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?
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.

8. 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]

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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)
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13. 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.

14. 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)
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15. The End