Active and Passive Voice

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VoiceThere are two types of voice: active voice and passive voice

Active VoiceActive Voice indicates that the subject of the verb is acting

Because the subject does the verb in such sentences, the sentences are said to be in the active voice.

Form of Active VoiceSubject +Verb+Object

Active VoiceThese examples show that the subject is doing the verb's action.The dog jumped onto the boy.The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb).

Kristy will give a book report to the class.Kristy (subject) is doing the giving (verb).

The computer ate my paper.The computer (subject) is doing the eating (verb).

Passive VoiceIn a passive voice sentence, the subject and object change places each other. The subject becomes the passive recipient of the action.

Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is passive), such sentences are said to be in the passive voice.

Passive VoiceThese examples show the subject being acted upon by the verb. The boy was jumped on by the dog. Boy (subject) was being jumped on (verb)A book report will be given by Kristy to the class.Report (subject) will be given (verb).The dishes are washed by John.Dishes (subject) are washed (verb).

Relationship Between Active and Passive VoiceThe object of the active verb is the subject of the passive verbs.

When to Use Passive VoiceWhen the agent (doer) is well-known or is not important. To focus attention on the receiver or result of an action (emphasize the receiver)To hide the identity of the agent (doer) The speaker/writer wants to be tactful or evasive.

When the agent (doer) is well-known or is not important. Oranges are grown in California.The report has been published.The results will be presented at the conference.

When it makes sense to emphasize the receiver of the action rather than the doerSix people were killed by a tornado.The samples should be monitored regularly and should be dried carefully once they are cool. Winter wheat is planted in the autumn and ripens in the following spring or summer.

To hide the identity of the agent (doer), the speaker/writer wants to be evasive.She was given bad advice.An error was made in the newsletter.Research funding will be cut next year.

Form of Passive VoiceSubject + auxiliary verb (be) +main verb (past participle / Verb 3)

Active and Passive Sentences for All Tenses RulesPresent Simple TensePresent Continuous TensePresent Perfect TensePresent Perfect Continuous TensePast Simple TensePast Continuous TensePast Perfect TensePast Perfect Continuous Tense Future Tense Future Continuous Tense Future Perfect Tense Future Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Simple Tense (passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: am/is/areActive voice: (+) He sings a song. (-) He does not sing a song. (?) Does he sing a song?Passive voice: (+)A song is sung by him. (-)A song is not sung by him. (?)Is a song sung by him?

Present Continuous Tense (passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: am/is/are beingActive voice: (+)I am writing a letter (-) I am not writing a letter. (?) Am I writing a letter?Passive voice: (+)A letter is being written by me. (-)A letter is not being written by me. (?) Is a letter being written by me?

Present Perfect Tense (passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: has/have beenActive voice: (+)She has finished his work (-)She has not finished her work. (?)Has she finished her work? Passive voice: (+)Her work has been finished by her. (-)Her work has not been finished by her. (?)Has her work been finished by her?

Present Perfect Continuous Tense (Passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: has/have been being Active voice: (+)She has been finishing his work (-)She has not been finishing her work. (?)Has she been finishing her work? Passive voice: (+)Her work has been being finished by her. (-)Her work has not been being finished by her. (?)Has her work been being finished by her?

Past Simple Tense (passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: was/wereActive voice: (+)I killed a snake (-)I did not kill a snake. (?)Did I kill a snake? Passive voice: (+)A snake was killed by me. (-)A snake was not killed by me. (?)Was a snake killed by me?

Past Continuous Tense (Passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: was/were beingActive voice: (+)He was driving a car. (-)He was not driving a car. (?)Was he driving a car?Passive voice: (+)A car was being driven by him. (-)A car was not being driven by him. (?)Was a car being driven by him?

Past Perfect Tense (Passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: had beenActive voice: (+)They had completed the assignment. (-)They had not completed the assignment. (?)Had they completed the assignment?Passive voice: (+)The assignment had been completed by them. (-)The assignment had not been complete by them. (?)Had the assignment been completed by them?

Past Perfect Continuous Tense (Passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: had been beingActive voice: (+)They had been completing the assignment. (-)They had not been completing the assignment. (?)Had they been completing the assignment?Passive voice: (+)The assignment had been being completed by them. (-)The assignment had not been being complete by them. (?)Had the assignment been being completed by them?

Future Tense (Passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: will beActive voice: (+)She will buy a car. (-)She will not buy a car. (?)Will she buy a car? Passive voice: (+)A car will be bought by her. (-)A car will not be bought by her. (?)Will a car be bought by her?

Future Continuous Tense (Passive Voice)

Auxiliary verb in passive voice: will be beingActive voice: (+)She will be buying a car. (-)She will not be buying a car. (?)Will she be buying a car? Passive voice: (+)A car will be being bought by her. (-)A car will not be being bought by her. (?)Will a car be being bought by her?

Future Perfect Tense (passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: will have beenActive voice: (+)You will have started the job. (-)You will have not started the job. (?)Will you have started the job?Passive voice: (+)The job will have been started by you. (-)The job will not have been started by you. (?)Will the job have been started by you?

Future Perfect Continuous Tense (Passive Voice)Auxiliary verb in passive voice: will have been beingActive voice: (+)You will have been starting the job. (-)You will have not been starting the job. (?)Will you have been starting the job?Passive voice: (+)The job will have been being started by you. (-)The job will not have been being started by you. (?)Will the job have been being started by you?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

1. I ate a piece of chocolate cake.2. The librarian read the book to the students.3. The money was stolen.4. They are paid on Fridays.5. The movie is being made in Hollywood.6. I washed my car three weeks ago.7. His hair was cut by a professional.8. I will introduce you to my boss this week.9. It would have been fixed on the weekend.10. The national anthem is being sung by Jason this time.ACTIVEPASSIVEPASSIVEPASSIVEPASSIVEACTIVEACTIVEACTIVEPASSIVEPASSIVELets Practice~Directions : choose between active or passive

Lets PracticeIdentify the paragraph below to the active or passive voice.My books were stolen by someone yesterday. Mr. Ross broke the antique vase as he walked through the store.

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