What is it?

Passive: The subject receives the action (does not perform the action)
o Breakfast was cooked, eaten, and cleaned up.
o In the lead up to the election, there were some pieces that were
written that said as much.
o I am being told that that’s not the case.

Active: The subject performs the action

o He cooked, ate, and cleaned up breakfast.
o The journalists wrote some pieces that said as much.
o They are telling me that that’s not the case.

Which one should you use?

The active voice functions to draw the attention of the reader to the
doer of the action, while the passive voice emphasizes the recipient of
the action. Whichever you use depends on what you want to
emphasize.

Note: Passive voice is sometimes considered less effective in writing, as the

passive voice can be seen to not be as direct or strong.

Practice: Re-write the sentences using the active voice. Focus on the
bolded verbs.
1. I'm probably going to be eaten by a bear.

2. According to that country's state-run news agency North Korea

claims it is being framed by the United States for that cyberattack.

3. Most recently, Mayor Frank Jackson and the district avoided having
the state take control of the district because of students’ poor test
scores by creating an improvement plan in 2012 that was supported by
Gov. John Kasich and the state legislature.

4. By giving kids the choice, the power struggle is avoided.

5. The unanswered questions ensure that readers will be haunted by

this chilling psychological drama.

Practice: Re-write the sentences using the passive voice

6. The board of trustees announced their selection of Nellis on

Wednesday at the university's Dublin campus.

7. Her grandfather invented a motorized pulley system that closes the

bed tray into the tank after she climbs in.

8. Most recently, Mayor Frank Jackson and the district avoided having
the state take control of the district because of students’ poor test
scores by creating an improvement plan in 2012 that was supported by
Gov. John Kasich and the state legislature.

9. Britain rejected Congress's offer to make the then colony an

independent body.

10. He never hugs me anymore.

Key (answers may vary):
1. A bear will probably eat me.
2. According to that country’s state-run news agency North Korea claims the
United States is framing them for that cyberattack.
3. Most recently, Mayor Frank Jackson and the district avoided having the state
take control of the district because of students’ poor test scores by Gov. John
Kasich and the state legislature supporting the creation of an improvement plan
in 2012.
4. Giving kids the choice avoids the power struggle.
5. The unanswered questions ensure that this chilling psychological drama will
haunt readers.
6. The selection of Nellis was announced by the board of trustees on Wednesday
at the university’s Dublin campus.
7. A motorized pulley system that closes the bed tray into the tank after she
climbs in was invented by her grandfather.
8. Most recently, the state taking control of the district because of students’ poor
test scores was avoided by Mayor Frank Jackson and the district by creating an
improvement plan in 2012 that was supported by Gov. John Kasich and the state
legislature.
9. Congress's offer to make the then colony an independent body was rejected by
Britain.
10. I am never hugged anymore by him.

Sources:
COCA

Helpful Resources:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/active_
and_passive_voice/more_about_passive_voice.html
.