Active and Passive Voice:Active and Passive Voice: The Difference Between Happening The Difference Between Happening

and Letting Something Happenand Letting Something Happen

Defining VoiceDefining Voice VOICE is defined as the form a verb takes to VOICE is defined as the form a verb takes to

indicate whether the subject of the sentence indicate whether the subject of the sentence performs the action or receives the action. performs the action or receives the action.

Only transitive verbs, verbs that have an Only transitive verbs, verbs that have an object, can be used in the passive voice.object, can be used in the passive voice.

Defining VoiceDefining Voice ACTIVE VOICE – indicates that the ACTIVE VOICE – indicates that the

subject of the sentence is performing subject of the sentence is performing the action; the verb has an objectthe action; the verb has an object

PASSIVE VOICE – indicates that the PASSIVE VOICE – indicates that the subject is the recipient of the action; the subject is the recipient of the action; the verb does not have an object; consists verb does not have an object; consists of a verb in the form of “be” and the of a verb in the form of “be” and the past participle of transitive verbspast participle of transitive verbs

Defining VoiceDefining Voice Active VoiceActive Voice

Direct and conciseDirect and concise Uses precise, Uses precise, strong verbsstrong verbs Usually preferable, but not alwaysUsually preferable, but not always

Passive VoicePassive Voice Often wordier than active voiceOften wordier than active voice Contains many “be” verbsContains many “be” verbs Often used when writing objectively such Often used when writing objectively such

as in scientific reportsas in scientific reports

Examples of VoiceExamples of Voice Active Voice – the subject is the doerActive Voice – the subject is the doer

Mark threw the ball.Mark threw the ball. Sally drove Melissa to the store.Sally drove Melissa to the store.

Passive Voice – the subject is the Passive Voice – the subject is the receiverreceiver The ball was thrown by Mark.The ball was thrown by Mark. Melissa was driven to the store by Sally.Melissa was driven to the store by Sally.

A Matter of StyleA Matter of Style Writing in active or passive voice is Writing in active or passive voice is

not a matter of right or wrong, but it not a matter of right or wrong, but it is a matter of style.is a matter of style.

Choosing one voice over the other is Choosing one voice over the other is a rhetorical choice.a rhetorical choice.

You must choose whether you want You must choose whether you want to emphasize the doer or the to emphasize the doer or the receiver of the action. receiver of the action.

When to Use Active VoiceWhen to Use Active Voice Use active voice if you want to Use active voice if you want to

emphasize the doer of the action.emphasize the doer of the action. Active voice is typically direct and Active voice is typically direct and

concise; the agent of the action is concise; the agent of the action is knownknown

Use active voice if you want your Use active voice if you want your writing to be active with specific, writing to be active with specific, precise, strong verbs.precise, strong verbs.

When to Use Passive VoiceWhen to Use Passive Voice Use the passive voice if Use the passive voice if

you want to emphasize the receiver of the action.you want to emphasize the receiver of the action. you are intentionally hiding the subject of the you are intentionally hiding the subject of the

sentence.sentence. you are trying to minimize the guilt of the subject you are trying to minimize the guilt of the subject

or avoid mentioning the responsible partyor avoid mentioning the responsible party you wish to postpone mentioning the subject you wish to postpone mentioning the subject

until later or not at alluntil later or not at all you want to highlight you want to highlight the action instead of the actorthe action instead of the actor

Changing Passive Voice to Changing Passive Voice to Active VoiceActive Voice

To change passive voice to active voice, you To change passive voice to active voice, you should locate the performer of the action. should locate the performer of the action.

Next, make the performer of action the Next, make the performer of action the subject of the sentence.subject of the sentence.

Then change the verb to indicate that the Then change the verb to indicate that the subject is performing the action.subject is performing the action. The exam was completed by Brandon. (Passive)The exam was completed by Brandon. (Passive) Brandon completed the exam. (Active)Brandon completed the exam. (Active) The book was read by Susan. (Passive)The book was read by Susan. (Passive) Susan read the book. (Active)Susan read the book. (Active)

Shifting VoicesShifting Voices

When you are writing be sure to When you are writing be sure to avoid shifting between active and avoid shifting between active and passive voice within the same passive voice within the same sentence.sentence. Ex. Ex. Erica packedErica packed her suitcase and her suitcase and was was

flownflown to Paris. (Incorrect) to Paris. (Incorrect) Erica packedErica packed her suitcase and her suitcase and flewflew to to

Paris. (Correct)Paris. (Correct)

Dangling ModifiersDangling Modifiers When writing in passive voice, make sure When writing in passive voice, make sure

to avoid dangling modifiers. to avoid dangling modifiers. The dog was found injured by Michael in the The dog was found injured by Michael in the

backyard. (Incorrect)backyard. (Incorrect) The dog was injured in the backyard and was The dog was injured in the backyard and was

found by Michael. (Correct - passive)found by Michael. (Correct - passive) Michael found the injured dogMichael found the injured dog

in the front yard. in the front yard.

(Correct - active) (Correct - active)

The Choice is YoursThe Choice is Yours

Write with a purpose! The rhetorical Write with a purpose! The rhetorical choices you make can powerfully choices you make can powerfully affect the message you want to affect the message you want to communicate and how it is received. communicate and how it is received.

ACTIVE OR PASSIVE VOICE?ACTIVE OR PASSIVE VOICE? THE CHOICE IS YOURS!THE CHOICE IS YOURS!