![]() ![]() Passive voice requires two verbs, a form of the verb to be (e.g., is, was) plus another verb called a past participle (a verb that ends in -ed and sometimes in -en). Side Note: The use of “to be” verbs ( is, are, were, etc.) is a big tip off that a sentence may be passive (though not always because you can’t completely avoid using them). Active sentences are about what people (or things) do, while passive sentences are about what happens to people (or things). Active voice sentences often use fewer words than passive voice sentences, thus contributing to the conciseness professional communications strive for. You want them to perform for you.Īctive Voice: The instructor graded the midterm exams. Here are our passive voice examples rewritten in the active voice: Passive voice: All the Halloween candy was eaten by my sister. the subject of your sentence) a lot of money to act in your sentence. ![]() Side Note: Imagine that you are the director of your sentence, and you have paid your star (a.k.a. Passive Voice With Examples Written by MasterClass Last updated: 3 min read It’s an admonition that’s been uttered by everyone from high school English teachers to newspaper editors to renowned writing instructors: use the active voice over the passive voice. Make them the subject (star) of your sentence.What’s the action in the sentence? (graded).These steps help spot a passive sentence and revise it into the active voice: Professors often ask their students to avoid the passive voice in their writing, but what exactly is the passive voice In contrast to active verbs. Passive Voice:The midterm exams were graded by the instructor. Remember, you want to be “active” not “passive” in your writing. Instead, writers prefer the active voice because the subject of the sentence is actually doing the action (thus making the sentence more commanding and confident). If you write a passive sentence, consider carefully whether leading with the actor would strengthen. The CEO made the decision to close the factory. An active construction is preferable for clarity and concision. The decision was made by the CEO to close the factory. Rewrite the following active sentences in the passive voice. Although the passive voice is still grammatically correct, it typically doesnt carry the same energy or clarity as the active voice. This is possible in the passive voice, but the sentence becomes convoluted. Active voice is generally shorter than passive voice. Exercise 1: Change from Active to Passive Voice. Some passive voice sentences omit an actor altogether, which forces the reader to guess the actor's identity. Writers try to avoid the passive voice when possible because the passive voice often leads to wordier and less powerful sentences. Passive voice obfuscates your ideas, turning sentences on their head. ![]()
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