verb forms.
5. The injured __________ to the hospital in an ambulance.
a) Were taking
b) Was taking
c) Were taken
d) Have taken
6. As the patient could not walk he __________ home in a wheel chair.

a) Has carried
b) Has been carried
c) Was carried
d) Was carrying
POST-TEST
7. The inmates of the juvenile home __________ well by
their caretakers.
a) Were not being treated
b) Were not treating
c) Have not being treated
d) Was not being treated
8. I __________ to become a successful writer.

a) Have always wanted
b) Am always wanted
c) Was always wanted
d) Am always wanting
POST-TEST
9. The teacher __________ the student for lying.
a) Has been punished
b) Punished
c) Is punished
d) Was punished
10. She __________ for a while.

a) Are ailing
b) Is ailing
c) Has been ailing
d) Have been ailing
POST-TEST
11. Choose a sentence that is written in a active
voice.
a.) Jose offered an elderly man his seat on the bus.
b.) The security guard was alerted by his
suspicious behavior.
c.) The candidate’s plane will be met by many
political supporters.
d.) The speaker may be asked questions after his
formal presentation.
POST-TEST
12. Choose the sentence that is written in the active
voice.
a.) There were several important messages left on
your machine.
b.) Hopefully, the gifts were insured for their full
value.
c.) Alice was waiting for me by the water
fountain.
d.) Harold was hit on the forehead by a foul ball.
POST-TEST
13. Choose the sentence that is written in the active
form.
a.) The beached whale was rescued by concern
marine biologists.
b.) After resting from her walk, Lillian watched
her favorite program.
c.) A huge chocolate cake was delivered to
Maya’s birthday party.
d.) Has the letter been typed correctly on the word
processor?
POST-TEST
14. Choose the sentence that is written in the passive
voice.
a.) Last month, the skating rink was sold to a new
comer.
b.) Will you drop me by my house after practice?
c.) The radio announcer reported details of the
breaking news story.
d.) The entire class is planning a surprise party
for Mrs. Billingsly.
POST-TEST
15. Choose the sentence that is written in the passive
voice.
a.) Please mail that package on your way to the
supermarket.
b.) Sergio is studying English in preparation for
his visit to America.
c.) Walking is recommended as a healthful
aerobic exercise.
d.) Jennifer is wearing a new dress to the party on
Saturday.
POST-TEST ANSWERS
1. The car hit the dog.
2. The construction crew will build the house in five
months.
3. The question was answered by Julie.
4. Many tricks had been learned by the dolphins.
5. Were taken
6. Was carried
7. Were not being treated
POST-TEST ANSWERS
8. Have always wanted
9. Punished
10. Has been ailing
11. A – Subject (Jose) is doing the action (offered).
12. C – Subject (Alice) is doing the action (was waiting).
13. B – Subject (Lillian) is doing the action (watched).
14. A – An action (was sold) is being done to the subject
(skating rink).
15. C – An action (is recommended) is being done to the
subject (Walking).

Active and Passive Voice

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Active and Passive Voice

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ACTIVE AND PASSIVE

1. The desk was being cleaned by Mark.

 The voice of a verb may be either active or

 Active voice verbs are used when the subject is acting

Browse is an active voice because it allows the subject to

 Passive voice verbs are used when the subject is being

 You can recognize passive-voice expressions because the

Was browsed is considered passive because it indicates

 Sometimes the use of passive voice can create long

 When a verb is changed from the Passive Voice to the

 Direction: Rewrite the active voice sentences as

6. As the patient could not walk he __________ home in a wheel chair.

8. I __________ to become a successful writer.

10. She __________ for a while.

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