passive voice writing assignment

Writing Prompt ~ Passive Voice

Writing Prompt: To use the passive voice in English, you need to know the past participle of the main verb in your sentence. Though it is a good idea to use the active voice whenever possible, some styles of writing do use the passive voice. Review the rules for constructing a sentence in the passive voice . Then write a short obituary (a mini biography about someone who died) using the passive voice.

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Robert E. Lee was a great American general for the Confederacy during the Civil War (861-1864). His right-hand-man was Thomas Jackson, otherwise known as “stonewall” Jackson. Robert fought in many battles including the Second Battle of Bull Run and Fredericksburg as well as Chancellorsville which were the ones he won.

Carlos Cuauhtémoc Sánchez (Mexico City, April 15, 1964) was a Mexican writer, speaker, philanthropist and businessman. Founder of the school of writers CCS ESCRITORES and creator of the Method of reading faster. Carlos Cuauhtemoc Sanchez. Writer, speaker, businessman, philanthropist.

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Stephen Hawking (January 8, 1942 – March 14, 2018). He was a British theoretical physicist, astrophysicist, cosmologist, and scientific popularizer. His most important works consisted of providing, together with Roger Penrose, theorems regarding spatio-temporal singularities within the framework of general relativity and the theoretical prediction that black holes would emit radiation, 5 what is known today as radiation from Hawking (or sometimes Bekenstein-Hawking radiation). One of the main characteristics of his personality was his contribution to the scientific debate, sometimes betting publicly with other scientists, the best known case is his participation in the discussion about the conservation of information in black holes.

Benito Juárez was born into Zapotec Indian tribu in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca, Mexico on March 21, 1806. His parents, Brígida García and Marcelino Juárez, died when Benito was 3 and then he was raised by relatives. Before starting school at the age of12, he worked in the fields and did not speak Spanish. He entered Oaxaca Institute for the Arts and Sciences in 1827 and received his law degree in 1831. He quickly began to help poor farmers of Oaxaca in their battles with land owners.

THE STORY IS GOOD

I think it’s quite right

Marijuana was used by al pacino. Al Pacino never has been married. Al Pacino was raised by his mom and dad.

Severus Snape. (January 9, 1960- May 2, 1998) The teacher Severus Snape was known like the half blood prince. He was raised in a home muggle of street. In 1971 he began his first year at Hogwarts, where was selected for Slytherin. After to finish the college was converted in a Death Eater, he was the one who hear the prophecy about Lord Voldemort and a child born at the end of July. During he was hear the prophecy, was discovered. He was known for the world as the best wizard at the world

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Diana Frances Spencer, called Lady Di was born on July 1, 1961, the daughter of the chivalrous John Spencer, VIII Earl of Spencer and his first wife, the irreproachable Frances Ruth Burke Roche, daughter in turn of Mauricio Roche, IV Baron de Fermoy. In July 1981, she married Prince Charles of England, first-born of Queen Elizabeth II and user of the British throne with whom she had two children, Guillermo and Enrique. Her hymenation took place on July 29, 1981, at the Saint Paul monument in London. As Princess of Wales, Diana assumed her royal duties and represented the Queen on trips abroad. It was celebrated for its humanitarian fit and for its protection of the International Campaign to Ban Antipersonnel Mines. On August 31, 1997 she died in a car accident.

Hi Karen How are you? Well, I am writing to you only to say that as your wedding preparations are going, I hope to be there soon to see you, and I will also go with our sister and dad, I hope that you are well with your boyfriends, I miss you, bye.

Stephen Hawking (January 8, 1942 – March 14, 2018). He was a British theoretical physicist, astrophysicist, cosmologist, and scientific popularizer. His most important works consisted of providing, together with Roger Penrose, theorems regarding spatio-temporal singularities within the framework of general relativity and the theoretical prediction that black holes would emit radiation, 5 what is known today as radiation from Hawking (or sometimes Bekenstein-Hawking radiation). One of the main characteristics of his personality was his contribution to the scientific debate, sometimes betting publicly with other scientists, the best known case is his participation in the discussion about the conservation of information in black holes.

