Voice (Active and Passive)

 Voice - also known as diathesis, is a grammatical feature that describes the relationship
between the verb and the subject (also known as the agent) in a sentence.

Two Main Types of Voice

1. Active Voice - when the agent of the verb (the person or thing that performs the action
specified by the verb) is also the subject of the sentence.
- Any object present, however, must come after the verb (which always comes after the
agent).
- Examples:
o “My friend bought a new car.” (My friend performed the action bought.)
o “She enjoys watching movies.” (She performs the action enjoys.)

2. Passive Voice – are structurally opposite to active-voice sentences, with the object (now
the subject* of the sentence) coming before the verb and the verb coming before the agent
of the action.
- It is used in the past participle form preceded by the auxiliary verb be, and the preposition
by is inserted before the agent to form a prepositional phrase.
- Examples:
o “The concert was attended by many young people.” (The subject the concert
receives the action of attended.)
o “The necklace is being made by a child.” (The subject the necklace receives the
action of being made.)

Converting Active Voice to Passive Voice

 You may only convert a sentence from the active voice into the passive voice if there is a
direct object. As we’ve seen, this direct object becomes the subject in the passive voice.
 Example:
o “A high school track and field star won the race.” (active voice) TO:
o “The race was won by a high school track and field star.” (passive voice)

Converting Passive Voice to Active Voice

 You may only convert a sentence from the passive voice into the active voice if there is an
identifiable agent of the verb. In the active voice, this agent becomes the subject.
 Example:
o “This blanket was knitted by my grandmother.” (passive voice) TO:
o “My grandmother knitted this blanket.” (active voice)

Note: If an active-voice sentences does not contain a direct object, it cannot be converted into the passive voice,
as the sentence will lack coherency without a subject. The same rule applies for passive-voice sentences when it
does not contain an agent or subject.

Prepared By: Hans Matthew Antiojo