There are two voices in English grammar: active and passive. The voice of a sentence tells us whether the subject is doing the action (active voice) or having the action done to it (passive voice). Most sentences are written in active voice, but there are times when passive voice is preferable.
One of the most difficult things about grammar for many people is understanding when to use active and passive voice. In English, there are two voices- active and passive. The subject performs the action in an active sentence, while the subject is acted upon in a passive sentence.
Many people have trouble with this concept because it seems like there should only be one way to say things. However, there are actually many instances where either voice can be used. It just depends on what you want to emphasize.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how to know when to use each voice:
Active Voice: Use this when you want to emphasize the doer of the action. The sentence will read more smoothly and sound more natural if written in active voice.
Example: Active Voice- The cashier counted the money. Passive Voice- The money was counted by the cashier.
In general, shorter sentences are better, so aim for using active voice whenever possible.
Passive Voice: There are some situations where you will want to use passive voice instead of active voice. This is usually because you don’t know who did the action or because you want to de-emphasize the actor.
For example, if someone broke into your house, you would probably report it by saying “My house was broken into.”
You don’t know who did it, so there’s no need to put them in the spotlight with an active sentence such as “Some jerk broke into my house.”
Another time you might want to use passivevoice is when someone less important than others did something worthy of note but that doesn’t require further explanation or discussion (at least not right away).
Active Voice vs Passive Voice | Advance Grammar
What is Active And Passive Voice With Examples?
There are two voices in English: active and passive. In the active voice, the subject of the sentence is doing the verb; in the passive voice, the subject of the sentence has the verb done to it. For example:
Active Voice: The cashier counted the money.
In this sentence, “The cashier” is the subject and “counted” is the verb. We know that because “The cashier” comes before “counted.”
Passive Voice: The money was counted by the cashier.
In this sentence, “The money” is still the subject, but now “was counted” is our verb. That’s because “by the cashier” follows our verb phrase here.
What is Active Voice in English Grammar?
Active voice is a grammatical voice that indicates that the subject of a sentence performs the action denoted by the verb. In other words, the subject is doing something. For example:
The cashier counted the money.
In this sentence, “The cashier” is the subject and “counted” is the verb indicating what action the cashier took. The sentence is in active voice because the subject (the cashier) performed the action (counting).
Most sentences are written in active voice, which can make them easier to understand than sentences written in passive voice. However, there are times when you may want to use passive voice instead.
Passive voice occurs when the subject of a sentence is acted upon by the verb.
In other words, something is being done to the subject. For example:
The money was counted by the cashier.
In this sentence, “The money” is the subject and “was counted” is
the verb indicating what action was taken on behalf of the subject. The sentence is in passive voice because an action was performed on behalf ofthe subject (in this case, counting).
While active voice usually makes for clearer writing, there are certain situations where passive voice may be preferable. For instance, if you want to place emphasis on what was done rather than who did it, you may choose to use passivevoice.
What are the 5 Rules of Active And Passive Voice?
When it comes to writing, there are a few basic rules that always apply. One of those rules is understanding the difference between active and passive voice. To put it simply, active voice is when the subject of the sentence is doing the verb, and passive voice is when the subject of the sentence is being acted upon by the verb.
For example:
The cashier counted the money. (active)
The money was counted by the cashier. (passive)
It may not seem like a big deal, but using active or passive voice can change the whole tone of your writing.
In general, active voice is more direct and concise, while passive voice can make your writing sound wishy-washy or overly complex.
There are five main rules to remember when using active and passive voice:
1. Make sure you have a clear understanding of who or what is doing the verb in your sentence; this will help you determine whether to use active or passive voice.
2. Active voice typically sounds more natural than passive voice, so aim for using it most of the time in your writing.
3. That said, there are certain situations where passivevoice can be effective – for instance, if you want to de-emphasize who is taking an actionor if you need to use a long string of verbs in succession without interruption(as would be the case in a scientific paper).
4. When using passive voice, beware of creating “dangling” modifiers – thatis, words or phrases that don’t actually modify anything in your sentence.