Paul Walker (september 12, 1973 – november 30, 2013)

Paul Walker was worked an American actor, model, racing driver, and marine biologist, was known for his role as Brian O’Conner in the action movie The Fast and the Furious, was reprising the role in five of the following six films in the franchise. Paul was the second of five brothers, as a huge car enthusiast, he was competed in the Redline Time Attack racing series.

Philippe Coutinho Correia (June 12, 1992) professional soccer player. was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I was in a Spanish soccer club Barcelona team.

Mario Benedetti (Paso de los toros, September 14, 1920 – Montevideo. May 17, 2009) 1 was a Uruguayan writer, poet, playwright, journalist, member of the Generation of ’45, to which Idea Vilariño, among others, belonged and Juan Carlos Onetti. His prolific literary output included more than eighty books, some of which were translated into more than twenty languages. In his testimony, he created the Mario Benedetti Foundation to preserve his work and support literature and the fight for human rights (especially the clarification of the whereabouts of the disappeared detainees in Uruguay).

Guayasamin was known for the art he painted, he was from of ecuador, born on july 16 of the 1919 and died on march 10 of the 1999

Hi Luis, how are you? How are you doing in Mexico? Because of the earthquake there, here in Ecuador we are on a tsunami alert. How are you living the quarantine? Here we are still locked up, waiting for us to be notified that everything is over. I hope to see you again when all this happens. Juan

Julio Jaramillo was known throughout the world as a great singer from Ecuador. His songs were heard by millions of people. Many people enjoyed his beautiful songs all over the world

Hi Juan, I wanted to tell you that in Mexico there was a very strong earthquake, messages arrived saying that the earthquake was on the tsunami alert and that it could affect Ecuador, the pandemic is still going on, they do not find a cure and the curfew extended until 9 o’clock but it is still dangerous to go out, well that’s all I can tell you wash your hands, I have read many very interesting books by Pablo Neruda. See you soon Paula

Hi Jenny, how are you? Some tragedies have happened this month, but the one that worried me was when you traveled to El Salvador, because a sandstorm looming from the Sahara is coming, it was when I investigated and sent you this message to take care of yourself and They were your cousin to visit you but unfortunately they canceled their trip due to the event, take care and don’t be outside since it was a high scale of dust, your mother and father send you greetings. see you soon Anahi

Erick Monar(24/june/2020 hello jhon how are you I come to tell you that this year is being one of the worst yesterday an earthquake happened in the country of mexico and I hope you find well because this is another of the tragedies of this year I hope you are well here in Ecuador the correction is harder than other years in the other countries are also being destroyed due to this pandemic I say goodbye I hope you are well bye greetings Erick

Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval (San Carlos, Ñuble Region, Chile, October 4, 1917-La Reina, Santiago, February 5, 1967), known as Violeta Parra, was a Chilean artist, recognized as one of the main folklorists in South America and popularizer of popular music in her country. He was a member of the prolific Parra family. His contribution to the Chilean artistic endeavor is considered of great value and significance. His work served as inspiration for several later artists, who continued with their task of rescuing the music of the Chilean countryside and the constituent manifestations of the folklore of Chile and Latin America. His songs have been covered by various artists, both Chilean and foreign.

Marie Curie, was a scientist of Polish origin (French nationalized) who was completely revolutionized the world of science with her works and discoveries. Pioneer in the field of radioactivity (she was discovered two new elements: Polonium and Radio), she was the first person to receive two Nobel prizes in different specialties (physics and chemistry) and she was the first woman to occupy the position of professor at the University of Paris. Marie Curie was had to fight to become a scientist since in her country (Poland) women could not access university studies. He had to combine the care of his two daughters with his scientific career.

Delilah was known for her voice. She would sing all day. People from all around would come to hear her sing. Famous people, such as Ariana Grande and Pink, came to here her sing also. They were amazed to what to heard. Everybody was cheering for Delilah. She started to sing and dropped dead in front of everybody. A lot of the people from previous concerts came. They stood at Delilah Applebrook’s grave and realized that the world wouldn’t ever be the same without Delilah.

Her house was always cleaned by josh. Her dog was always walked and fed by Josh. She never cleaned or too care of things. josh did everything for her like cleaned too care of her too. josh took care of an 82 year old woman named Melanie. For 7 years Josh helped Melanie. in that 7 years of life she acted as if Josh was her family. Josh then took vacation for a week. josh came back and stood then at her funeral. when he went home he looked back at the times he made her laugh and she made him laugh and how much he misses her.

