1. Using Active and Passive Voice
What are active and passive voice?
Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs
Passive-voice verbs
Review A
Review B

2. What are active and passive voice?
Like people, verbs can be
active
passive or
Billy kicks the ball.
Kim is bothered by a headache.
Jen has been hurt by a friend.
Josie plays the instrument.

3. What are active and passive voice?
Voice is the form a verb takes to show whether the subject of the verb . . .
performs the action
Subject
Verb
The clown carries the balloons.
or receives the action
Subject
Verb
The balloons are carried by the clown.

4. What are active and passive voice?
A verb in the active voice expresses an action done by its subject.
Active-voice verb
Subject
My little sister painted the picture.
Painting is the action done by the sister. The subject sister performs the action of painting.

5. What are active and passive voice?
A verb in the passive voice expresses an action done to its subject.
Passive-voice verb
Subject
The picture was painted by my little sister.
Painting is an action done to the picture. The subject picture receives the action of painting.

6. What are active and passive voice?
Passive-voice verbs consist of
a form of be +
a past participle
were
planted
Passive-voice verbs can also include helping verbs.
a helping verb +
a form of be +
a past participle
have
been
planted

7. What are active and passive voice?
Forms of be am
are is
was
were be
been
being
Some roses are planted there.
Some roses were planted there.
Some roses have been planted there.

8. What are active and passive voice?
A prepositional phrase that begins with by may follow the passive-voice verb to tell who or what performs the action.
Passive-voice verb
Prepositional phrase
The cat has been treated.
by our vet.
The prepositional phrase tells you that our vet performed the action of treating.

9. What are active and passive voice?
A prepositional phrase contains
a preposition
a noun or pronoun
(the object of the preposition)
any modifiers of the object in
the strong
wind
wind

10. What are active and passive voice?
A passive-voice verb does not have to be followed by a phrase telling who or what performed the action.
Grammar Guy Says...
The cat has been treated by our vet.
The cat has been treated.
A red jacket was left here by someone.
A red jacket was left here.

11. What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the boldface verb is in the active or the passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.
1. On Sunday, Darnell studied geography.
2. Brianne was elected to the student council.
3. The keys have been lost by my cousin.
4. Kevin has unloaded the truck.

12. What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the boldface verb is in the active or the passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.
1. On Sunday, Darnell studied geography.
Active voice
The subject Darnell performs the action of studying.

13. What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the boldface verb is in the active or the passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.
2. Brianne was elected to the student council.
Passive voice
The subject Brianne receives the action of electing.

14. What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the boldface verb is in the active or the passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.
3. The keys have been lost by my cousin.
Passive voice
The subject keys receives the action of being lost.

15. What are active and passive voice?
For each sentence, tell whether the boldface verb is in the active or the passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.
4. Kevin has unloaded the truck.
Active voice
The subject Kevin performs the action of unloading.

16. What are active and passive voice?
On Your Own
Complete each sentence by adding the verb as indicated in parentheses.
1. Excellent work _______ on that report. (done, passive voice)
2. Mr. Yang _______ the certificates. (awarded, active voice)
3. Those photos _______ by Cody. (taken, passive voice)
4. This new software _______ clear images. (created, active voice)
5. At the ceremony the mayor _______ the volunteers. (honored, active voice)
[End of Section]

17. What are active and passive voice?
Possible Answers
Complete each sentence by adding the verb as indicated in parentheses.
1. Excellent work __________ on that report. (done, passive voice)
2. Mr. Yang __________ the certificates. (awarded, active voice)
3. Those photos __________ by Cody. (taken, passive voice)
4. This new software __________ clear images. (created, active voice)
5. At the ceremony the mayor __________ the volunteers. (honored, active voice)
was done
awarded
were taken
created
honored

18. Uses of active and passive voice
Active-voice verbs emphasize the action and the performer of the action.
Active voice
Lightning hit the tree.
Emphasis on the lightning and the action it performs
Passive-voice verbs emphasize the receiver of the action.
Passive voice
The tree was hit by lightning.
Emphasis on the tree, which receives the action

19. Uses of active and passive voice Active-voice verbs
Writers usually prefer the active voice because it is more forceful and direct.
Active voice
Our goalie made three great saves.
The crowd cheered wildly.
Passive voice
Three great saves were made by our goalie.
Wild cheering was done by the crowd.

20. Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs
The passive voice does have its place, though. Use the passive voice when
you do not know who performed the action
you do not want to reveal the performer of the action
The flowers were left on her doorstep early this morning.
A large donation has been made to the charity fund.

21. Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, identify the boldface verb as active or passive. Then, tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
1. Our librarian has formed a book club.
2. The printer has been repaired.
3. The band is selling cans of mixed nuts.
4. The roof was torn off by the high winds.

22. Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, identify the boldface verb as active or passive. Then, tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
1. Our librarian has formed a book club.
Active voice
The subject librarian performs the action of the verb. In this sentence, the action (forming) and the performer of the action (the librarian) are emphasized.

23. Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, identify the boldface verb as active or passive. Then, tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
2. The printer has been repaired.
Passive voice
The subject printer receives the action of the verb. In this sentence, the receiver of the action (the printer) is emphasized.

24. Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, identify the boldface verb as active or passive. Then, tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
3. The band is selling cans of mixed nuts.
Active voice
The subject band performs the action of the verb. In this sentence, the action (selling) and the performer of the action (the band) are emphasized.

25. Uses of active and passive voice
For each sentence, identify the boldfaced verb as active or passive. Then, tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
4. The roof was torn off by the high winds.
Passive voice
The subject roof receives the action of the verb. In this sentence, the receiver of the action (the roof) is emphasized.

26. Uses of active and passive voice
On Your Own
Complete each sentence by adding the verb as indicated in parentheses. For each passive-voice sentence, tell why the passive voice is used.
1. My sister __________ the parakeet. (fed, active voice)
2. Some books __________ from the library. (stolen, passive voice)
3. Marion __________ that book three times. (read, active voice)
4. You may not like it, but a decision __________. (made, passive voice)
[End of Section]

27. Uses of active and passive voice
Possible Answers
1. My sister fed the parakeet. (fed, active voice)
2. Some books have been stolen from the library. (have been stolen, passive voice)
We do not know who did the stealing.
3. Marion has read that book three times. (has read, active voice)
4. You may not like it, but a decision has been made. (has been made, passive voice)
The writer does not want to say who made the decision.

28. Review A
For each sentence, identify the boldface verb as active or passive. Then tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
1. Snow slowly drifted across the road.
2. The swelling on Kelly’s arm was caused by a bee sting.
3. Several streetlights were blown over during the storm.
4. Raymond has set some birdseed out for the cardinals.

29. Review A
For each sentence, identify the boldface verb as active or passive. Then tell whether the sentence emphasizes (1) the action and its performer or (2) the receiver of the action.
1. Snow slowly drifted across the road. active; emphasizes action and performer
2. The swelling on Kelly’s arm was caused by a bee sting. passive; emphasizes receiver of action
3. Several streetlights were blown over during the storm. passive, emphasizes receiver of action
4. Raymond has set some birdseed out for the cardinals. active; emphasizes action and performer

30. Review B
For each sentence, supply the verb as indicated in parentheses.
1. Kenny’s fans __________ him on to victory. (cheer, active voice)
2. The science class __________ the nature center. (visit, active voice)
3. The Gettysburg Address __________ by Abraham Lincoln. (write, passive voice)
4. The dogs __________ after their long exercise session. (rest, active voice)
5. Most of the food __________ by Uncle Pablo. (prepare, passive voice)
[End of Section]

31. Review B
For each sentence, supply the verb as indicated in parentheses. (Possible answers)
1. Kenny’s fans __________ him on to victory. (cheer, active voice)
cheered
2. The science class __________ the nature center. (visit, active voice)
visited
3. The Gettysburg Address ___________ by Abraham Lincoln. (write, passive voice)
was written
4. The dogs __________ after their long exercise session. (rest, active voice)
rested
5. Most of the food ____________ by Uncle Pablo. (prepare, passive voice)
was prepared

32. The End