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Active Voice
Phonetics:
æktɪv
vɔɪs
Pronunciation:
Active Voice in English Grammar
Comprehensive Definition, Description, Examples & RulesÂ
Definition of active voice
Proficiency in English is impossible without command over active passive voice. Active voice is a way of forming a sentence in which the sentence’s subject does the action.Â
An active voice example is, “John ate the pizza” . “John” is the subject who performed the action of eating.Â
In contrast, the passive voice is when the subject receives the action, such as “The pizza was eaten by John.”Â
Using the active voice can make sentences more precise, direct and engaging, whereas the passive voice can sometimes be less clear or less impactful.
Importance of active voice in English Grammar
What is an active voice? The answer to this question is incomplete without knowing its significance in English.
Gives Clarity
The active voice clarifies who is acting in a sentence, which can help the reader or listener understand the message more efficiently.
Provides Directness
The active voice is more direct and to the point than the passive voice, which helps you communicate your ideas more effectively.
Enhances Engagement
Using the active voice can make your writing or speaking more engaging and interesting, as it focuses on the person or thing performing the action.
Improves Efficiency
Overall, using the active voice in the English language is an important skill to develop, as it can help you communicate more clearly, directly, and engagingly.
Converting passive voice to active voice: easy steps to master
Follow the easy step-by-step guide for converting passive voice to active voice.
Step 1: Identify the subject of the passive voice sentence. The subject of the passive voice sentence will be the receiver of the action, but we want to make the subject the one who is performing the action.
Step 2: Identify the verb of the passive voice sentence. The verb of the passive voice sentence will be a form of “to be” (such as “is,” “was,” or “has been”) plus the past participle of a verb.
Step 3: Determine the doer of the action. It is the person or thing performing the action in the sentence. You can usually find the doer of the action in a prepositional phrase that begins with “by.”
Step 4: Rewrite the sentence in the active voice. Start the sentence with the doer of the action as the subject, followed by the verb in the active voice and the receiver of the action (which was the original subject of the passive voice sentence).
Here are some examples to illustrate the steps of converting passive voice to active voice:
- Passive voice: The cake was baked by Mary.Â
- Active voice: Mary baked the cake.
- Passive voice: The article was written by John.Â
- Active voice: John wrote the article.
- Passive voice: The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg.Â
- Active voice: Steven Spielberg directed the movie.
Examples of passive voice to active voice sentences
To help you further understand the changing of passive voice into active voice, Edulyte’s English experts have given the following examples.
- Passive voice: The book was written by J.K. Rowling.Â
- Active voice: J.K. Rowling wrote the book.
- Passive voice: The car was hit by a truck.Â
- Active voice: A truck hit the car.
- Passive voice: The pie was baked by my sister.
- Active voice: My sister baked the pie.
- Passive voice: The email was sent by John.Â
- Active voice: John sent the email.
- Passive voice: The house was built by a team of architects.Â
- Active voice: A team of architects built the house.
Active Tense and Verb Forms discover
Active tenses refer to verb forms in which the sentence’s subject is the doer of the action. Active tenses describe actions or events performed by the subject. These are vital in handling active passive voice in English grammar. There are three main active tenses in English grammar:
Simple Present Tense: used to describe actions that are currently happening or that happen regularly.Â
- Example: “She sings beautifully.”
Simple Past Tense: used to describe actions that happened in the past.Â
- Example: “He ran to catch the bus.”
Simple Future Tense: used to describe actions that will happen in the future.
- Example: “They will attend the concert next week.”
Active tenses are significant in English grammar because they help make the sentence more apparent and concise by emphasising its subject and directing the action. They also help to create a sense of immediacy and make the sentence more engaging to the reader. As active tenses are commonly used in spoken and written English, mastering their use is essential for effective communication in English.
Types of active verb forms
n English grammar, active tenses are verb forms indicating that a sentence’s subject is carrying out an action. There are :
Simple Present Tense: The simple present tense describes actions that are happening currently or regularly. In the active form, the subject performs the action.
- Example: “She plays tennis every Saturday.”
Present Continuous/ Progressive Tense: the tense describes actions happening right now. In the active form, the subject is doing the action in the present moment.Â
- Example: “He is running in the park.”
Simple Past Tense: the tense describes actions that happened in the past. In the active form, the subject did the action in the past.Â
- Example: “I ate breakfast this morning.”