Eduardo Moreno was know around the world as a excellent student. His jobs was saw by all the teachers. In the first year, Eduardo Moreno was recognized by her mother.

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Home » English Grammar » 25 + Active and Passive Voice Exercises with Answers 2024-2025

25 + Active and Passive Voice Exercises with Answers 2024-2025

Engage in 25 + active and passive voice exercises to enhance your grammar skills, improve your writing, and boost your language proficiency. This guide provides practical exercises to help you identify, transform, and select the appropriate voice for different contexts. By practicing these exercises, you’ll develop precision and confidence in using active and passive voice effectively.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises for Practice

Active and passive voice exercises 1:.

Turn the following sentences from Active voice to Passive voice.

1. The chef prepares the meal.

2. The company launched the new product.

3. The teacher is explaining the lesson.

4. The workers were fixing the road.

5. The committee has approved the proposal.

6. The scientist had discovered the cure.

7. The engineer will design the bridge.

8 The team must finish the report.

9. Please wash the dishes.

10. Did the manager approve the budget?

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 2:

Choose the correct passive voice form from the given options .

1. The gardener waters the plants.

A) The plants were watered by the gardener. B) The plants are watered by the gardener. C) The plants are being watered by the gardener. D) The plants will be watered by the gardener.

2. She will complete the assignment .

A) The assignment is completed by her. B) The assignment was completed by her. C) The assignment will be completed by her. D) The assignment has been completed by her.

3. They have built a new hospital.

A) A new hospital is built by them. B) A new hospital was built by them. C) A new hospital has been built by them. D) A new hospital is being built by them.

4. The chef is cooking the meal.

A) The meal is cooked by the chef. B) The meal was cooked by the chef. C) The meal is being cooked by the chef. D) The meal has been cooked by the chef.

5. The manager approved the plan.

A) The plan is approved by the manager. B) The plan was approved by the manager. C) The plan has been approved by the manager. D) The plan will be approved by the manager.

6. The police caught the thief.

A) The thief is caught by the police. B) The thief was caught by the police. C) The thief has been caught by the police. D) The thief is being caught by the police.

7. The students are writing the exam.

A) The exam is written by the students. B) The exam was written by the students. C) The exam is being written by the students. D) The exam has been written by the students.

8. He had delivered the package.

A) The package is delivered by him. B) The package was delivered by him. C) The package has been delivered by him. D) The package had been delivered by him.

9. The artist painted a beautiful portrai t.

A) A beautiful portrait is painted by the artist. B) A beautiful portrait was painted by the artist. C) A beautiful portrait has been painted by the artist. D) A beautiful portrait is being painted by the artist.

10. The company will launch a new product next month.

A) A new product is launched by the company next month. B) A new product was launched by the company next month. C) A new product has been launched by the company next month. D) A new product will be launched by the company next month.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 3:

A. the following paragraph is not completed. pick out the most appropriate answer from the options given below..

Learning to …………… [ (a. speak) (b. spoke) (c. spoken) ] a new language can be challenging but also very rewarding. It requires …………… [ (a. dedication) (b. dedicate) (c. dedicating) ] and practice to become fluent. Many people find that …………… [ (a. joining) (b. join) (c. joined) ] a language class helps them stay motivated. Additionally, …………… [ (a. immerse) (b. immersing) (c. immersed) ] yourself in the language by listening to music, watching movies, and reading books can be very beneficial. Remember, the key to success is to …………… [ (a. persistent) (b. persist) (c. persistence) ] and never give up.

b. Complete the paragraph with proper forms of verbs given in brackets.

Traveling to new places …………… [ (a. exposes) (b. exposing) (c. expose) ] you to different cultures and experiences. It is important to …………… [ (a. planning) (b. plan) (c. planned) ] your trip in advance to avoid any last-minute hassles. While traveling, always …………… [ (a. carry) (b. carrying) (c. carries) ] a map or a GPS device to help you navigate. Meeting new people and …………… [ (a. try) (b. tries) (c. trying) ] local cuisines can make your journey memorable. Lastly, make sure to …………… [ (a. respect) (b. respecting) (c. respected) ] the customs and traditions of the places you visit.

c. Complete the paragraph with proper forms of verbs given in brackets.

