Download Active/Passive Voice

Subjects, Objects, & Verbs
 The subject is the noun (person, place, or thing) that is
“performing” the verb
 The object is the noun that receives the action of the
verb
 The verb is the action word
Active Voice  The subject performs the action of
the verb.
 Active voice is
 Direct
 Preferred
 uses fewer words
 Example: People pollute the earth.
Passive Voice
 The subject receives the action of
the verb.
 Passive voice is
 indirect
 wordy
 Example: The earth is polluted by
people.
 Active voice has a direct object that is receiving the
action of the verb.
S
V
DO
 The blazing fire destroyed the outside walls.
 Passive voice rearranges the order, so the object is now
the subject. Notice there isn’t an object anymore
(because it is now the subject).
S
V
 The outside walls were destroyed by the blazing fire.
Sentence Construction
 It is all about rearranging the order.
 Active Voice: Subject, Verb, Object
 Passive Voice: *Object, Verb, Subject
 *In passive voice, the object is now the subject. I put
“object” so you can see that passive takes the object from
an active sentence, and makes it the subject.
Active vs. Passive
 The entrance exam was failed by over one-third of the
applicants. (Passive)
 One-third of the applicants failed the entrance exam.
(Active)
 By then, the tracks will have been mixed by the DJ.
(Passive)
 By then, the DJ will have mixed the tracks. (Active)
Tips…
 When you see a verb connected with “by” (ie failed by,
kissed by, etc.) chances are it is in passive voice.
 Think about who or what is actually “doing” the verb.
To be active, you want that to come first, so it is your
subject.
Assignment
 Language Book
 P. 604-605, Exercise 15 and Exercise 16
 P. 605, Review C
Revising for Passive Voice
 P. 605, Review C