Past Continuous/ Progressive Tense: the past continuous/progressive tense describes actions happening at a specific time. In the active form, the subject was carrying out the action during that specific time.Â
- Example: “They were studying for their exams all night.”
Simple Future Tense: the tense describes actions that will happen in the future. In the active form, the subject will do the action in the future.
- Example: “We will go to the beach next weekend.”
Future Continuous/Progressive Tense: the future continuous/progressive tense describes actions that will happen at a specific time. In the active form, the subject will perform the verb’s action during that time.Â
- Example: “I will be studying for my exam tomorrow.”
Usage of active tense in different contexts
Active tenses in English grammar have various usages in different contexts. Here are some examples:
Narrative Writing
Active tenses are commonly used in narrative writing: like stories or novels. Using active tenses can make the story more engaging and help the reader feel more connected to the characters and events.Â
For example, “The hero fights the villain in the final battle” is more engaging than “The villain is fought by the hero in the final battle.”
News Reporting
Active tenses are often used in news reporting to convey the latest events and updates. In addition, using active tenses can help give a sense of urgency and importance to the reader or listener.Â
For example, “The police have arrested the suspect in connection with the robbery” is more direct and engaging than “The suspect has been arrested by the police in connection with the robbery.”
Business Writing
Active tenses are commonly used in business writing, such as emails, reports, or presentations. Using active tenses can make your writing more accurate, which is essential when communicating information professionally.Â
For example, “We will finish the project by the end of the week” is more direct than “The project will be finished by the end.”
Academic Writing
Active tenses, such as research papers or essays, are employed in academic writing. Using active tenses can make your writing straightforward, which is crucial when communicating complex ideas or arguments.Â
For example, “The study found that the new drug is effective in treating the disease” is more precise than “It was found that the new drug is effective in treating the disease.”
How to identify the active voice?
To recognise the active voice in a sentence, you need to identify the subject performing the action and the verb that describes that action. Here is a formula to help you recognise the active voice:
Subject + Verb + Object
The subject performs the action in the active voice. The verb describes the action, and the object is the receiver of that action. Examples of subjects in active voice:
- John ate the pizza.Â
Subject: John, Verb: ate, Object: the pizza
- She plays the guitar every day.Â
Subject: She, Verb: plays, Object: the guitar
- The dog chased the cat.Â
Subject: The dog, Verb: chased, Object: the cat
- The students are studying for their exams.Â
Subject: The students , Verb: are studying, Object: for their exams
- The company will launch a new app next month.Â
Subject: The company, Verb: will launch, Object: a new app
In the active voice examples, the subject performs the action described by the verb, and the object receives that action.Â
In contrast, sentences in the passive voice use a different formula: Object + Verb + Subject. It is because, in the passive voice, the subject receives the action rather than performing it.
Difference between active and passive voice
Here is a comparison table that highlights the differences between active and passive voice, along with examples:
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|
|
Subject performs the action |
Subject receives the action
|
|
Form: Subject+Verb+Object |
Form: Object+Verb+Subject |
|
Example: John ate the pizza.
|
Example: The pizza was eaten by John. |
|
Example: She teaches English |
Example: English is taught by her. |
|
Example: The company will launch a new product. |
Example: A new product will be launched by the company. |
How to change active voice to passive voice?
The following steps help you change a sentence from active voice to passive voice:
- Spot the subject, verb, and object in the sentence.
- Place the object at the beginning of the sentence and make it the subject of the passive sentence.
- Add the appropriate form of the “to be” verb along with the past participle of the main verb.
- Include the original subject of the active sentence (if needed) with the preposition “by” to indicate who or what performed the action.
Not all active sentences can be easily changed into passive voice, and some may require rewording or restructuring to make sense in passive voice. Additionally, changing the sentence from active voice to passive may also change the emphasis or focus of the sentence.
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Key Takeaways
- Active voice sentences have a subject performing an action on a direct object.
- Active voice is generally preferred over passive voice, making sentences more concise, direct, and easier to understand.
- Passive voice is sometimes used to emphasise the object or when the actor is unknown or unimportant.
- To convert a passive voice sentence to an active voice sentence, identify the subject doing the action, make it the subject of the sentence, and move the object to the subject’s position.
- Active voice is used in various forms of writing, including academic writing, technical writing, and creative writing.