(e.g., “After being reprimanded by his boss, Bob’s work improved greatly” doesnot make sense because we don’t know who did the reprimanding.)
5 .As with all things related to grammar and style, trust your ear – if somethingsounds off , chances are it probably is .
Reread your sentences aloud tocheck whether they sound awkward or unclear ,and edit as necessary .
What is Active Voice And Passive Voice With 10 Examples?
Most people know what active voice is, but passive voice can be a little more tricky to understand. In short, active voice is when the subject of the sentence is performing the action and passive voice is when the subject of the sentence is being acted upon. Take a look at these ten examples to see the difference between active and passive voice:
Active Voice: The cashier counted the money.
Passive Voice: The money was counted by the cashier.
Active Voice: I am writing a paper.
Passive Voice: A paper is being written by me.
Active Voice: We will finish the reports by five o’clock.
Passive Voice: The reports will be finished by five o’clock.
Active Voice: Janine proofread her essay before she submitted it to her teacher Passive Voice: Janine’s essay was proofread before it was submitted to her teacher.
ActiveVoice:The doctor diagnosed me with cancer PassiveVoice:Iwasdiagnosedwithcancerbythedoctor
ActiveVoice:Afterthemeeting,wewillallgobacktoourrespectiveoffices PassiveVoice : Afterthe meeting, our respective officeswillallbegonebackto
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Active And Passive Voice Examples With Answers
When it comes to writing, there are two main types of voice that you can use: active and passive. In active voice, the subject of the sentence is doing the action. For example, “I am eating breakfast.”
In passive voice, the subject is being acted upon by someone or something else. For example, “Breakfast is being served to me.”
So which one should you use?
It depends on the situation. In general, active voice is more direct and easier to understand, so it’s usually a good choice for most writing. However, there are times when passive voice can be effective too.
Let’s take a look at some examples of bothactive and passive voice to see when each one might be appropriate.
Active: The cashier counted the money.
Passive: The money was counted by the cashier.
In this example, both sentences mean the same thing. However, the active sentence is shorter and simpler. It also puts the focus on thecashier rather than onthe money .
So in this case, active voice would probably be a better choice.
Here’s another example:
Active: Someone stole my purse!
Passive: My purse was stolen!
Again, these two sentences have the same meaning . But in this case , using passive voice sounds better . After all , no one wants to hear thatthey were stolen from ! In this instance , passive voice allows us to avoid putting blame on anyone in particular . Passive Voice Is Also Used When We Don’t Know Who Did Something : Active : Somebody left their coffee cup on my desk . Passive : A coffee cup was left on my desk . This sentence is written in passive voice because we don’t know who left their coffee cup there . If we did know , we could write it in activevoice like this : Active : John left his coffee cup on my desk . When Should You Avoid Passive Voice ? There are definitely times when you should avoid using passive voice in your writing . First , as we saw above , using too much passive voicemakes your writing sound complicated and hard to follow . Second , if you use passive voicetoo often , it can make your writing sound wishy-washy or indecisive . For instance : Active : I want a pony for my birthday ! Passive : A pony is wanted by me for my birthday !
Active And Passive Voice Pdf
When it comes to writing, there are two different types of voice that can be used: active and passive. Active voice is when the subject of the sentence is doing the action. For example, “I am writing a blog post.”
Passive voice is when the subject of the sentence is having the action done to them. For example, “A blog post is being written by me.”
So, which should you use?
It depends on a few factors. First, consider your audience. If you are writing for a general audience, then using active voice is usually best since it is simpler and easier to understand.
However, if you are writing for a more technical audience or an audience that expects academic language, then using passive voice may be better since it sounds more sophisticated and formal.
Second, think about what tone you want to set with your writing. Active voice tends to be more direct and concise, while passive voice can sound more indirect and wordy.
If you want to get your point across quickly and clearly, active voice is usually your best bet. On the other hand, if you want to sound more professional or create a feeling of distance between yourself and the reader (for instance, if you’re writing about something sensitive), then passive voice might be a better choice.