Reading books ……………[ (a. expand) (b. expands) (c. expanding) ] your knowledge and imagination. It allows you to ……………[ (a. explore) (b. explores) (c. explored) ] different worlds and perspectives. When choosing a book, consider ……………[ (a. checking) (b. check) (c. checks) ] reviews and recommendations. Joining a book club can help you ……………[ (a. discuss) (b. discusses) (c. discussed) ] what you have read with others. Most importantly, ……………[ (a. enjoy) (b. enjoys) (c. enjoying) ] the journey that each book offers.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 4:

Read the following sentences and identify whether they are in active or passive voice.

(1) The chef prepared a delectable meal.

(2) The masterpiece was created by a renowned artist.

(3) The company announced its new product line.

(4) The research paper was written by the students.

(5) The dog chased the ball across the park.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 5:

Rewrite the following sentences, changing them from active to passive voice.

(1) The mechanic repaired my car.

(2) The teacher explained the lesson to the students.

(3) The chef is cooking a special dish.

(4) The gardener prunes the bushes every week.

(5) The artist painted a beautiful landscape.

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Active and Passive Voice Exercises 6:

Rewrite the following sentences, changing them from passive to active voice.

(1) The book was read by Sarah.

(2) The letter has been written by the secretary.

(3) The movie was watched by a large audience.

(4) The cake was baked by my grandmother.

(5) The song was sung by the famous singer.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 7:

Select the appropriate voice (active or passive) for each sentence.

(1) The cake ____________ by my sister for my birthday. (bake)

(2) The detective ____________ the mystery. (solve)

(3) The ancient ruins ____________ by archaeologists for years. (study)

(4) The company ____________ a new marketing strategy. (develop)

(5) The music ____________ by the orchestra was mesmerizing. (perform)

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 8:

Write two sentences for each of the following scenarios, using both active and passive voice.

(1) Scenario: The house was cleaned by the housekeeper.

Active Voice:

Passive Voice:

(2) Scenario: The team won the championship.

(3) Scenario: The novel was written by a famous author.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 9:

Active: Subject + verb (s/es) + Object

Passive: Object + am/is/are + verb( past participle) + by + Subject.

Active: Subject + verb (past form) + Object

Passive: Object + was/were+ verb( past participle) + by + Subject.

Active: Subject + shall/will + verb + Object

Passive: Object + shall/will + be + verb (past participle) + by + Subject.

Transform the following active sentences into passive voice:

(1) Ishan plays hockey.

(2) He writes letters.

(3) Amar loves books.

(4) I water the plants in the morning,

(5) Sita knows me.

(6) Granny read out a story.

(7) We lost the match.

(8) Bose invented Crescograph.

(9) I liked the movie.

(10) His behavior shocked us.

(11) She will paint the house.

(12) The news will please you.

(13) We will conquer the enemy.

(14) Sahil will clean the room.

(15) My mother will bake cupcakes.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 10:

Active: Subject + am/is/are +verb + ing+ Object

Passive: Object + am/is/are + being + verb( past participle) + by + Subject.

Active: Subject + was/were +verb + ing+ Object

Passive: Object + was/were + being + verb (past participle) + by + Subject.

Active: Subject + shall/will + be  +verb + ing+ Object

Passive: Object + shall/will + be + being + verb( past participle) + by + Subject.

Rewrite the following active sentences in passive voice:

(1)  I am painting a picture.

(2) The man is reading a book.

(3) Soma is cooking meat.

(4) Timothy is cooking lemon chicken

(5) The doctor is treating the patients

(6) Shobha was sending messages.

(7) Ali was reading a book.

(8) Father was watching TV.

(9) Rupa was reading stories.

(10) He will be watering the trees.

(11) Ishita will be cooking fish curry.

(12) He will be completing the task.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 11:

Active: Subject + has/ have + verb( past participle) + Object

Passive: Object + has/have + been + verb (past participle) + by + Subject.

Active: Subject + had + verb( past participle) + Object

Passive: Object + had + been + verb( past participle) + by + Subject.

Active: Subject + shall/will + have + verb (past participle) + Object

Passive: Object + shall/will + have + been + verb (past participle) + by + Subject.

(1) Mother has slapped him.

(2) He has seen a tiger.

