1. Identify Active and Passive Use of Voice
Objective I-7
Identify Active and Passive Use of Voice
Julie Mullins-Turner

2. Voice Voice indicates whether the subject is
acting or being acted upon.
Julie Mullins-Turner

3. Active Voice
Active voice indicates that the subject of the verb is, has been, or will be doing something.
Example:
For years, Spencer held the football rushing record.
Active Voice makes your writing more
direct and lively.
Julie Mullins-Turner

4. Passive Voice
Passive voice indicates that the subject of the verb is being, has been, or will be acted upon.
Example:
For years, the rushing record was held
by Spencer.
Julie Mullins-Turner

5. WARNING
With a passive verb, the person or thing creating the action is NOT always stated.
The dart was thrown. (Who did the
throwing?)
Julie Mullins-Turner

6. Let’s Make It Simple! To decide if a verb is active or passive,
follow these steps.
Locate the subject of the sentence.
Ask yourself is the subject performing the action (verb)?
Ask yourself is the subject having the action (Verb) performed on it/him/her?
Julie Mullins-Turner

7. Let’s Try Our Method Ann served the tennis ball to her opponent.
What is the subject of the sentence?
What is the action (verb)?
Is the subject performing the action or verb?
Julie Mullins-Turner

8. The voice of the verb is ACTIVE.
Let’s Try Our Method
Ann served the tennis ball to her
opponent.
What is the subject of the sentence? Ann is the subject of the sentence.
What is the action (verb)? Served is the verb.
Is the subject performing the action or verb? Ann is performing the action of serving.
The voice of the verb is ACTIVE.
Julie Mullins-Turner

9. Let’s Try Our Method The ball was caught by Delane.
What is the subject of the sentence?
What is the action (verb)?
Is the subject performing the action or verb?
Julie Mullins-Turner

10. The sentence is passive.
Let’s Try Our Method
The ball was caught by Delane.
What is the subject of the sentence? Ball is the subject.
What is the action (verb)? Caught is the action.
Is the subject performing the action or verb? No. Ball has the action (caught) performed on it.
The sentence is passive.
Julie Mullins-Turner

11. Let's Practice
If a sentence on the following slide is in the passive voice, rewrite it in the active voice. If it is already in the active voice, write “active.”
Julie Mullins-Turner

12. The announcement was heard by only half the students.
My geometry textbook has been lost.
The student council is considering action on the proposal.
Most of the class is going to the afternoon assembly.
Winners’ names will be published in the next issue of The Bugle.
The new menu was tested last week by the cooks.
Julie Mullins-Turner

13. Only half of the students heard the announcement.
Answers
Only half of the students heard the announcement.
I lost my geometry textbook.
Active
The Bugle will publish winner’s names in the next issue.
The cooks tested the new menu last week.
Julie Mullins-Turner

14. How would a question about
effective use of voice
look on the AHSGE?
Julie Mullins-Turner

15. Choose the sentence written in the active voice.
A. A nap is being taken by the dog.
B. In the morning I will cook breakfast.
C. Many were struck by the honesty in the poem.
D. The campaign for governor was run by Janet Smith.
Julie Mullins-Turner

16. Identify the sentence that is written in the passive voice.
A. Jason toured Europe with a national boys’ choir.
B. Jamie recruited seven students to work in the art gallery.
C. John H. Jones, noted author, was recognized by an alert fan.
D. David is studying computer-assisted drafting at the technical school.
Julie Mullins-Turner

17. Choose the sentence that is written in the active voice.
A. Her coat was left in the cabin overnight.
B. The janitor will be missed by the teachers.
C. At 0°, The water freezes on the lake.
D. A smile was noticed on Mr. Gray’s usually stern face.
Julie Mullins-Turner

18. Select the sentence that is written in the passive voice.
A. The key ring also held a small flashlight.
B. The ancient clock chimed only at midnight.
C. The lamp turned on when she clapped her hands.
D. The telephone was designed to look like a sports car.
Julie Mullins-Turner

19. Identify the sentence that is written in the active voice.
A. My aunt gave me a sweater.
B. I was given a sweater by my aunt.
C. A sweater was given to me by my aunt.
D. A sweater was given by my aunt to me.
Julie Mullins-Turner

20. Answers
Julie Mullins-Turner

21. Choose the sentence written in the active voice.
A. A nap is being taken by the dog.
B. In the morning I will cook breakfast.
C. Many were struck by the honesty in the poem.
D. The campaign for governor was run by Janet Smith.
Julie Mullins-Turner

22. Identify the sentence that is written in the passive voice.
A. Jason toured Europe with a national boys’ choir.
B. Jamie recruited seven students to work in the art gallery.
C. John H. Jones, noted author, was recognized by an alert fan.
D. David is studying computer-assisted drafting at the technical school.
Julie Mullins-Turner

23. Choose the sentence that is written in the active voice.
A. Her coat was left in the cabin overnight.
B. The janitor will be missed by the teachers.
C. At 0°, The water freezes on the lake.
D. A smile was noticed on Mr. Gray’s usually stern face.
Julie Mullins-Turner

24. Select the sentence that is written in the passive voice.
A. The key ring also held a small flashlight.
B. The ancient clock chimed only at midnight.
C. The lamp turned on when she clapped her hands.
D. The telephone was designed to look like a sports car.
Julie Mullins-Turner

25. Identify the sentence that is written in the active voice.
A. My aunt gave me a sweater.
B. I was given a sweater by my aunt.
C. A sweater was given to me by my aunt.
D. A sweater was given by my aunt to me.
Julie Mullins-Turner