1. Active and Passive Voices

2. Active Voice Passive Voice
If the subject of the sentence is doing an action …..then it is active voice.
example:
The boy hit the ball. (The boy (subject) is doing something…hitting)
Passive Voice
If something is being done to the subject of the sentence….then it is in passive voice.
example:
The ball was hit by the boy.

3. Construction of passive voice sentences:
They usually begin with a thing rather than a person
They use a two-word verb
“is” or “was” followed by a past-tense verb
They sometimes end with a phrase starting with “by” that identifies the doer of the action
All expenses were approved by the CEO.
Can be left out
Starts with a thing
Two-word verb

4. Active Voice The active voice is preferred
In active voice sentences, the subject of the verb performs the action
I heated the solution
You made a mistake

5. Exercise Instructions:
Decide whether each of the following sentences uses the active or passive voice
The first one is done for you

6. Sample Answer
The new procedure is thought to be superior by the president.
Active Voice  Passive Voice
It should be written in the active voice
The president thinks the new procedure is superior

7. Exercise
The song was played by the English teacher.
passive

8. I can approve your loan when you have provided us with collateral.
active

9. The editing of the financial reports was done over the weekend by the accountant.
passive

10. We made a major error by spelling our client’s name wrong in the report.
active

11. The observer saw the needle on the gauge jump into the red zone at the same time the circuit overloaded.
active

12. Verification of passwords must be done on a daily basis by security personnel.
passive

13. I left the window open last night and killed all the plants.
Active

14. The software was installed incorrectly on your computer.
passive

15. You failed to submit the application before the due date
active