Active and Passive Voice

1
Active and Passive Voice
2
Defining Voice

• Voice is a characteristic of verbs which
  indicates the relation of the verbs action to
  its subject.
• The voice of a verb may be either active or
  passive.

3
Active Voice

• Active voice verbs are used when the subject is
  acting in a sentence.
• Example
• Cindy steered the boat.
• Steered is an active verb because it allows the
  subject to undertake an action.

4
Passive Voice

• Passive voice verbs are used when the subject
  is being acted upon in a sentence.
• Example
• The mountains peak was reached by Ed Danvers.
• Was reached are considered passive because they
  indicate that the subject (peak) is receiving an
  action.

5
So What?

• Although both constructions are grammatically
  correct, the active voice is usually more
  effective in academic and business writing
  because it is simpler and more direct. The
  passive construction is effective only when the
  doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant.
• Examples
• The cruiseliner was hijacked.
• The ball was hit.
• The town was quarantined.

6
Review

• Active voice verbs Verbs that indicate the
  sentences subject as actively acting
• Marvin hit the ball.
• Passive voice verbs Verbs that indicated the
  sentences subject as being acted upon
• The ball was hit by Marvin

7
Any Questions???
8
QuizDecide which of the following sentences use
the passive voice and which sentences use the
active voice. Correct the sentences that contain
either inappropriate uses of passive voice or an
abrupt shift from active to passive voice.

• Example
• -Before I began my research, only German fascism
  was studied by me.
• Passive construction
• -Before I began my research, I only studied
  German fascism.

9

• Professor Warren assigned each group a research
  project however, the documentary sources were
  not located.
• Incorrect Active-Passive Shift
• Professor Warren assigned each group a research
  project however, he could not locate the
  documentary sources.

10

• For the opening flag ceremony, a dance was
  choreographed by Kema Jones to Bill Withers song
  Lean on Me.
• Passive Construction
• For the opening flag ceremony, Kema Jones
  choreographed a dance to Bill Withers song Lean
  on Me.

11

• When the tickets are ready, the travel agent
  notifies the client. Each ticket is then listed
  on a daily register form, and a copy of the
  itinerary is filed.
• Incorrect Active-Passive Shift
• When the tickets are ready, the travel agent
  notifies the client. The agent then lists the
  ticket on a daily register form and files a copy
  of the itinerary.

12

• Seismologists have examined data concerning the
  recent earthquake, and reports will be filed.
• Incorrect Active-Passive Shift
• Seismologists have examined data concerning the
  recent earthquake, and they will file reports.

13

• Problems of famine, pollution, dwindling
  resources, and arms control were discussed by the
  senator.
• - Passive construction
• The senator discussed problems of famine,
  pollution, dwindling resources, and arms control.

14

• Whenever an error was found by Mrs. Clark, the
  entire paper had to be rewritten by the student.
• Passive Construction
• Whenever an error was found by Mrs. Clark, the
  student had to rewrite the entire paper.