1. Presented by the UTA English Writing Center
Active/Passive Voice
Presented by the UTA English Writing Center
Updated 11/20/2014 TW

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3. Executive Staff, UTA Writing Center
Workshop Leaders
Executive Staff, UTA Writing Center

4. What is Passive Voice?
Often, instructors warn against using passive voice. Sometimes, they even mark down for it…but what exactly is passive voice? Why is it a “problem”?

5. What is Passive Voice?
When a sentence uses passive voice, the subject receives the action or is acted upon. Conversely, when a subject uses active voice, the subject performs the action.

6. Passive vs. Active
What’s the difference? Passive and active voice emphasize different parts of the sentence.
Active voice emphasizes the main subject (i.e. penguins). Passive voice emphasizes the direct object (i.e. my sister).

7. Common Issues
You may be wondering, “Okay, so passive voice means the subject isn’t the one doing the acting—why is that such a problem?”
Clarity: Active voice sounds strong and reads more easily. It is simple and direct.
Audience: Passive voice sounds flat and uninteresting. You could lose your reader’s attention.
Distance: Passive voice appears impersonal because the subject does not take direct ownership of the action.

8. When to Use the Passive
Generally speaking, the active voice is preferable to the passive. However, there are some occasions when the passive voice must be used. Three occasions are:
When the agent is unknown or not held responsible
When you want to focus on the receiver of the agent’s action
When you write scientifically

9. Using the Passive
Sometimes passive voice is used strategically to place emphasis on an event and avoid personal responsibility or when the agent is unknown.
Example:
“The concert has been cancelled.”
Example 2:
“The computer has crashed.”

10. Using the Passive
Other times, it is rhetorically effective to use passive voice, such as when the writer wants to foreground the object and not the subject.
Example: “Rules are made to be broken” (passive voice) versus “Authorities make rules to be broken” (active voice).
Agent = Authorities
Receiver = Rules

11. Using the Passive
However, in the sciences, passive voice is preferred specifically because it provides distance and objectivity!
As the text bubble shows (right), the researcher takes a back seat to the research.
In other words, passive voice avoids “I” (the first person).

12. form of “to be” + past participle = passive voice
How to Use the Passive
Passive constructions are easy to spot. Here’s a sure-fire way for identifying passive voice:
form of “to be” + past participle = passive voice
For example:
The metropolis has been scorched by the dragon’s fiery breath.
When her house was invaded, Penelope had to think of ways to delay her remarriage.

13. How to Use the Passive
In passive voice, the subject will usually appear at the end of the sentence:
The metropolis has been scorched by the dragon’s fiery breath.
You can easily change passive voice to active voice by rearranging the sentence and placing the subject first:
The dragon scorched the metropolis with his fiery breath.

14. How to Use Passive
In addition, passive voice often requires a linking verb (“to be”). Be sure to choose the best linking verb for your emphasis. Beware of verb tense!
Past tense:
Researchers have concluded …
Present tense:
The research is conclusive for…
Future tense:
Further analysis will provide…

15. When to Use the Passive
When determining whether or not to use active voice or passive voice, first and foremost consult with your instructor. Then, consider the following:
Is the doer/actor indicated? Should you indicate him/her/it?
Does it really matter who’s responsible for the action?
Would your reader ask you to clarify a sentence because of an issue related to your use of the passive?
Do you use a passive construction in your thesis statement?
Do you use the passive as a crutch in summarizing a plot or history, or in describing something?
Do you want to emphasize the object?

16. Practice
Take a few minutes to transform the following sentences from passive to active:
The Dallas Cowboys were scolded by Arlington residents for their role in the rise in property taxes in the city.
Although common assumptions might suggest otherwise, dogs are bitten by cats on a regular basis.
The Olive Garden waitress was surprised by her boyfriend when he showed up with flowers.

17. Practice
Now, turn the following sentences from active to passive voice:
The surgeon positioned the balloon in an area of blockage and inflated it.
A seagull caught the fish in his mouth.
The Exxon company admits that they spilled a few gallons.

18. Resources
Purdue OWL:
Writing University of North Carolina
Writing University of Wisconsin-Madison;
“Active/Passive Verb Forms”:

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