- Use active voice to make your writing more precise, engaging and compelling to communicate your message to your audience.
Quiz
Question comes here
Frequently Asked Questions
Active voice is generally preferred in writing as it is more direct, concise, and engaging than passive voice. Here are some situations in which you should use active voice in your writing:
- To emphasise the subject: active voice focuses on the sentence’s subject and makes it the doer of the action. It helps to make your writing more focused and easy to understand.
- To make your writing more concise: active voice is typically shorter and more to the point than passive voice, which can help to make your writing more concise and easier to understand.
- To create a more assertive tone: an active voice can help to create a stronger, more confident tone in your writing. By putting the subject in control of the action, active voice can help to convey a sense of authority and conviction.
- To make your writing more engaging: active voice can help to make your writing more exciting and engaging by creating a sense of immediacy and action. It can hold the reader’s attention and make your writing more memorable.
No, using passive voice in your writing is not always wrong. In some situations, passive voice may be more appropriate or necessary. For example, passive voice may be used in the following conditions:
- When the subject of the sentence is unknown or unimportant:
- To shift the focus onto the object of the action
- When the action is more important than the doer
To change a sentence from passive voice to active voice, follow these steps:
- Identify the subject and object of the sentence: In passive voice, the object of the action is the grammatical subject of the sentence. Identify the sentence’s subject and object so you can switch their positions.
- Rewrite the sentence with an active verb: Change the passive verb form to an active verb form that matches the subject. For example, change “was eaten” to “ate”. It will make the sentence more straightforward.
- Make the subject the doer of the action: In the passive sentence, the object is the doer. In the active sentence, the subject is the doer of the action. Therefore, switch the positions of the subject and object so that the subject is doing the action.
- Add any necessary prepositions: If the original sentence included a preposition (such as “by” or “with”), you might need to have it in the active sentence as well.
Here are some general guidelines for switching between active and passive voice:
- Identify the subject and object of the sentence: In passive voice, the object of the action is the grammatical subject of the sentence. In active voice, the subject is the one who does the action. Identify the subject and object of the sentence to determine the voice of the sentence.
- Use active voice for clarity and concision: Active voice is generally more clear, concise, and direct than passive voice. Use active voice to emphasise the subject and make the sentence more engaging and straightforward.
- Use passive voice for object focus or to de-emphasise the subject: Passive voice is used to shift the focus onto the object of the action rather than the subject. Use passive voice when focusing on what is being acted upon or when the subject is unknown or unimportant.
- Be aware of tense changes: Switching between active and passive voice can sometimes result in changes in tense. For example, “I eat pizza” in active voice becomes “Pizza is eaten by me” in passive voice, changing from present to past tense.
- Consider the context and purpose of your writing: The context decides the choice between active and passive voice depending on the context and meaning of your writing. Consider your audience, what you are trying to convey, and the tone you want to create when deciding which voice to use.
Here’s a quick test to check your understanding of active voice:
- What is an active voice?Â
- a) A grammatical structure where the sentence’s subject acts.
- b) A grammatical structure where the object of the sentence acts.Â
- c) A grammatical structure where the verb is in the past tense.
Answer: a) A grammatical structure where the sentence’s subject acts.
- Which sentence is in the active voice?
- a) The cake was eaten by Tom.
- b) Tom ate the cake.Â
- c) The book was written by Mary.
Answer: b) Tom ate the cake.
- Why is active voice preferred in writing?Â
- a) It is more concise and direct.Â
- b) It places the focus on the object of the action.Â
- c) It is more formal and academic.
Answer: a) It is more concise and direct.
- How can you identify a sentence in passive voice?Â
- a) The subject of the sentence is the doer of the action.
- b) The verb is in the past tense.Â
- c) The object of the action is the subject of the sentence.
Answer: c) The object of the action is the sentence’s subject.
- Which sentence is in passive voice?Â
- a) The dog chased the ball.
- b) The ball was chased by the dog.Â
- c) The dog barked at the mailman.
Answer: b) The ball was chased by the dog.
If you answered all of these questions correctly, then you have a good understanding of what is an active voice. If you answered some questions incorrectly, you must review the concepts and practice identifying and using active voice in sentences.
Edulyte’s English mentors have created a worksheet to reinforce your knowledge of Active Voice.
