Journalism: Active and Passive Voice

One rule that most journalists follow is to write copy in the active voice, not passive. In
order to understand this rule, you must know the parts of a sentence.

Subject: who or what is doing something

Predicate: what the subject is doing. (verb and any information contributing to what is
being done)

Example: The biker climbed the hill in three hours.

Subject: The biker
Predicate: climbed the hill in three hours.

Example: Moving at a strange angle, the bird fell from the sky.
Subject: The bird
Predicate: fell from the sky moving at a strange angle

Active Voice: When the verb is being performed by its subject.

Passive Voice: The action the sentence expresses is being performed upon by its subject.

Example:
Active: The manager hired us.
Passive: We were hired by the manager

Active: The judge carefully instructed the jury.

Passive: The jury was carefully instructed by the judge.
Active/Passive Voice

Directions: After each sentence, indicate whether each of the following sentences is
active or passive.

A = active
P = passive

Part I:

1. The whole club elects the president.

2. A terrible accident has been prevented by Mario’s quick thinking.
3. The leading role was played brilliantly by an understudy
4. The book was unfavorably reviewed by the critics.
5. A fan recognized the popular movie star.
6. At first, the prophet’s advice was ignored.
7. The mayor usually leads the discussion.
8. Children of many different countries play that game.
9. The contributions to jazz music by W.C. Handy are appreciated by all.
10.W.C. Handy composed the blues classic “St. Louis Woman”.

Part II: Change the passive verbs in the sentences above to active ones.