(3) have written a story.

(4) He has sent the flowers.

(5) They have bought a pen.

(6) I had given him a pastry.

(7) I had done the work.

(8) Sandip had sold the computer.

(8) They had called a meeting.

(9) He had caught a fish.

(10) We shall have made him captain.

(11) She will have spoken the truth.

(12) You will have done the work.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 12:

Active: Subject + has/have + been + verb + ing + Object.

Passive: Object + has/have + been + being + verb (past-participle form) + by + Subject.

Active: Subject + had + been + verb + ing + Object.

Passive: Object + had + been + being + verb (past-participle form) + by + Subject.

Active: Subject + shall/will + have + been + verb + ing + Object.

Passive: Object + shall/will + have + been + being + verb (past-participle form) + by + Subject.

(1) We have been playing football for two hours.

(2) She has been driving the car.

(3) They have been learning lessons.

(4) We had been watching a cricket match.

(5) They had been eating biriyani.

(6) You had been writing a letter.

(7) I shall have been solving the problem.

(8) You will have been forgiving me.

(9) They will have been tying the knot.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 13:

Active: Subject + auxiliary verb + not + main verb +Object

Passive: Object + auxiliary verb + not + verb( past participle) + by + Subject.

(1) I do not like milk.

(2) The postman is not delivering letters.

(3) They have not repaired the pipe.

(4) I was not climbing the stairs.

(5) We had not seen the movie.

(6) Tea shall not be taken by me today.

(7) I do not distribute newspapers.

(8) She is not purchasing the house.

(9) He has not eaten a banana.

(10) I did not see him.

(11) The maid was cleaning the room.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 14:

Active: Auxilary verb + subject + main verb + object/remaining part of the sentences?

Passive:   Auxilary verb + subject + verb (past-participle form) + by + object?

Active: Wh-word + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + object?

Passive:   Wh-word  + auxiliary verb + subject + verb (past-participle form) + by + object?

Change the Voice

(1) Do I eat rice?

(2) Does he beat you?

(3) Did I eat rice?

(4) Did he beat you?

(5) Shall I eat rice?

(6) Will he beat you?

(7) Where did Anil find the bag?

(8) How did you open the door?

(9) Why does Biswajit beat the boy?

(10) Who has broken the glass?

(11) Which saree has Mou selected?

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 15:

Let + Object + be + main verb (past participle). 

Object + should + be + main verb (past participle)

You are requested/ordered/advised + to + main verb + ………

Let + object + be + main verb + by + …………

Turn the following sentences into passive voice

(1) Do this work.

(2) Solve the sum.

(3) Open the door.

(4) Polish your school shoes.

(5) Let us do it.

(6) Please look after the pet for

(7) Write the answer.

(8) Please do not smoke.

(9) Prepare yourself well.

(10) Clean the kitchen.

(11) Obey your elders.

(12) Read the text carefully.

(13) Change the TV channel.

(14) Rectify your mistakes.

(15) You are requested to drive slowly.

(16)  Let the curtains be drawn.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 16:

Active: May + Subject + main verb + Object.

Passive: May + Subject + be + Verb (past-participle form) + by + Object.

(1) May God grant you a long life.

(2) May God bless you.

(3) May India win the test series.

(4) May they begin life from the beginning.

(5) May we maintain the system.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 17:

The Passive Voice Transitive verbs with two objects are formed by changing either of the objects into the subject and retaining the other as the object.

(1) He teaches us English.

(2) I gave him a book.

(3) She gave me a present.

(4) I sent a card to her.

(5) Grandmother told me a story.

(6) Me. Smith gifted me a book.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 18:

In changing the voice of complex sentences the voices on both the Principal and Subordinate Clauses should be changed. The introductory ‘it’ also may be sometimes used.

Change the voice of the following

(1) I know that she did this.

(2)  We cannot undo what we do.

(3)  What cannot be cured must be endured. Ans.

(4)  Everybody knows that radio was invented by Marconi.

(5)  They informed us that they would do the job

(6) We must endure what we cannot cure.

(7) I know that he did the work.

(8) I hope that she will sign in life.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 19:

Active: Subject + helping verb + to + main verb + object

Passive: Subject + Auxiliary Verb + to be + main verb ( past participle) + by + Object

(1) I saw him play.

