ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

OF THE VERB
 Voice
tells the reader whether the
subject of the verb performs
or receives the action.

There are two types of voice:

active voice and passive voice.
Active voice is used to show
that the subject of the sentence
is performing or doing the
action. The subject is the doer
of the action.
In the active voice we write:

1. Subject 2. Verb 3. Object

Romeo proposed to Juliet.

She broke the window.
The police recovered the
stolen car.
Robin started the group
project.
Someone stole the money last
night.
Passive Voice: The subject of
the sentence becomes the
receiver of the action; the
subject is now being acted
upon. The actor moves to the
end of the sentence with by
or drops off altogether if it is
unimportant or unknown.
The window was broken by her.

The stolen car was recovered by

the police.

The group project was started

by Robin
Someone stole the money
last night. (Active)

The money was stolen

last night. (Passive)
Read the following sentences. Decide if the
underlined verb is active (A) or passive (P).

1.The winner is chosen by a committee.

2.They announced the winner’s name.
3. Many movies are made in Hollywood.
4. The dress was designed by Vera Wang.
5.Someone will send you an invitation.
6.Students need good study skills to succeed in
college.
7.The behavior of two groups of children was
compared (by the researchers
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 Changing
Active to Passive Voice

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Tense Active Passive

Present dances is danced

dance are danced
shakes is shaken

Past danced was danced shook

were shaken

Future will dance will be danced

will shake will be shaken

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The early bird caught the worm.

The worm was caught by the early

bird.

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The oak and the reed heard
the deepest hollow voice.

The deepest hollow voice

was heard by the oak and
the reed.
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We insert a glowing splint into
the tube.

A glowing splint is inserted into

the tube by us.

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Transform active to passive voice by
following these steps.
1.Move the active sentence’s direct
object into the sentence’s subject slot
Ex. The children ate the cookies.

The cookies were eaten by the

children.
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 2. Place the active sentence’s subject in
a phrase beginning with the preposition
by.

The children eat the cookies.

The cookies were eaten by the children

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3. Add a form of the auxiliary verb
to the main verb and change the
main verb’s form.

The children ate the cookies.

The cookies were eaten by the

children.
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Tense Active Passive

Present dances is danced

dance are danced
shakes is shaken

Past danced was danced shook

is shaken

Future will dance will be danced

will shake will be shaken

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He gave me a
present.

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The waiter will
bring us the
bill.
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John gave Elizabeth that beautiful ring.

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Someone bought
flowers for the
bride.
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Rewrite each sentence changing the
verb from active to passive.
1.The doctor examined the patient.
2.John will deliver the message
tomorrow.
3.My boss made the decision yesterday.
4.A student wrote the winning essay.
5.The home furnishes the basic
education of the child.
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6.Uncle Fred will buy a new car
next week.
7. Rizal wrote the letter to express
sentiments.
8. People pollute the air.
9.The host gave the viewers some
surprises.
10. Water carries valuable
chemicals.
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