Active and Passive Voice | Definitions, Examples & Rules of Usage 

In English grammar, verbs are categorized into two voices: the active voice and the passive voice. These voices shape how actions are conveyed in a sentence.

A sentence in the active voice emphasizes the subject as the doer of the action, while a sentence in the passive voice shifts the focus to the recipient of the action, often de-emphasizing the performer.

Let us dive deeper into these voices, exploring their structure, use, and importance, with illustrations for clarity.

Parts of a Sentence and Their Roles

Every complete sentence contains essential components that allow it to communicate an idea effectively. These parts include:

1. Subject – The doer of the action.
2. Verb – The action or state of being.
3. Object – The receiver of the action.

These components are arranged differently depending on whether the sentence is active or passive. Let’s break down these roles in greater detail using an example:

Example of a Basic Sentence:

• Active Sentence: The cat (subject) chased (verb) the mouse (object).

In this active sentence:

• Subject: The cat – This is the doer or the one performing the action (chasing).
• Verb: Chased – The action that is being performed.
• Object: The mouse – The receiver of the action, which in this case is the one being chased.

This Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure is typical in active sentences, where the subject directly performs the action.

A passive sentence shifts the focus from the doer (subject) to the receiver (object). The original object becomes the grammatical subject of the passive sentence, while the action remains the same. Passive voice often uses a form of the verb “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb.

Example:

• Active Sentence: The dog (subject) bit the boy (object).
• Passive Sentence: The boy was bitten by the dog.

In the passive version:

• The object of the active sentence (the boy) becomes the subject.
• The verb (bit) is changed into the passive form (was bitten).
• The subject (the dog) is now introduced at the end using the preposition “by” (optional in passive sentences).

With this understanding in mind, lets look at active and passive sentences in English.

What is the Active Voice?

The active voice positions the subject of the sentence as the agent responsible for carrying out an action. This makes sentences direct, energetic, and easy to follow. It is widely used in speech and writing to clearly indicate who is doing what.

Examples of Active Voice:

• Maria wrote the article.
  In this sentence, Maria (the subject) performs the action of writing the article (the object).
• The chef prepares meals daily.
  Here, the chef actively performs the task of preparing meals.
• Students will complete the assignments by tomorrow.
  The subject (students) is actively involved in completing the assignments.

The typical structure for an active sentence follows the pattern: Subject + Verb + Object.

Illustration of Active Voice Structure:

• The gardener (subject) planted (verb) flowers (object).
• The manager (subject) approved (verb) the request (object).

Identifying the Active Voice

Sentences in the active voice can be recognized by their direct subject-verb-object structure. The subject actively engages with the verb, and the sentence is clear about who is performing the action.

What is the Passive Voice?

In contrast, the passive voice shifts the focus from the doer to the recipient of the action. The subject in a passive sentence becomes the object of an action, and the performer is either mentioned towards the end of the sentence or omitted altogether.

Examples of Passive Voice:

• The article was written by Maria.
  In this case, the article becomes the subject, and the performer (Maria) is mentioned at the end.
• The meals are prepared every day.
  Here, the focus is on the meals, not on who prepares them.
• The assignments will be completed by tomorrow.
  The emphasis shifts to the assignments rather than the students.

Types of Passive Voice:

1. Long passive: The agent (the one doing the action) is mentioned.
   • The cake was baked by Sarah.
2. Short passive: The agent is not mentioned.
   • The cake was baked.

Structure of Passive Voice

Passive voice sentences follow the structure: Subject + a form of ‘to be’ + past participle of the verb + (optional agent).

Illustration of Passive Voice Structure:

• The flowers (subject) were planted (form of ‘to be’ + past participle) by the gardener (agent).
• The request (subject) was approved (verb) by the manager (agent).

In some cases, the agent is intentionally omitted, especially if the doer is unknown or irrelevant:

• The documents were misplaced.

Comparing Active and Passive Voice

Active vs. Passive:

The active voice keeps the focus on the agent performing the action, while the passive voice emphasizes the action itself or the recipient of the action.

Uses and Importance of Active and Passive Voices

When to Use the Active Voice:

The active voice is ideal for most forms of communication because it is straightforward and easy to understand. Writers and speakers prefer the active voice when clarity, energy, and directness are essential.

• Journalism and storytelling:
  Active sentences keep narratives engaging. For example, “The journalist interviewed the mayor” creates a sense of immediacy.
• Instructions and commands:
  Instructions are more effective in the active voice. Compare:
  “Press the button to start” (active) vs. “The button should be pressed to start” (passive).

