Active and Passive Tense 
Dylan, Sam, Sarren
Active 
Examples: 
● Ashley drove the car. 
● Thousands of people donated to the Red 
Cross Blood drive. 
● Matthew and Bob used the computer.
Ashley drove the car. 
Subject Verb Object
Rules 
● Active voice is more commonly used than 
passive. 
● Active voice is subject, verb, object.
Passive 
Examples: 
● The car was driven by Ashley. 
● The Red Cross Blood Drive was donated to 
by thousands of people. 
● The computer was used by Matthew and 
Bob.
The car was driven by Ashley. 
Object Verb Subject
Rules 
● Passive voice is object, verb, subject. 
● It is used when: 
o The subject is unknown. 
 My wallet was stolen. 
o The subject wishes to remain hidden. 
 Mistakes were made. 
o The action is more important than the subject. 
 The baby was born yesterday.
When not to use Passive 
● When it’s awkward 
o Active: Tom fished at the lake. 
o Passive: The lake was fished by Tom.
Now it’s your turn. 
Active or Passive? 
● Ken slapped Barbie.
Answer 
Active because it follows the format of subject, 
verb, object.
Now change it to passive. 
Ken slapped Barbie.
Answer 
Barbie was slapped by Ken. 
● This now follows Passive form. (Object, 
verb, subject)
One more 
Active or Passive? 
The old shabby trailer, full of cats, was owned 
by Adel.
Answer 
It is Passive because it follows the form of 
object, verb, subject.
Now change it to active. 
The old shabby trailer, full of cats, was owned 
by Adel.
Answer 
Adel owned the old shabby trailer full of cats.
Now you’re an expert, go and use it!

Active and passive tense

  • 1.
    Active and PassiveTense Dylan, Sam, Sarren
  • 2.
    Active Examples: ●Ashley drove the car. ● Thousands of people donated to the Red Cross Blood drive. ● Matthew and Bob used the computer.
  • 3.
    Ashley drove thecar. Subject Verb Object
  • 4.
    Rules ● Activevoice is more commonly used than passive. ● Active voice is subject, verb, object.
  • 5.
    Passive Examples: ●The car was driven by Ashley. ● The Red Cross Blood Drive was donated to by thousands of people. ● The computer was used by Matthew and Bob.
  • 6.
    The car wasdriven by Ashley. Object Verb Subject
  • 7.
    Rules ● Passivevoice is object, verb, subject. ● It is used when: o The subject is unknown.  My wallet was stolen. o The subject wishes to remain hidden.  Mistakes were made. o The action is more important than the subject.  The baby was born yesterday.
  • 8.
    When not touse Passive ● When it’s awkward o Active: Tom fished at the lake. o Passive: The lake was fished by Tom.
  • 9.
    Now it’s yourturn. Active or Passive? ● Ken slapped Barbie.
  • 10.
    Answer Active becauseit follows the format of subject, verb, object.
  • 11.
    Now change itto passive. Ken slapped Barbie.
  • 12.
    Answer Barbie wasslapped by Ken. ● This now follows Passive form. (Object, verb, subject)
  • 13.
    One more Activeor Passive? The old shabby trailer, full of cats, was owned by Adel.
  • 14.
    Answer It isPassive because it follows the form of object, verb, subject.
  • 15.
    Now change itto active. The old shabby trailer, full of cats, was owned by Adel.
  • 16.
    Answer Adel ownedthe old shabby trailer full of cats.
  • 17.
    Now you’re anexpert, go and use it!