Active and Passive Voice
Module 4: Voice and Mood
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The choice between active and passive voice affects the clarity, directness, and style of your writing. Understanding the differences and knowing when to use each can improve your communication skills.
### Active Voice
In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb. Active voice is often preferred because it is direct, clear, and concise.
**Structure:**
– Subject + Verb + Object
**Examples:**
1. The **dog** (subject) **chased** (verb) the **cat** (object).
2. The **manager** (subject) **approved** (verb) the **proposal** (object).
3. **She** (subject) **wrote** (verb) the **report** (object).
### Passive Voice
In passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. Passive voice is useful when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or you want to emphasize the action itself rather than the subject.
**Structure:**
– Object + Form of “to be” + Past Participle + (by Subject)
**Examples:**
1. The **cat** (object) **was chased** (form of “to be” + past participle) by the **dog** (subject).
2. The **proposal** (object) **was approved** (form of “to be” + past participle) by the **manager** (subject).
3. The **report** (object) **was written** (form of “to be” + past participle) by **her** (subject).
### When to Use Active Voice
– When clarity and directness are essential.
– When you want to emphasize the subject performing the action.
– In most forms of writing, including academic, professional, and everyday communication.
**Examples:**
1. The **firefighters saved** the family.
2. The **scientist discovered** the cure.
3. The **company launched** a new product.
### When to Use Passive Voice
– When the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant.
– When you want to emphasize the action over the subject.
– When the sentence’s subject should be the receiver of the action.
– In formal writing, such as scientific reports and official documents.
**Examples:**
1. The **family was saved** by the firefighters.
2. The **cure was discovered** by the scientist.
3. A **new product was launched** by the company.
### Examples of Converting Active to Passive Voice
**Active to Passive:**
1. **Active:** The chef cooks the meal.
– **Passive:** The meal is cooked by the chef.
2. **Active:** The students completed the project.
– **Passive:** The project was completed by the students.
3. **Active:** The author wrote the novel.
– **Passive:** The novel was written by the author.
### Situations and Examples
**Active Voice:**
– The committee reviewed the report.
– **Usage:**
– To announce who did the reviewing: “The committee” is doing the action.
**Passive Voice:**
– The report was reviewed by the committee.
– **Usage:**
– To emphasize the report: “The report” is the focus, and “the committee” is less important.
**More Examples:**
**Active:**
1. The **police** arrested the suspect.
2. The **engineers** built a new bridge.
3. The **children** painted the mural.
**Passive:**
1. The **suspect was arrested** by the police.
2. A **new bridge was built** by the engineers.
3. The **mural was painted** by the children.
### Active and Passive Voice in Different Tenses
**Present Simple:**
– Active: She writes the letter.
– Passive: The letter is written by her.
**Past Simple:**
– Active: He repaired the car.
– Passive: The car was repaired by him.
**Future Simple:**
– Active: They will deliver the package.
– Passive: The package will be delivered by them.
**Present Continuous:**
– Active: She is cleaning the house.
– Passive: The house is being cleaned by her.
**Past Continuous:**
– Active: They were building the house.
– Passive: The house was being built by them.
**Present Perfect:**
– Active: He has completed the assignment.
– Passive: The assignment has been completed by him.
**Past Perfect:**
– Active: They had finished the meeting.
– Passive: The meeting had been finished by them.
**Future Perfect:**
– Active: She will have prepared dinner.
– Passive: Dinner will have been prepared by her.
By understanding and effectively switching between active and passive voice, you can better control the tone, clarity, and emphasis of your writing.