Finally, consider what kind of message you want to convey with your words.
Active voice typically conveys confidence and authority, while passivevoice can make something sound tentative or weak. So if you want your readers to feel confident in what you’re saying or believe that what you’re saying is true without question, go with active voice. But if doubt or uncertainty is part of your message—if what you’re saying isn’t 100% certain—then using passive voice might be a way to communicate that effectively without sounding too unsure of yourself.
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In general,. It all depends on what suits your needs best as well as taking into consideration who your target reader Is.. Always remember though that at Its heart,. The goal Is still clear communication so decide based on what will allow YOU tp do just that!
Active And Passive Voice Examples
One of the most important choices writers make is whether to use the active or passive voice in their sentence. The active voice is when the subject of a sentence performs the verb, for example: “I am writing a blog post.” In contrast, the passive voice is when the subject of a sentence has the verb performed on them, for example: “A blog post is being written by me.”
There are pros and cons to using each type of voice in your writing. Theactive voice is usually more direct and concise, which can be helpful if you want to get your point across quickly. However, it can also come across as too harsh or bossy.
The passive voice is often seen as more polite or formal, but it can also make your writing sound wishy-washy.
The best way to decide which voice to use is to think about what tone you want to set in your writing. If you want to sound confident and in control, go with the active voice.
If you want to sound more diplomatic or respectful, go with the passive voice. Ultimately, there are no hard-and-fast rules about which one you should use—it all depends on your situation and what effect you’re going for.
Active And Passive Voice Exercises
Are you looking for active and passive voice exercises? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we’ll provide a detailed overview of active and passive voice, including how to identify each one.
We’ll also share some active and passive voice exercises that you can try at home. By the end of this post, you should have a better understanding of how to use these two voices in your writing.
Active voice is when the subject of a sentence is doing the verb.
For example: “I am eating breakfast.” Passive voice is when the subject of a sentence is being acted upon by the verb. For example: “Breakfast is being eaten by me.”
As you can see, bothactive and passive sentences have a subject and a verb. The difference lies in who or what is doing the verb.
Now that we’ve reviewed active and passive voice, let’s look at some exercises that you can try at home.
To start, try reading through this paragraph and identifying which sentences are written in active voice and which are written in passive voice:
The lamp was knocked over by an earthquake that hit late last night while everyone was sleeping soundly in their beds. I awoke suddenly to find my room shaking and objects falling from shelves .
After scrambling out of bed , I grabbed my phone to call 911 but found that there was no service .
All four sentences are written in passive voice except for “I awoke suddenly…” To change a sentence from passive to activevoice, simply identify the subject (who or what did the verb) and move it to before the verb.
So, using our previous example, we would get: “An earthquake hit late last night…I woke up suddenly….” See how much clearer that sounds? Now it’s your turn! Try rewriting these sentences using activevoice:
1) The lamp was knocked over by an earthquake that hit late last night while everyone was sleeping soundly in their beds.
2) I awoke suddenly to find my room shaking and objects falling from shelves .
3) After scrambling out of bed , I grabbed my phone to call 911 but found that there was no service .
50 Sentences of Active And Passive Voice
Passive voice is a grammatical construction (specifically, a form of verbal mood) in which the subject receives the action of the verb, and could be marked by a “by” phrase. It is often used to describe situations where the actor is unknown, unimportant, or irrelevant. For example:
The lamp was knocked over by a gust of wind.
The novel was read by millions of people.
A new law was passed by Congress yesterday.
Active voice, on the other hand, is a grammatical construction in which the subject performs the action of the verb. It is often used to describe situations where the actor is known, important, or relevant. For example:
I knocked over the lamp.
You read the novel.
Congress passed a new law yesterday.
Now that you know the difference between active and passive voice, let’s look at some examples of each in action!
