1. Unit 3: Notes #26 Active & Passive Voice
Remember to label your notes by number. This way you will know if you are missing notes, you’ll know what notes you need, etc.
Include the date of the notes given.

2. Active vs. Passive Voice
In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action.
[Thing doing the action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action]
In a sentence written in the passive voice, the subject receives the action
[Thing receiving the action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [thing doing the action]

3. EXAMPLES:
Active: The candidates believes that Congress must place a ceiling on the budget.
Passive: It is believed by the candidate that a ceiling must be placed on the budget by Congress.
Active: The dog bit the man.
Passive: The man was bitten by the dog.

4. Determining whether the verb is active or passive means you need to
1.) identify the verb – the ACTION word
2.) WHO is doing or performing the verb??? If it is active, the subject is performing the action of the verb. If it is passive, the action is performed upon the subject.
The storm damaged the tree.
The tree was damaged by the storm.

5. The storm damaged the tree. VERB The tree was damaged by the storm
The storm damaged the tree. VERB The tree was damaged by the storm. Who did the damaging??? If the answer is the subject of the sentence, it is ACTIVE. If the subject is, instead, who/what was damaged, it is PASSIVE

6. In some cases, the actor (the “doer” of the action) is left unsaid
In some cases, the actor (the “doer” of the action) is left unsaid. In this case, you will make general assumptions – and that most likely means the sentence is passive.
By this weekend, the Homecoming Queen will have been chosen.

7. Converting Sentence to Active Voice
Some tips and strategies for converting sentences from the passive to the active voice: 1.) Look for a “by” phrase (e.g., “by the dog” in the previous example). If you find one, the sentence may be in the passive voice. Rewrite the sentence so that the subject after the “by” is closer to the beginning of the sentence. 2.) If the subject of the sentence is unclear, you can use a general term, such as “he/she/they,” “researchers,” or “the study,” etc.

8. The passive voice is especially helpful in scientific or technical writing or lab report, where the actor is not really important, but the process or principle being described is of importance.
Instead of writing, “I poured 20 cc of acid into the breaker,” you could write “Twenty cc of acid is/was poured into the beaker.”

9. Practice: Write Active or Passive for the following sentences.
1.) A strange car was parked in our driveway. 2.) The mailman left a package for you. 3.) Nancy’s nomination was vetoed by Joe. 4.) The firm was founded by Alec’s grandfather in ) These peaches have been bruised. 6.) Aunt Betsy taught me how to play golf.

10. Answer Key:
1.) A strange car was parked in our driveway. PASSIVE 2.) The mailman left a package for you. ACTIVE 3.) Nancy’s nomination was vetoed by Joe. PASSIVE 4.) The firm was founded by Alec’s grandfather in PASSIVE 5.) These peaches have been bruised. PASSIVE 6.) Aunt Betsy taught me how to play golf. ACTIVE

11. Exit Quiz…DO NOT CHEAT!
His bizarre behavior was ridiculed by his peers.
The man was given a harsh sentence by the judge.
The senior class will collect money for the trip.
The new film is being praised by the critics for its honesty.

12. Mr. Semak is opening a new store here.
By tonight the letter will have been read by the board.
Bill is being called up for jury duty.
The two astronauts floated in space.
The path to the garage was shoveled out by George.
The trees were planted by the previous owners.