(2) There are a lot of things to do.

(3) You have to admit this.

(4) She is to cook the food.

(5) I am to buy the book.

(6) They have to read Sanskrit.

(7) She has to marry John.

(8) I have to make a plan.

(9) He has a lot of money to spend.

(10) They did not want to lose the game.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 20:

Active: Subject + modal Auxilary + main Verb + Object

Passive: Subject+  Modal Auxilary + be + Main V(P.P) + by + Object.

(1) He can drive a car.

(2)  Could I use your laptop?

(3)  You must do it.

(4)  She may allow you to go out.

(5)  I cannot remember the incident.

(6)  The poor should be helped by the rich.

(7) I can do this work.

(8) You may help your brother.

(9) He should respect his father.

(10) I would do physical exercise in my youth.

(11) The teacher must punish him.

(12) You might take the book.

(13) we ought to help the poor.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 21:

(1) Honey tastes sweet.

(2) The stone feels rough.

(3) Lime tastes sour.

(4) Her skin feels soft.

(5) Rose is sweet when it is smelt.

(6) The milk smells sour.

(7) The book reads well.

(8) The milk smells sour.

(9) The book reads well.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 22:

(1) They run a race.

(2) She slept a sleep.

(3) I dreamt a dream.

(4) They laughed at us.

(5) They fought the battle.

(6) Tiya ran a race.

(7) Students should maintain discipline.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 23:

(1) They made him King.

(2) He called me a fool.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 24:

(1) She fans herself.

(2) He killed himself.

(3) Know yourself.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 25:

(1) He laughs at me.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 26:

(1) I have lost my phone.

(2) One should keep one’s promises.

(3) People speak English all over the world.

(4) Authorities will prosecute trespassers. 

(5) Devotees worship Gods in the temple. 

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 27:

(1) We call the tiger our ANtional Animal.

(2) I know her.

(3) Their behavior shocked us.

(4) The news pleased us.

(5) Tears filled her eyes.

(6) He married her.

(7) Someone wrote this letter in the nineteenth century.

Active and Passive Voice Exercises 28:

Change the following sentences into passive voice

(1) I enjoyed the soup.

(2) You will cook the meal.

(3) He is making a kite.

(4) I was eating chips.

(5) Is the girl playing hockey?

(6) That night an earthquake hit the town.

(7) Hina will pay the telephone bill.

(8) The police arrested the leader of the dacoits.

(9) They handed her the keys.

(10) Call the police immediately.

(11) The sacks were changed by the miller and his son.

(12) Shilpa offered him another chance.

(13) The old man was leading the procession of silent men and women

(14) We must listen to his words.

(15) Don’t stick bills on the walls of our house.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: why is it important to practice active and passive voice .

A: Practicing these grammatical structures enhances your writing skills, allowing you to effectively convey different nuances and styles.

Q: Can you use both active and passive voice in the same paragraph? 

A: Yes, mixing both forms can add variety and rhythm to your writing, making it more engaging.

Q: Which voice should I use in formal writing? 

A: Both voices have their place. Active voice is often preferred for clarity, while passive voice can be useful for object focus or tactful communication.

Related Posts:

Passive Voice

What this handout is about.

This handout will help you understand what the passive voice is, why many professors and writing instructors frown upon it, and how you can revise your paper to achieve greater clarity. Some things here may surprise you. We hope this handout will help you to understand the passive voice and allow you to make more informed choices as you write.

So what is the passive voice? First, let’s be clear on what the passive voice isn’t. Below, we’ll list some common myths about the passive voice:

1. Myth: Use of the passive voice constitutes a grammatical error.

Use of the passive voice is not a grammatical error. It’s a stylistic issue that pertains to clarity—that is, there are times when using the passive voice can prevent a reader from understanding what you mean.

2. Myth: Any use of “to be” (in any form) constitutes the passive voice.

The passive voice entails more than just using a being verb. Using “to be” can weaken the impact of your writing, but it is occasionally necessary and does not by itself constitute the passive voice.

3. Myth: The passive voice always avoids the first person; if something is in first person (“I” or “we”) it’s also in the active voice.

On the contrary, you can very easily use the passive voice in the first person. Here’s an example: “I was hit by the dodgeball.”

