1. What do you observe? Active and Passive Voice
What the “Active” Sentences have in common:
What the “Passive” Sentences have in common:
, the
Subject, then verb, then an object
Typically shorter
More direct and more focused
Action done by subject
Use the word “by”
Action not done by subject
Less direct and less focused
“Being” verbs
Awkward word order (who talks like this?)

2. When the subject of the sentence is performing the ACTION.
Active Voice is ……..
Definition
When the subject of the sentence is performing the ACTION.
Passive Voice is ……..
Definition
When the object of the sentence is performing the ACTION or is getting the emphasis.

3. You can recognize it because..
Active Voice is ……..
Definition
When the subject of the sentence is performing the ACTION.
You can recognize it because..
It’s usually SHORTER and more DIRECT than passive voice.
It sometimes uses stronger VERBS.

4. Active Voice is …….. It is used ……
In non-scientific writing (most of what you read)
Most modern-day dialogue
On standardized test : STARR, ACT and SAT

5. You can recognize it because..
Passive Voice is ……..
Definition
When the object of the sentence is performing the ACTION or is getting the emphasis.
You can recognize it because..
It’s usually LONGER and less DIRECT than active voice.
It typically uses “being” verbs : is, am, was, were, be being, been
It often includes the word “by”.

6. Passive Voice is …….. It is used …… In scientific writing
When being verbs can’t be avoided
In very formal situations, and sometimes politics
When avoiding who did the action
By YODA in Star Wars