When to Use the Passive Voice:

The passive voice can be effective in situations where the doer is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately omitted. It is also preferred in academic writing to avoid being personal and informal. It is often used to:

1. Shift focus to the object:
   • The glass was broken during the event. (Who broke it is not emphasized.)
2. Create objectivity:
   • A mistake was made. (Focus on the error, not on who made it.)
3. Maintain politeness or avoid blame:
   • The invitations were not sent on time. (Avoiding naming the person responsible.)
4. Academic and formal writing:
   The passive voice is often employed in research to maintain an impersonal tone:
   • The data were analyzed using statistical methods.

Converting Between Active and Passive Voices

Converting sentences between the two voices—active and passive—involves making precise changes to the structure, including the subject, verb, and object.

Below is a step-by-step breakdown of these changes, with detailed explanations and examples.

1. Change the Subject and Object Positions

In active voice, the subject performs the action, and the object receives it. When converting to passive voice, the object becomes the subject of the sentence, and the original subject may either become part of a prepositional phrase (introduced with “by”) or be omitted altogether.

Example:

• Active: The teacher assigned homework.
• Passive: Homework was assigned by the teacher.

Explanation:

• In the active sentence:
  • Subject: The teacher (performs the action).
  • Verb: Assigned (describes the action).
  • Object: Homework (receives the action).
• In the passive sentence:
  • The object (homework) from the active sentence is moved to the subject position.
  • The original subject (the teacher) is placed in a prepositional phrase (“by the teacher”) at the end. This phrase is optional, depending on whether the doer of the action is important or necessary to mention.

When switching to the passive voice, the focus shifts from the doer (the teacher) to the action or the receiver (homework).

2. Adjust the Verb Form

In passive voice, the verb must change to a form of “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb. The form of “to be” used will depend on the tense and aspect of the original sentence.

Example:

• Active: They build houses.
• Passive: Houses are built.

Explanation:

• In the active sentence:
  • “Build” is in the present tense.
  • The subject (They) performs the action of building.
• In the passive sentence:
  • “Houses” (the object) becomes the subject.
  • “Are built” uses the present tense of the verb “to be” (are) along with the past participle of the main verb (“build”).

Verb Form Adjustments by Tense:

• Present Simple:
  • Active: She cleans the room. → Passive: The room is cleaned.
• Past Simple:
  • Active: He wrote the letter. → Passive: The letter was written.
• Future Simple:
  • Active: They will deliver the package. → Passive: The package will be delivered.
• Present Perfect:
  • Active: They have repaired the car. → Passive: The car has been repaired.

The change to the verb ensures that the passive sentence remains grammatically correct while shifting the emphasis from the doer to the receiver.

3. Optional Use of the Agent

The agent refers to the original subject in an active sentence—the person or thing performing the action. In passive voice, mentioning the agent is optional.

If it is essential to know who performed the action, the agent is included in a prepositional phrase starting with “by.” However, if the agent is unknown, irrelevant, or implied, it can be omitted.

Example 1 (With Agent):

• Passive: The project was completed by the students.

Explanation:

In this version, the agent (“by the students”) is included to specify who completed the project. This construction is useful when the focus is on both the result (the project) and who performed the action (the students).

Example 2 (Without Agent):

• Passive: The project was completed.

Explanation:

In this case, the agent is omitted. This version focuses solely on the completion of the project, and it is used when:

1. The doer is not important or already understood.
2. The result or action is the focus rather than the person performing it.

When to Omit the Agent:

• “The window was broken.”
  (We don’t know or need to specify who broke the window.)
• “Mistakes were made.”
  (Used to avoid assigning blame or responsibility directly.)

Summary of the Conversion Process

Converting between active and passive voice involves three key steps: changing the subject and object positions, adjusting the verb form to fit the passive structure, and deciding whether to include the agent.

Mastering these steps allows for greater flexibility in communication, enabling you to emphasize different parts of a sentence based on what is most relevant to your message.

Limitations of the Passive Voice

While the passive voice has its place, overusing it can lead to vague, wordy sentences. For instance:

• Passive: Mistakes were made during the project.
  (Who made the mistakes?)
• Active: The team made mistakes during the project.
  (Clearer and more direct.)

In general, use the active voice whenever possible for clarity, and reserve the passive voice for specific contexts where it adds value, such as formal writing, scientific reports, or diplomatic communication.

Conclusion

Both the active voice and passive voice have their roles in English grammar. The active voice is often preferred for its clarity and directness, while the passive voice is used strategically to shift focus or maintain formality.

Understanding when and how to use each voice allows for more precise and effective communication.

Mastering the use of both voices empowers writers and speakers to tailor their message to fit the context, ensuring clarity, emphasis, or tact as needed.