In active voice sentences, the subject comes before the verb and usually performs an action:
Subject + Verb + Direct Object (Optional) Examples:
The cashier countedthe money. Active Voice We will plantflowers in frontof the school Passive Voice Flowerswill be plantedin frontof our schoolby us .
Active Passive Voice
Most people know what active and passive voice are, but many don’t know how to use them correctly. Active voice is when the subject of the sentence is doing the action. For example, “I am writing a blog post about active and passive voice.”
Passive voice is when the subject of the sentence is being acted upon by someone or something else. For example, “A blog post about active and passive voice is being written by me.”
Which one should you use?
It depends on the situation. In general, though, it’s best to use active voice as much as possible because it sounds more natural and makes your writing easier to understand. Passive voice can be useful in certain situations, such as when you want to emphasize the object of the action rather than the subject.
But be careful not to overuse it, or your writing will become convoluted and difficult to read.
100 Examples of Active And Passive Voice
When it comes to writing, one of the most important choices you can make is whether to write in the active or passive voice. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to understand when and how to use each effectively.
The active voice is usually more direct and concise, while the passive voice can be more roundabout but also more informative.
In general, shorter sentences are better, so the active voice is often preferable. However, there are times when the passive voice is a better choice.
Here are 100 examples of active and passive voice, to help you get a feel for when to use each:
Active Voice:
1. I am going to the store.
2. You should come with me.
3. He caught the ball.
4. She loves ice cream
5 We will finish our project tomorrow
Passive Voice:
Active And Passive Voice Rules
Most of us are taught in school that there are two types of voice in writing: active and passive. And we’re also taught that we should aim to use the active voice as much as possible. But what does this actually mean?
Let’s take a closer look at the active and passive voice, and when it’s appropriate to use each one.
What Is Active Voice?
In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of the sentence is doing the action.
For example:
The cat caught the rat.
In this sentence, “the cat” is the subject and “caught” is the verb.
The subject is doing the action (catching), so this is an active sentence.
Here’s another example:
I baked a cake for dessert tonight.
In this sentence, “I” am the subject and “baked” is the verb. Again, the subject (I) is doing something (baking). So this too is an active sentence.
What Is Passive Voice?
In a sentence written in the passive voice, the subject of the sentence has something done to it . For example:
The rat was caught by the cat .
In this sentence, “the rat”is still technically the subject since it’s listed first , but now it’s being acted upon—it’s being caught by someone else . The passive voice often uses phrasing like “was/were + verb-ed” or “has/have been +verb-ed.” Here are some more examples:
-The house was built in 1900 .
-Dinner has already been served .
-Two dozen cookies have been eaten by her today .
As you can see , in each of these examples , something happens to th e subjects ( house , dinner , cookies ) —they’re b eing built , served , eaten —but not necessarily by anyone specific . It just happens to them . That ‘ s why it’ s called t h e p assive v oice : because th e subjects are p assive participants i n their own sentences !
Conclusion
In English, there are two types of voice: active and passive. The difference between them is who is doing the verb’s action.
Active voice happens when the subject of the sentence does the verb’s action: The cashier counted the money.
In this sentence, “The cashier” is the subject and “counted” is the verb.
Passive voice happens when the object of a sentence does the verb’s action: The money was counted by the cashier. In this sentence, “The money” is now the subject (it wasn’t before) and “was counted” is the new verb form.
Notice how we had to use a form of “to be” in order for this to work? That’s because all passive sentences in English use some form of “to be.”
So, why would you ever want to use passive voice?
There are actually a few reasons.
One reason has to do with emphasis. If we want to emphasize what was done to something or someone, we can put that noun at the beginning of our sentence in passive voice: Five dozen cookies were baked by Mary last night.
We know it was Mary who did it because she’s listed as the agent at the end of our sentence (more on agents later), but putting “Five dozen cookies” at front emphasizes just how many cookies were baked!
We also sometimes use passive voice when we don’t know who did an action or when it doesn’t matter who did it: My car was stolen yesterday afternoon. It doesn’t really matter who stole my car; what matters is that my car was stolen and I need to deal with that fact somehow!
