The document discusses the differences between active and passive voice in writing. Active voice keeps sentences clear and concise by making the subject the performer of the action. In passive voice, the subject receives the action of the sentence. The document provides examples of active versus passive sentences and tips for converting passive sentences to active voice, such as looking for "by phrases" and moving the subject closer to the beginning. While passive voice can sometimes be used purposefully, overusing it tends to make writing wordy and unclear.

1. Active VS Passive Voice
By: Manuel Figueroa

2. What is Active Voice?
▪ In a sentence using active voice, the subject of the sentence
performs the action expressed in the verb.
▪ Verbs have traditionally been defined as words that show
action or state of being .
▪ By using active voice for the majority of your sentences, it
makes your meaning clear for readers, and keeps the
sentences from becoming too complicated or wordy.

3. What is Active Voice?
▪ At the heart of every good sentence is a strong, precise verb.
At the core of most confusing, awkward, or wordy sentences
lies a weak verb.
▪ Again, In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of
sentence performs the action of (verb).
▪ An example, "Steve loves Amy." Steve is the subject, and he is doing
the action: he loves Amy, the object of the sentence.

4. What is Active Voice?
▪ Active:The candidate believes that Congress must place a ceiling on
the budget.
▪ Passive: It is believed by the candidate that a ceiling must be
placed on the budget by Congress.
▪ Active: Researchers earlier showed that high stress can cause heart
attacks.
▪ Passive: It was earlier demonstrated that heart attacks can be
caused by high stress.
▪ Active: The dog bit the man.
▪ Passive: The man was bitten by the dog.

5. Converting sentences to Active Voice
▪ Here are some tips and strategies for converting sentences from the
passive to the active voice.
▪ Look for a "by" phrase (e.g., "by the dog" in the last example above).
If you find one, the sentence may be in the passive voice. Rewrite the
sentence so that the subject buried in the "by" clause is closer to the
beginning of the sentence.
▪ If the subject of the sentence is somewhat anonymous, see if you can
use a general term, such as "researchers," or "the study," or "experts
in this field."

6. What is Passive Voice?
▪ In a sentence using passive voice, the subject is acted upon;
he or she receives the action expressed by the verb.
▪ "Steve loves Amy," I would say, "Amy is loved by Steve." The subject of
the sentence becomes Amy, she isn't doing anything, but just the
recipient of Steve's love. The focus of the sentence has changed from
Steve to Amy.
▪ You can recognize passive voice because the verb phrase will include
a form of ‘be’ such as (was, were, am, are, been, is).

8. When to use Passive Voice
▪ To emphasize the action rather than the actor
▪ After long debate, the proposal was endorsed by the long-range planning
committee.
▪ To keep the subject and focus consistent throughout a passage
▪ The data processing department recently presented what proved to be a
controversial proposal to expand its staff. After long debate, the proposal was
endorsed by . . . .
▪ To be tactful by not naming the actor
▪ The procedures were somehow misinterpreted.
▪ To describe a condition in which the actor is unknown or unimportant
▪ Every year, thousands of people are diagnosed as having cancer.
▪ To create an authoritative tone
▪ Visitors are not allowed after 9:00 p.m.

9. Further Suggestions For Using
Active and Passive Voices

10. 1. Avoid starting a sentence in active voice
and then shifting to passive
Unnecessary shift in voice Revised
Many customers in the restaurant found the coffee too
bitter to drink, but it was still ordered frequently.
Many customers in the restaurant found the coffee too
bitter to drink, but they still ordered it frequently.
He tried to act cool when he slipped in the puddle,
but he was still laughed at by the other students.
He tried to act cool when he slipped in the puddle,
but the other students still laughed at him.
arting a sentence in active voice and then shifting to passive.

11. 2. Avoid dangling modifiers caused by the
use of passive voice….
A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word
not clearly stated in the sentence.
Dangling modifier with passive voice Revised
To save time, the paper was written on a computer.
(Who was saving time?The paper?)
To save time, Kristin wrote the paper on a
computer.
Seeking to lay off workers without taking the
blame, consultants were hired to break the bad news.
(Who was seeking to lay off workers?The consultants?)
Seeking to lay off workers without taking the
blame, the CEO hired consultants to break the bad
news.

12. 3. Don't trust the grammar-checking
programs in word-processing software
▪ Many grammar checkers flag all passive
constructions, but you may want to keep
some that are flagged.
▪ Trust your judgment, or ask another human
being for their opinion about which sentence
sounds best

13. THANK YOU