University of Cambodia

 Course: ENG107 - Writing Clearly

 Lecturer: Loch Ratana
 Group 5 – UNIT 5
 Members: Heng Lychheng, Khan Rady and
Son sreymouy
 Different between Passive voice & Active voice
Active voice
we use an active verb;
we say what the subject
does.
Denotes that the subject is
performing the action.
The active voice does not
require a linking verb to
make sense.
Passive voice
we use a passive verb;
we say what happens to
the subject.
The passive voice uses
a linking verb followed
by the past participle of
the main verb.
If we want to mention the
agent (the doer of the
action), we just add by at
the end of the sentence.
 Problem 1

The passive voice has been incorrectly formed

The most common error people make when
using active-passive voice is not using the
correct form of the verb. In order to make a
sentence passive, you must use the past tense
form of the verb 'to be' and the past participle
form of the main verb.
 Formulas of Active voice and Passive voice
Tense Active voice Passive voice

Present Indefinite Does/Do Is/Are/Am

Present Continuous Is/Am/Are Is/Am/Are + Being

Present Perfect Has / Have Has been / Have been

Present Perfect Continuous Has / Have been Has / Have been + Being

Past Indefinite Did Was / Were

Past Continuous was/were was/ were + being

Past Perfect had had been

Past Perfect Continuous had been had been + being

Future Indefinite Will Will be

Future Continuous Will be Will be + Being

Future Perfect Will have Will have been

Future Perfect Continuous Will have been Will have been + being
 Problem 2

The passive voice is needed instead of the active voice

The passive voice allows speakers and writers not

to mention an "agent," especially when information
about the agent is unknown, unimportant, obvious,
confidential, or difficult to identify. (The word
"agent" refers to the performer of an action.)

a. My car was stolen.

b. A decision has been made.
 Problem 3

The passive voice has been used with a verb that cannot be made
passive
 How to change Active Voice to Passive Voice
You change passive voice to active voice by making the object of
the sentence the subject. In order to do this, it is helpful to
understand what subjects, verbs, and objects are.
1. Move the “doer” of the action to the front
of the sentence to become the subject

2. Change the verb to the simple version,

simple past or present, etc

3. Move the subject of the original sentence to

the end of the sentence to become the object. If
it's a pronoun be sure to change it to objective
case
THANK YOU FOR PAYIN ATTENTION !