Active vs.

Passive
Voice
Active vs. Passive Voice
 A sentence is written in the active voice
when:
 The subject of the sentence performs the action.
 The person/thing performing the action is named
before the verb.

EXAMPLE:
My grandfather took me to my first horse show.
NOT: I was taken to my first horse show by my
grandfather.
Another example
 Active voice:
My mother taught me to fish almost before I
learned to walk.

 Passive voice:
I was taught to fish by my mother almost
before I was taught to walk.
Active voice sentences
 When you write in the active voice, sentences
are typically shorter and clearer.

 They sound more conversational.

 If each word costs you a nickel, you want to

write concisely and in the active voice!
Active voice does not mean
present tense verbs
Present tense:
 The clerk opens the mail. (active)
 The mail is opened by the clerk. (passive)

Past tense:
 The clerk opened the mail. (active)
 The mail was opened by the clerk. (passive)
Active voice does not mean
present tense verbs
Future tense:
 The clerk will open the mail. (active)
 The mail will be opened by the clerk. (passive)

Present Perfect tense:

 The clerk has opened the mail. (active)
 The mail has been opened by the clerk. (passive)
Active voice does not mean
present tense verbs
Past Perfect tense:
 The clerk had opened the mail. (active)
 The mail had been opened by the clerk. (passive)

Future Perfect tense:

 The clerk will have opened the mail. (active)
 The mail will have been opened by the clerk.
(passive)
Passive voice is acceptable …
 When you choose to write in the passive
voice, you are emphasizing the object of the
sentence rather than the subject.

 Scientific writing is a good example of

passive voice writing.
Passive voice
 The three-inch incision is made right above
the pubic bone. Plastic clips are used to
clamp off blood vessels and minimize
bleeding. The skin is folded back and
secured with clamps. Next, the stomach
muscle is cut at a fifteen-degree angle, right
top to bottom left.
 $2.40
Active voice
 The doctor makes a three-inch incision right
above the pubic bone. He uses plastic clips
to clamp off the blood vessels and minimize
bleeding. He folds back the skin and secures
it with clamps. Next, he cuts the stomach
muscle at a fifteen-degree angle, right top to
bottom left.
 $2.55
Passive voice acceptable …
 If that agent of action (the individual doing the
action) is unknown or needs to remain a
secret:
 It was reported that …
 Unizan Bank was robbed …

News writers protect sources this way. They also

may not know who committed the action.
Passive voice acceptable
 Sometimes, a passive voice sentence will be
shorter than an active voice. If it helps clarify
the sentence by writing in the passive voice,
you may choose this option.
 Passive: The interviewer was told to give
interviewees an electric shock each time they
smiled! ($ .70)
 Active: The designers of the study told the
interviewer to give interviewees an electric
shock each time they smiled! ($ .90)