4. Myth: You should never use the passive voice.

While the passive voice can weaken the clarity of your writing, there are times when the passive voice is OK and even preferable.

5. Myth: I can rely on my grammar checker to catch the passive voice.

See Myth #1. Since the passive voice isn’t a grammar error, it’s not always caught. Typically, grammar checkers catch only a fraction of passive voice usage.

Do any of these misunderstandings sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. That’s why we wrote this handout. It discusses how to recognize the passive voice, when you should avoid it, and when it’s OK.

Defining the passive voice

A passive construction occurs when you make the object of an action into the subject of a sentence. That is, whoever or whatever is performing the action is not the grammatical subject of the sentence. Take a look at this passive rephrasing of a familiar joke:

Why was the road crossed by the chicken?

Who is doing the action in this sentence? The chicken is the one doing the action in this sentence, but the chicken is not in the spot where you would expect the grammatical subject to be. Instead, the road is the grammatical subject. The more familiar phrasing (why did the chicken cross the road?) puts the actor in the subject position, the position of doing something—the chicken (the actor/doer) crosses the road (the object). We use active verbs to represent that “doing,” whether it be crossing roads, proposing ideas, making arguments, or invading houses (more on that shortly).

Once you know what to look for, passive constructions are easy to spot. Look for a form of “to be” (is, are, am, was, were, has been, have been, had been, will be, will have been, being) followed by a past participle. (The past participle is a form of the verb that typically, but not always, ends in “-ed.” Some exceptions to the “-ed” rule are words like “paid” (not “payed”) and “driven.” (not “drived”).

Here’s a sure-fire formula for identifying the passive voice:

form of “to be” + past participle = passive voice

For example:

The metropolis has been scorched by the dragon’s fiery breath.

When her house was invaded, Penelope had to think of ways to delay her remarriage.

Not every sentence that contains a form of “have” or “be” is passive! Forms of the word “have” can do several different things in English. For example, in the sentence “John has to study all afternoon,” “has” is not part of a past-tense verb. It’s a modal verb, like “must,” “can,” or “may”—these verbs tell how necessary it is to do something (compare “I have to study” versus “I may study”). And forms of “be” are not always passive, either—”be” can be the main verb of a sentence that describes a state of being, rather than an action. For example, the sentence “John is a good student” is not passive; “is” is simply describing John’s state of being. The moral of the story: don’t assume that any time you see a form of “have” and a form of “to be” together, you are looking at a passive sentence.

Need more help deciding whether a sentence is passive? Ask yourself whether there is an action going on in the sentence. If so, what is at the front of the sentence? Is it the person or thing that does the action? Or is it the person or thing that has the action done to it? In a passive sentence, the object of the action will be in the subject position at the front of the sentence. As discussed above, the sentence will also contain a form of be and a past participle. If the subject appears at all, it will usually be at the end of the sentence, often in a phrase that starts with “by.” Take a look at this example:

The fish was caught by the seagull.

If we ask ourselves whether there’s an action, the answer is yes: a fish is being caught. If we ask what’s at the front of the sentence, the actor or the object of the action, it’s the object: the fish, unfortunately for it, got caught, and there it is at the front of the sentence. The thing that did the catching—the seagull—is at the end, after “by.” There’s a form of be (was) and a past participle (caught). This sentence is passive.

Let’s briefly look at how to change passive constructions into active ones. You can usually just switch the word order, making the actor and subject one by putting the actor up front:

The dragon has scorched the metropolis with his fiery breath.

After suitors invaded her house, Penelope had to think of ways to delay her remarriage.

To repeat, the key to identifying the passive voice is to look for both a form of “to be” and a past participle, which usually, but not always, ends in “-ed.”

Clarity and meaning

The primary reason why your instructors frown on the passive voice is that they often have to guess what you mean. Sometimes, the confusion is minor. Let’s look again at that sentence from a student’s paper on Homer’s The Odyssey:

Like many passive constructions, this sentence lacks explicit reference to the actor—it doesn’t tell the reader who or what invaded Penelope’s house. The active voice clarifies things:

After suitors invaded Penelope’s house, she had to think of ways to fend them off.

Thus many instructors—the readers making sense of your writing—prefer that you use the active voice. They want you to specify who or what is doing the action. Compare the following two examples from an anthropology paper on a Laotian village to see if you agree.

