The document discusses the differences between active and passive voice in sentences. It provides examples of sentences written in both active and passive voice. It notes that active voice is preferred in formal writing, but passive voice can be used when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant. It also discusses how to form sentences in passive voice using different tenses.

1. Passive and
Active VoiceACTIVE VOICE --THE POLICE OFFICER (DOER OF THE
ACTION) STOPPED THE RED CAR (RECEIVER OF THE ACTION).
PASSIVE VOICE--THE RED CAR (RECEIVER OF THE ACTION)
WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE OFFICER (DOER OF THE
ACTION).

2. ACTIVE VOICE--John (doer in subject
slot) read the entire novel (receiver in
object slot).
PASSIVE VOICE--The entire novel
(receiver in subject slot) was read by
John (doer in the object slot).

3. If the receiver or the action needs to be
emphasized more than the doer of the action,
passive voice is acceptable.
Example:
The woman was killed by a truck. The woman
needs to be emphasized more than the truck.

4. If the doer of the action is unknown or
unimportant, passive voice is acceptable.
Example:
The buyer (doer) or the car is unimportant. The
fact that the car was bought is important.
Example 2:

5. Remember: In formal writing, active voice is preferred.
However, when the doer of the action is unknown or
irrelevant, passive voice may be used.
Passive:
Active:
Passive:
Passive:
Active:

6. Tense Subject
Auxiliary Past
ParticipleSingular Plural
Present The car/cars is are designed.
Present
perfect
The car/cars has been have been designed.
Past The car/cars was were designed.
Past perfect The car/cars had been had been designed.
Future The car/cars will be will be designed.
Future
perfect
The car/cars
will have
been
will have
been
designed.
Present
progressive
The car/cars is being are being designed.
Past
progressive
The car/cars was being were being designed.
Passive Verb Formation

7. Active Passive Time Reference
They make Fords in
Cologne.
Fords are made in
Cologne.
Present Simple
Susan is cooking dinner. Dinner is being cooked by
Susan
Present Continuous
James Joyce wrote
"Dubliners".
"Dubliners" was written by
James Joyce.
Past Simple
They were painting the
house when I arrived.
The house was being
painted when I arrived.
Past Continuous
They have produced
over 20 models in the
past two years.
Over 20 models have
been produced in the
past two years.
Present Perfect
They are going to build a
new factory in Portland.
A new factory is going to
be built in Portland.
Future Intention with Going to
I will finish it tomorrow. It will be finished
tomorrow.
Future Simple

8. Directions: Rewrite the following sentences in the text-areas
provided so that passive constructions have been changed to
active verbs. WARNING! Some of these sentences do not use
passive verbs or are better off left in the passive, so this exercise will
also engage your attention in recognizing passive constructions and
in using them when appropriate.
1. Before the semester was over, the new nursing program had been
approved by the Curriculum Committee and the Board of Trustees.
Before the semester was over, the Curriculum Committee and the
Board of Trustees had approved the new nursing program.
2. With five seconds left in the game, an illegal time-out was called by
one of the players.
With five seconds left in the game, one of the players called an
illegal time-out.

9. 3. Later in the day, the employees were informed of their loss of benefits
by the boss herself.
Later in the day, the boss herself informed the employees of their loss of
benefits.
4. The major points of the lesson were quickly learned by the class, but
they were also quickly forgotten by them.
The class quickly learned, and then quickly forgot, the lesson's major
points.
5. For several years, Chauncey was raised by his elderly grandmother.
Chauncey's elderly grandmother raised him for several years.
(However, the first version puts more emphasis on Chauncey than it
does on the grandmother, and there's nothing really wrong with that.).