Active Voice & Passive Voice – English Grammar Tutorial

Active Voice:

In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. It emphasizes the doer of the action and typically results in a more direct and straightforward sentence structure.

Examples of Active Voice:

1. The chef (subject) prepared (action) a delicious meal (object).

   • Explanation: The chef is the one performing the action of preparing the meal.
     
     

2. She (subject) wrote (action) an inspiring poem (object).

   • Explanation: The emphasis is on the person (she) who performed the action of writing the poem.
     
     

3. The team (subject) won (action) the championship (object).

   • Explanation: The team is highlighted as the entity that achieved the action of winning the championship.
     
     

Passive Voice:

In passive voice, the subject receives the action, and the focus shifts to what or who is affected by the action. The doer of the action may be mentioned, but it is not the primary emphasis.

Examples of Passive Voice:

1. A delicious meal (object) was prepared (action) by the chef (agent).

   • Explanation: The emphasis is on the meal being prepared rather than the chef who performed the action.
     
     

2. An inspiring poem (object) was written (action) by her (agent).

   • Explanation: The emphasis is on the poem being written, and the doer of the action (her) is mentioned afterward.
     
     
     

3. The championship (object) was won (action) by the team (agent).

   • Explanation: The focus is on the championship being won, and the team is mentioned as the entity that performed the action.

Comparison:

• Active Voice:

  • Emphasizes the doer of the action.
  • Typically clearer and more direct.
  • Often used for a straightforward and engaging tone.

• Passive Voice:

  • Emphasizes the receiver of the action.
  • May be used to highlight the result of the action.
  • Commonly employed in formal or scientific writing.

Considerations:

• Use active voice for clarity and directness.
• Use passive voice when the emphasis is on the result or the affected entity rather than the doer of the action.
• Consider the context and purpose of your writing when choosing between active and passive voice.

Additional Notes:

In passive voice constructions, the agent (the one performing the action) can be mentioned or omitted. When mentioned, it usually appears with the preposition “by.” The agent is not always essential in passive voice sentences.

Understanding when to use active or passive voice is important for effective communication, and writers often choose the voice based on the tone and emphasis they want to convey in a given context.