PASSIVE AND ACTIVE VOICE How to actively use correct passive voice

Active versus Passive Voice  Active voice:  The main subject of the sentence performs the action shown through the verb The dog bit the boy. The dog is the subject who is biting (verb) the boy (the object)  Passive voice:  The main subject of the sentence receives the action shown through the verb The boy was bitten by the dog. The boy is the subject receiving the action of being bitten (verb).

When to use active and passive voice  Active voice  More direct and clear sentences  Less wordy  Preferred in academic and research writing  Passive voice  Can be more rhetorically effective  Effective when the agent of the action is unimportant or the author is holding off on mentioning it for the effect of suspense  Highlights the action rather than the agent performing the action

Active voice or passive voice? Can you determine which sentence is written in active or passive voice?  Nathan threw the ball to his dad.  The fish swam upstream.  The football was tossed to the girl.  The bride walked down the aisle to the groom.  The seagulls were given bread by the kids at the beach.

Active voice or passive voice? Answers Subject=underlined, verb=circled, AV=active voice, PV=passive voice  Nathan threw the ball to his dad. AV  The fish swam upstream. AV  The football was tossed to the girl. PV  The bride walked down the aisle to the groom. AV  The seagulls were given bread by the kids at the beach. PV