Verbs refer to the relationship between the subject and the action in a sentence. There are two voices: active voice where the subject performs the action of the verb, and passive voice where the subject receives the action of the verb. Active voice is usually preferred as it is more direct, while passive voice is better when the doer is unknown, unneeded, or the action is more important than the doer.

1. English 6 (Grammar)

2. What are
verbs?

4. • Refers to the relationship between the
SUBJECT of the sentence and the VERB.

5. ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE
The subject is
doing the verb’s
action.
The subject is
acted upon by
the verb

6. • The dog eats the leftover ham. [The dog does
the action of eating]
• My sister repaired our old computer. [The
sister does the action of repairing the old
computer]
• Mr. Perez mailed the letter. [Mr. Perez does
the action of mailing the letter]

7. • The ham was eaten by the dog. [The ham
received the action of eating]
• The old computer was repaired by my sister.
[The old computer received the action of
repairing]
• The letter was mailed by Mr. Perez. [The
letter received the action of mailing]

8. • Active voice is more direct, therefore, most
writers prefer to use this whenever possible.
• The passive choice is more appropriate to use
when the doer of the action is unknown or
unneeded in the sentence.
• If the action is much more important than
the doer, use passive voice.