ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE NOTES

The Active Voice The active voice is used to indicate that the subject of the sentence
is the doer of the action. Let’s start with a simple sentence. S V DO The boy kicked
the ball. The boy functions as the subject or the doer of the action, kicked is the
transitive verb and the ball is the object of the verb. Let’s have more examples.

The Passive Voice In the passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed in
the verb. The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive voice.
You can recognize passive voice expressions because the verb phrase will always
include a form of be such as am, is, was, were, are, or been. The presence of a be-
verb, however, does not necessarily mean that the sentence is in passive voice.
Another way to recognize passive voice sentences is that they may include a “by
the…” phrase after the verb; the agent performing the action, if names, is the object of
the preposition in this phrase. For example, The ball was kicked by the boy. The ball
which is the direct object becomes the subject or doer of the action.

1. Present Tense Active: base form or “-s/es” form

Example: The article discusses the effects of unemployment.
2. Passive: “am/is/are + past participle”
Example: The effects of unemployment are discussed in the article.
3. Present Perfect Active: S + has/have + -ed/-en
Example: He has completed the work.
4. Passive: has/have + been + -ed/-en
Example: The work has been completed by him.
5. Past Tense Active: base + -ed or irregular form
Example: She decorated the walls.
6. Passive: was/were + -ed/-en
Example: The walls were decorated by her.
7. Past Perfect Active: had + -ed/-en
Example: They had won the game.

ANSWER APPLICATION:
1. The baby was carried by the mother.
2. An old chair was repaired by father.
3. The famous underground river was explored by Sam.
4. The school president was interviewed by her.