English Grammar Lesson: Active and Passive Voice

1. What is Active Voice?

Definition: In sentences written in the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed by the verb. Active voice sentences follow the pattern: Subject + Verb + Object.

Examples:

• Active: The cat chased the mouse.
• Active: She wrote a letter.

2. What is Passive Voice?

Definition: In sentences written in the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. Passive voice sentences follow the pattern: Object + Form of “to be” + Past Participle + (by Subject).

Examples:

• Passive: The mouse was chased by the cat.
• Passive: A letter was written by her.

3. Forming the Passive Voice

To form the passive voice:

• Start with the object of the active sentence.
• Add the correct form of the verb “to be” based on the tense of the original sentence.
• Add the past participle of the main verb.
• (Optionally) include the agent of the action, introduced by “by”.

Examples:

• Active: They are building a new school. → Passive: A new school is being built.
• Active: The chef cooked the meal. → Passive: The meal was cooked by the chef.

4. When to Use Active and Passive Voice

Active Voice: Use the active voice when you want to emphasize the subject performing the action. It is generally more direct and vigorous.

Passive Voice: Use the passive voice when the action is more important than who performs it, or when the subject is unknown or irrelevant.

Examples:

• Active: The company launched a new product. (Emphasizes the company)
• Passive: A new product was launched yesterday. (Emphasizes the action)

5. Common Mistakes with Passive Voice

Overuse of the passive voice can make your writing seem vague or evasive. It’s important to use it selectively, where appropriate.

Example:

• Passive (Overused): The ball was thrown by the boy. The window was broken by the ball. The mess was cleaned by the mother.
• Active (Improved): The boy threw the ball. It broke the window. The mother cleaned up the mess.