Understanding Passive and Active Voice in English Writing

In the realm of English grammar, understanding the nuances between passive and active voice is crucial for effective communication. Whether you’re crafting an essay, composing an email, or drafting a report, the choice between active and passive voice can significantly impact the clarity and tone of your writing. In this post, we’ll explore the differences between passive and active voice, their respective strengths, and when to use each in your writing.

What is Active Voice?

Active voice occurs when the subject of a sentence performs the action expressed by the verb. It’s direct, straightforward, and emphasises the doer of the action. In active voice sentences, the subject typically comes before the verb, followed by the object (if present).

Example:

• Active Voice: “The chef prepared the delicious meal.”

In this sentence, “the chef” (subject) performs the action of “preparing” (verb), and “the delicious meal” (object) receives the action.

What is Passive Voice?

Passive voice, on the other hand, occurs when the subject of a sentence receives the action expressed by the verb. It often obscures the doer of the action or places less emphasis on it. In passive voice sentences, the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence, followed by a form of the verb “to be” and the past participle of the main verb.

Example:

• Passive Voice: “The delicious meal was prepared by the chef.”

Here, “the delicious meal” (subject) receives the action of “being prepared” (verb), and “by the chef” introduces the doer of the action.

When to Use Active Voice:

Active voice is preferred in most writing situations because it’s more direct, engaging, and easier to understand. It highlights the agent responsible for the action and often leads to clearer, more concise sentences. Active voice is particularly effective in narrative writing, persuasive essays, instructions, and when the focus is on the doer of the action.

Example:

• “The company implemented new policies to improve efficiency.”

When to Use Passive Voice:

Passive voice has its place in writing when the focus is on the action or when the doer of the action is unknown, less important, or deliberately omitted. It’s commonly used in scientific writing, formal reports, and situations where objectivity or neutrality is desired.

Example:

• “The experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis.”

How to Identify Passive Voice:

Identifying passive voice in your writing involves looking for forms of the verb “to be” (e.g., is, am, are, was, were, been) followed by a past participle (often ending in -ed or -en). Additionally, passive voice sentences often omit the doer of the action or place it in a prepositional phrase with “by.”

Tips for Using Active and Passive Voice:

1. Consider Your Audience and Purpose: Choose the voice that best suits your audience and the goals of your writing. Active voice tends to be more engaging, while passive voice can convey objectivity.
2. Be Conscious of Clarity: Prioritise clarity and readability in your writing. Use active voice for clarity and emphasis, but don’t hesitate to use passive voice when it improves comprehension or suits the context.
3. Revise and Edit: During the revision process, pay attention to the voice of your sentences. If you notice instances of passive voice where active voice would be more effective, consider revising for clarity and impact.

More Examples

Active Voice:

1. The teacher graded the students’ assignments.
   • Explanation: In this sentence, “the teacher” (subject) performs the action of “grading” (verb) directly on “the students’ assignments” (object). The active voice emphasises the teacher’s role in the action.
2. Sheila baked a delicious cake for her friend’s birthday.
   • Explanation: “Sheila” (subject) is the doer of the action, “baked” (verb), directly on “a delicious cake” (object). The active voice highlights Sheila’s activity in baking the cake.
3. The construction crew repaired the damaged road overnight.
   • Explanation: In this sentence, “the construction crew” (subject) takes direct action by “repairing” (verb) the “damaged road” (object). Active voice emphasises the crew’s responsibility for the repair work.
4. The artist painted a vibrant landscape on the canvas.
   • Explanation: “The artist” (subject) actively “painted” (verb) the “vibrant landscape” (object) onto the canvas. Active voice emphasises the artist’s creative action.
5. The team completed the project ahead of schedule.
   • Explanation: Here, “the team” (subject) takes action by “completing” (verb) the “project” (object). Active voice highlights the team’s achievement and efficiency.
6. Sheila watered the plants in the garden every morning.
   • Explanation: In this sentence, “Sheila” (subject) performs the action of “watering” (verb) directly on “the plants in the garden” (object). Active voice emphasises Sheila’s regular activity.
7. The company launched a new product line last month.
   • Explanation: “The company” (subject) actively “launched” (verb) the “new product line” (object). Active voice emphasises the company’s initiative in introducing the new products.
8. The chef prepared a delicious three-course meal for the guests.
   • Explanation: In this sentence, “the chef” (subject) actively “prepared” (verb) the “delicious three-course meal” (object). Active voice highlights the chef’s culinary skills.
9. The athlete broke the world record in the 100-metre dash.
   • Explanation: Here, “the athlete” (subject) takes direct action by “breaking” (verb) the “world record” (object) in the 100-metre dash. Active voice emphasises the athlete’s achievement.
10. The volunteers cleaned up the beach after the event.
    • Explanation: In this sentence, “the volunteers” (subject) actively “cleaned up” (verb) the “beach” (object) following the event. Active voice highlights the volunteers’ efforts in maintaining the environment.

Passive Voice:

1. The students’ assignments were graded by the teacher.
   • Explanation: In this sentence, “the students’ assignments” (subject) receive the action of “being graded” (passive verb phrase) by “the teacher.” The passive voice emphasises the action rather than the doer.
2. A delicious cake was baked by Sheila for her friend’s birthday.
   • Explanation: Here, “a delicious cake” (subject) receives the action of “being baked” (passive verb phrase) by “Sheila.” Passive voice places emphasis on the action of baking rather than the baker.
3. The damaged road was repaired overnight by the construction crew.
   • Explanation: In this sentence, “the damaged road” (subject) undergoes the action of “being repaired” (passive verb phrase) by “the construction crew.” Passive voice emphasises the action of repair.
4. A vibrant landscape was painted on the canvas by the artist.
   • Explanation: “A vibrant landscape” (subject) receives the action of “being painted” (passive verb phrase) on the canvas by “the artist.” Passive voice shifts focus to the action of painting.
5. The project was completed ahead of schedule by the team.
   • Explanation: Here, “the project” (subject) undergoes the action of “being completed” (passive verb phrase) ahead of schedule by “the team.” Passive voice emphasises the action of completion.
6. The plants in the garden were watered every morning by Sheila.
   • Explanation: In this sentence, “the plants in the garden” (subject) receive the action of “being watered” (passive verb phrase) every morning by “Sheila.” Passive voice emphasises the action of watering.
7. A new product line was launched by the company last month.
   • Explanation: “A new product line” (subject) undergoes the action of “being launched” (passive verb phrase) by “the company” last month. Passive voice focuses on the action of launching.
8. A delicious three-course meal was prepared for the guests by the chef.
   • Explanation: In this sentence, “a delicious three-course meal” (subject) receives the action of “being prepared” (passive verb phrase) for the guests by “the chef.” Passive voice highlights the action of preparation.
9. The world record in the 100-metre dash was broken by the athlete.
   • Explanation: Here, “the world record in the 100-metre dash” (subject) undergoes the action of “being broken” (passive verb phrase) by “the athlete.” Passive voice emphasises the action of breaking the record.
10. The beach was cleaned up after the event by the volunteers.
    • Explanation: In this sentence, “the beach” (subject) receives the action of “being cleaned up” (passive verb phrase) after the event by “the volunteers.” Passive voice focuses on the action of cleaning.

In summary, active and passive voice offer distinct advantages in English writing, each serving its purpose depending on the context and intent of the communication. By understanding when and how to use active and passive voice effectively, you can elevate the clarity, coherence, and impact of your writing.

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