This document defines and compares active and passive voice in English grammar. In active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb. In passive voice, the subject receives the action. The document provides examples of rewriting sentences from active to passive voice by changing the subject and verb. It recommends using active voice when possible as it is more direct and concise, but notes passive voice can be used when the performer is unknown or the receiver should be emphasized.

1. Active and
Passive voice

2. Defining “Voice”
VOICE- in English Grammar is the form a
transitive verb takes to indicate whether
the subject of the verb performs or
receives the action.
Ex:
Minu waters the plants. (The subject Minu
performs an action)
The lolly is eaten by Vinu. (The subject
lolly receives the action).

3. There are Two Types of
Voice
Active
Passive

4. Active voice
• indicates that the subject of the verb is acting or
performing an action
Ex:
• The nurse is giving the medicine.
The nurse (subject) is performing the action of
giving (verb) the medicine.
• Krishna will read the report to the class
Krishna (subject) will carry out the action of
reading (verb)

5. Passive voice
• In a passive voice sentence, the subject and object
flip-flop or get interchanged.
• The subject becomes the passive recipient of the
action.
Ex:
The medicine is being given by the nurse.
The medicine (subject) is being given (verb)
A book report will be given by Krishna to the class.
A book report (subject) will be given (verb).

6. How to rewrite Active Voice
sentences in Passive Voice?
The passive voice requires a "double verb" and will
always consist of a form of the verb "to be" and the
past participle (usually the "en/ed/t" form) of another
verb.
to be + past participle
Ex:
Active: The children ate (simple past tense) the
cookies
Passive: The cookies were eaten (past participle)by
the children.

7. Examples
Tense Subject Verb Object
Simple Active Brian writes an article.
Present An article is written by Brian
Simple Brian wrote an article
Past An article was written by Brian.
Simple Brian will write an article
Future An article will be written by Brian
Present Brian has written an article.
Perfect An article has been written by Brian

8. Examples
Tense Subject Verb Object
Present Brian is writing an article.
Progressive An article is being written by Brian
Past Brian was writing an article.
Progressive An article was being written by Brian
Past Brian has written an article
Perfect An article had been written by Brian.
Future Brian will have written the article.
Perfect An article will have been written by Brian.

9. REASONS TO USE ACTIVE
VOICE
• Most writers prefer to use active voice because it
is more direct
• Compare:
Active: The waiter dropped the tray of food
(concise statement of fact, with the focus on the
waitress)
Passive: The tray of food was dropped by the
waiter.
(lengthy; focus on the tray of food, less direct)

10. • The active voice is less awkward and
clearly states relationship between subject
and action.
Compare:
• Passive: Your request for funding has
been denied by the review committee
• .Active: The review committee denied your
requestfor funding.
• The active voice sentence pattern propels
the reader forward through your writing
thus avoiding weak prose.

11. When to Use Passive Voice
In general, the passive voice is less direct,
less forceful, and less concise than the
active voice.
Use passive voice when you do not know
or do not want to reveal the performer of
an action.
Use passive voice when you want to
emphasize the receiver of an action.

12. Examples
• Awkward Passive: My bicycle was
repainted by John.•
• Deliberate Passive: My bicycle was
repainted.
• (The performer is not mentioned and the
emphasis is on the bicycle.)