ACTIVE / PASSIVE VOICE

Active voice

In most English sentences with an action verb, the subject performs the action denoted by the verb.

These examples show that the subject is doing the verb's action.

Because the subject does or "acts upon" the verb in such sentences, the sentences are said to be in the active voice.

Passive voice

One can change the normal word order of many active sentences (those with a direct object) so that the subject is no
longer active, but is, instead, being acted upon by the verb - or passive.

Note in these examples how the subject-verb relationship has changed.

Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is passive), such sentences are said to be in the passive voice.

NOTE: Colorful parrots live in the rainforests cannot be changed to passive voice because the sentence does not have a
direct object.

To change a sentence from active to passive voice, do the following:

1. Move the active sentence's direct object into the sentence's subject slot

2. Place the active sentence's subject into a phrase beginning with the preposition by
 3. Add a form of the auxiliary verb be to the main verb and change the main verb's form

Because passive voice sentences necessarily add words and change the normal doer-action-receiver of
action direction, they may make the reader work harder to understand the intended meaning.

As the examples below illustrate, a sentence in active voice flows more smoothly and is easier to understand than the
same sentence in passive voice.
It is generally preferable to use the ACTIVE voice.
To change a passive voice sentence into an active voice sentence, simply reverse the steps shown above.

1. Move the passive sentence's subject into the active sentence's direct object slot

2. Remove the auxiliary verb be from the main verb and change main verb's form if needed

3. Place the passive sentence's object of the preposition by into the subject slot.
Because it is more direct, most writers prefer to use the active voice whenever possible.

The passive voice may be a better choice, however, when

· the doer of the action is unknown, unwanted, or unneeded in the sentence

Examples

· the writer wishes to emphasize the action of the sentence rather than the doer of the action

Examples

· the writer wishes to use passive voice for sentence variety.

Active and Passive Overview

Tense Active Passive

Simple Present Once a week, Tom cleans the house. Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.

Present Right now, Sarah is writing the letter. Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah.
Continuous

Simple Past Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.

The salesman was helping the customer when the The customer was being helped by the salesman when
Past Continuous
thief came into the store. the thief came into the store.

Present Perfect Many tourists have visited that castle. That castle has been visited by many tourists.

Present Perfect Recently, John has been doing the work. Recently, the work has been being done by John.
Continuous

George had repaired many cars before he received Many cars had been repaired by George before he
Past Perfect
his mechanic's license. received his mechanic's license.

Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being
Past Perfect
fantastic dinners for two years before he moved to prepared by Chef Jones for two years before he moved
Continuous
Paris. to Paris.

Simple Future Someone will finish the work by 5:00 PM. The work will be finished by 5:00 PM.
will

Simple Future Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight.
be going to

Future At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be being washed by
Continuous dishes. John.
will
Future At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be being
Continuous washing the dishes. washed by John.
be going to

Future Perfect They will have completed the project before the The project will have been completed before the
will deadline. deadline.

Future Perfect They are going to have completed the project The project is going to have been completed before
be going to before the deadline. the deadline.

Future Perfect The famous artist will have been painting the mural The mural will have been being painted by the famous
Continuous for over six months by the time it is finished. artist for over six months by the time it is finished.
will

Future Perfect The famous artist is going to have been The mural is going to have been being painted by the
Continuous painting the mural for over six months by the time it famous artist for over six months by the time it is
be going to is finished. finished.

Used to Jerry used to pay the bills. The bills used to be paid by Jerry.

Would Always My mother would always make the pies. The pies would always be made by my mother.

Future in the Past I knew John would finish the work by 5:00 PM. I knew the work would be finished by 5:00 PM.
Would

Future in the Past I thought Sally was going to make a beautiful I thought a beautiful dinner was going to be made by
Was Going to dinner tonight. Sally tonight.