1. Using Active and Passive Voice
What are active and passive voice?
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs
Passive-voice verbs
Review A
Review B
2. What are active and passive voice?
Like people, verbs can be
active or passive
Kim is bothered
by a headache.
Jen has been
hurt by a friend.
Billy kicks
the ball.
Josie plays the
instrument.
3. What are active and passive voice?
Voice is the form a verb takes to show whether
the subject of the verb . . .
performs the action
or receives the action
Subject Verb
Subject Verb
The clown carries the balloons.
The balloons are carried by the
clown.
4. A verb in the active voice expresses an action
done by its subject.
What are active and passive voice?
Painting is the action done by the
sister. The subject sister performs
the action of painting.
Subject
Active-
voice verb
My little sister painted the
picture.
5. What are active and passive voice?
A verb in the passive voice expresses an action
done to its subject.
Subject
Passive-
voice verb
The picture was painted by my little
sister.
Painting is an action done to the picture.
The subject picture receives the action of
painting.
6. What are active and passive voice?
Passive-voice verbs consist of
a form of be + a past participle
were planted
Passive-voice verbs can also include helping verbs.
a form of be
+ a past participle
have planted
a helping verb +
been
7. What are active and passive voice?
A prepositional phrase that begins with by may
follow the passive-voice verb to tell who or what
performs the action.
The cat has been treated.
The prepositional phrase tells you that our
vet performed the action of treating.
by our vet.
Prepositional
phrase
Passive-voice
verb
8. [End of Section]
Complete each sentence by adding the verb as indicated in
parentheses.
1. Excellent work _______ on that report. (done, passive
voice)
2. Mr. Yang _______ the certificates. (awarded, active voice)
3. Those photos _______ by Cody. (taken, passive voice)
4. This new software _______ clear images. (created, active
voice)
5. At the ceremony the mayor _______ the volunteers.
(honored, active voice)
On Your Own
What are active and passive voice?
9. Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs emphasize the action and the
performer of the action.
Lightning hit the tree.
Active
voice
Emphasis on the lightning and the action
it performs
The tree was hit by lightning.
Passive
voice
Emphasis on the tree, which receives the action
Passive-voice verbs emphasize the receiver of
the action.
10. The crowd cheered wildly.
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs
Writers usually prefer the active voice because it is
more forceful and direct.
Our goalie made three great saves.
Active
voice
Three great saves were
made by our goalie.
Passive
voice
Wild cheering was done
by the crowd.
11. Uses of active and passive voice
Passive-voice verbs
The passive voice does have its place, though.
Use the passive voice when
• you do not know who performed the action
The flowers were left on her doorstep
early this morning.
• you do not want to reveal the performer of the
action
A large donation has been made to the
charity fund.
12. [End of Section]
Complete each sentence by adding the verb as indicated in
parentheses. For each passive-voice sentence, tell why the
passive voice is used.
1. My sister __________ the parakeet. (fed, active voice)
2. Some books __________ from the library. (stolen,
passive voice)
3. Marion __________ that book three times. (read, active
voice)
4. You may not like it, but a decision __________. (made,
passive voice)
On Your Own
Uses of active and passive voice
13. Review A
1. Snow slowly drifted across the road.
2. The swelling on Kelly’s arm was caused by a bee sting.
3. Several streetlights were blown over during the storm.
4. Raymond has set some birdseed out for the cardinals.
For each sentence, identify the boldface verb as active or
passive. Then tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the
action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
14. Review B
[End of Section]
1. Kenny’s fans __________ him on to victory. (cheer,
active voice)
2. The science class __________ the nature center. (visit,
active voice)
3. The Gettysburg Address __________ by Abraham
Lincoln. (write, passive voice)
4. The dogs __________ after their long exercise session.
(rest, active voice)
5. Most of the food __________ by Uncle Pablo. (prepare,
passive voice)
For each sentence, supply the verb as indicated in
parentheses.
