Use of Passive and Active Voice

By
Syeda Rifa Anjum

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Verbs and Voice
Voice is the form a verb takes to
indicate whether the subject of the
verb performs or receives the
action.
There are two types of voice:
active voice and passive voice.
Active Voice

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Passive Voice

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What are Active and Passive
voice?
Active and passive voice refers to whether
the subject or the object in the sentence
performs the action of the verb.
In active voice the subject performs the
action of the verb
In passive voice the object performs the
action of the verb

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How do Active and Passive Voice
Differ?
Active voice is direct.
The subject directly acts on the
object
The tone is clear and immediate.
As if you throw a ball directly at a
target.

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 The passive: use
We use the passive as follows:
 when the object is more important
than the subject and the agent is
either obvious, not important, or
unknown:
 All applications are processed on the
spot. (It is obvious that it is the library
staff who process the cards.
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 The passive: use
In formal writing to make it less personal:
 You are advised to return the application
form within three days. (impersonal)
The active voice is more direct and
personal:
I advise you to return the application form
within three days.

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 The passive: use
spoken and written
The passive is used more in writing and formal speech.
 The passive: use
Passive without an agent phrase are known as Impersonal
Passives.
It is not always necessary to mention the agent.
There are several reasons for this:
-Agent not known:
Brenda’s motorbike was stolen last night.
If we knew who had stolen it, we would mention the name
of the person. But we don’t know and the agent is not
mentioned.
 The passive: use
-Agent obvious: One protester was
arrested.
It is not necessary to add the words “by
the police”, because we know that it is
always the police who do this. However,
it is possible to add these words if we
want to.
 The passive: use
Agent unimportant:
A lot of English grammar books are sold
every year. Exactly who sells the books is
not important.
If it was important we could use by and
the names of the people or shops who
sell the books.
 Impersonal Passives
They say might is right.
It is said that might is right.
One finds mosquitoes everywhere.
Mosquitoes are found everywhere.
He gave us a drink.
A drink was given to us.
Using Active and Passive
Voice in Writing
Good writing usually uses both active and passive
voice.
Active voice is very direct, so if you use it all the
time, the reader may feel a bit like she is being
hollered at
Passive voice is indirect, so if you use it all the
time the reader will have a hard time following
your argument

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 Active Voice vs. Passive Voice

Active voice takes the form “A does B”

◦ We chose the plastic film to cover the microphone

Passive voice takes the form “B is done (by A)”

◦ Plastic film was chosen (by us) to cover the microphone
 Active Voice: Subjects Perform an Act

Active voice
We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.

Subject Verb Object

 Active Voice: Subjects Perform an Act

Active voice
We ... chose ... plastic film to cover the microphone.

Subject Verb Object

Passive voice
Plastic film … was chosen … to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object
 Active Voice: Subjects Perform an Act

Third person, but active voice

The team ... chose ... plastic film to cover the
microphone.
Subject Verb Object

Passive voice
Plastic film … was chosen … to cover the microphone.
Subject Verb Object
 Combine “To be” + Past Participle

“To be” is very irregular:

Present Tense Past Tense

1st person I am We are I was We were
2nd person
You are You are You were You were
Past participles usually
3 person He, she, it is
rd
add “-ed”
They are
or “-t”:
He, she, it was
presented,
They were
measured, built, burnt

Irregular past principles must be memorized

 Omit the “Agent” of the Action

Active
◦ Workers installed burglar alarms.

Passive, with agent

◦ Burglar alarms were installed by the workers.

Passive, with the agent omitted

◦ Burglar alarms were installed.
 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours. A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours. A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours.

 Remember Tense and Number

Active Voice Passive Voice

I finish a project in eight hours. A project is finished in eight hours.

I finish three projects in eight hours. Three projects are finished in eight hours.

I finished a project in eight hours. A project was finished in eight hours.

I finished three projects in eight hours. Three projects were finished in eight hours.
 Reference
https://eslforums.com/passive-voice/
https://
www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/course/intermediate/unit-12
/tab/grammar
Imperatives in Passive
 Imperatives in Passive
We can begin the passive sentence with you if we want to put emphasis
on the person addressed to.
Compare:
Active: Help me.
Passive: Let me be helped.
Passive: You are requested to help me.
Active: Learn the poem.
Passive: Let the poem be learned.
Passive: You are asked to learn the poem.
 Interrogatives
Rule 1: The primary auxiliary verbs do, does or did does not appear in
the passive form.
Active voice: Do you like such films?
Passive voice: Are such films liked by you?

Rule2: The verbs has, have, had, will, shall, can, may etc., do not change
their position at the beginning of the sentence when the active voice is
changed to the passive voice.
Active voice: Have you invited them?
Passive voice: Have they been invited by you?
Active voice: Will you help him?
Passive voice: Will he be helped by you?
 Interrogatives
The question words when, why, where, how or what does
not change their position at the beginning of the sentence
when the active voice is changed into the passive voice.
Note that who changes to by whom and whom into who.
What did he say? (Active Voice)
What was said by him? (Passive Voice)
Whom did you invite? (Active Voice)
Who was invited by you? (Passive Voice)
Read the following sentences.
Active voice: Did she recognize you?
Passive voice: Were you recognized by her?
Active voice: Can anybody cure it?
Passive voice: Can it be cured (by anybody)?
Active voice: Who wrote this book?
Passive voice: By whom was this book written?
Active voice: Have you finished work?
Passive voice: Has the work been finished by you?
Active voice: When will they announce the results?
Passive voice: When will the results be announced (by them)?