This document defines and compares active and passive voice. Active voice uses a subject that performs the action of the verb and a direct object that receives the action. Passive voice uses a subject that receives the action of a passive verb formed from "to be" plus the past participle. While both are grammatically correct, active voice is usually more clear and direct for academic and business writing unless the agent performing the action is unknown.

2. Defining “Voice”
• “Voice” is a characteristic
of verbs which indicates
the relation of the verb’s
action to its subject.
• The voice of a verb may
be either “active” or
“passive.”

3. Active Voice

4. FORMS OF ACTIVE VOICE
In active sentences, the thing doing the
action is the subject of the sentence and the
thing receiving the action is the object.
Most sentences are active.
[Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing
receiving action]
Examples:

5. Passive Voice
• “Passive voice” verbs are used
when the subject is being acted
upon in a sentence.
• Example:
– The mountain’s peak was reached by
Ed Danvers.
• “Was reached” are considered
passive because they indicate that
the subject (peak) is receiving an
action.

6. FORMS OF PASSIVE VOICE
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd
column of irregular verbs)
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice,
note the following:
•the object of the active sentence becomes the
subject of the passive sentence
•the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past
participle)
•the subject of the active sentence becomes the
object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

7. WHICH MORE USEFUL?
• Although both constructions are grammatically correct, the
active voice is usually more effective in academic and
business writing because it is simpler and more direct. The
passive construction is effective only when the doer of the
action is unknown or irrelevant.
Examples
– The cruiseliner was hijacked.
– The ball was hit.
– The town was quarantined.

8. Review
• Active voice verbs: Verbs
that indicate the sentence’s
subject as actively acting:
– Marvin hit the ball.
• Passive voice verbs: Verbs
that indicated the
sentence’s subject as being
acted upon:
– The ball was hit by Marvin

9. FA-2 ENGLISH PRESENTATION
WORK ALLOTMENT
GROUP – B
TOPIC : ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
VOICE
NAME WORK REMARKS
RANAESHWAR MAKING PPT AND EXPLAINING
ASHWIN CONTROLLING
SAFWAN EXPLAINING
MAAZ EXPLAINING
JOYAL EXPLAINING
FRESHWIN EXPLAINING