(passive)  A new system of drug control laws was set up. (By whom?)

(active)  The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party set up a new system of drug control laws.

Here’s another example, from the same paper, that illustrates the lack of precision that can accompany the passive voice:

Gender training was conducted in six villages, thus affecting social relationships.

And a few pages later:

Plus, marketing links were being established.

In both paragraphs, the writer never specifies the actors for those two actions (Who did the gender training? Who established marketing links?). Thus the reader has trouble appreciating the dynamics of these social interactions, which depend upon the actors conducting and establishing these things.

The following example, once again from that paper on The Odyssey, typifies another instance where an instructor might desire more precision and clarity:

Although Penelope shares heroic characteristics with her husband, Odysseus, she is not considered a hero.

Who does not consider Penelope a hero? It’s difficult to tell, but the rest of that paragraph suggests that the student does not consider Penelope a hero (the topic of the paper). The reader might also conceivably think that the student is referring to critics, scholars, or modern readers of The Odyssey. One might argue that the meaning comes through here—the problem is merely stylistic. Yet style affects how your reader understands your argument and content. Awkward or unclear style prevents your reader from appreciating the ideas that are so clear to you when you write. Thus knowing how your reader might react enables you to make more effective choices when you revise. So after you identify instances of the passive, you should consider whether your use of the passive inhibits clear understanding of what you mean.

Summarizing history or literary plots with the passive voice: don’t be a lazy thinker or writer!

With the previous section in mind, you should also know that some instructors proclaim that the passive voice signals sloppy, lazy thinking. These instructors argue that writers who overuse the passive voice have not fully thought through what they are discussing and that this makes for imprecise arguments. Consider these sentences from papers on American history:

The working class was marginalized. African Americans were discriminated against. Women were not treated as equals.

Such sentences lack the precision and connection to context and causes that mark rigorous thinking. The reader learns little about the systems, conditions, human decisions, and contradictions that produced these groups’ experiences of oppression. And so the reader—the instructor—questions the writer’s understanding of these things.

It is especially important to be sure that your thesis statement is clear and precise, so think twice before using the passive voice in your thesis.

In papers where you discuss the work of an author—e.g., a historian or writer of literature—you can also strengthen your writing by not relying on the passive as a crutch when summarizing plots or arguments. Instead of writing:

It is argued that… or  Tom and Huck are portrayed as… or  And then the link between X and Y is made, showing that…

you can heighten the level of your analysis by explicitly connecting an author with these statements:

Anderson argues that… Twain portrays Tom and Huck as… Ishiguro draws a link between X and Y to show that…

By avoiding passive constructions in these situations, you can demonstrate a more thorough understanding of the material you discuss.

Scientific writing

All this advice works for papers in the humanities, you might note—but what about technical or scientific papers, including lab reports? Many instructors recommend or even require the passive voice in such writing. The rationale for using the passive voice in scientific writing is that it achieves “an objective tone”—for example, by avoiding the first person. To consider scientific writing, let’s break it up into two main types: lab reports and writing about a scientific topic or literature.

Lab reports

Although more and more scientific journals accept or even prefer first-person active voice (e.g., “then we sequenced the human genome”), some of your instructors may want you to remove yourself from your lab report by using the passive voice (e.g., “then the human genome was sequenced” rather than “then we sequenced the human genome”). Such advice particularly applies to the section on Materials and Methods, where a procedure “is followed.” (For a fuller discussion on writing lab reports, see our handout on writing lab reports .)

While you might employ the passive voice to retain objectivity, you can still use active constructions in some instances and retain your objective stance. Thus it’s useful to keep in mind the sort of active verbs you might use in lab reports. Examples include: support, indicate, suggest, correspond, challenge, yield, show.

Thus instead of writing:

A number of things are indicated by these results.

you could write:

These results indicate a number of things . or Further analysis showed/suggested/yielded…

Ultimately, you should find out your instructor’s preference regarding your use of the passive in lab reports.

Writing about scientific topics

In some assignments, rather than reporting the results of your own scientific work, you will be writing about the work of other scientists. Such assignments might include literature reviews and research reports on scientific topics. You have two main possible tasks in these assignments: reporting what other people have done (their research or experiments) or indicating general scientific knowledge (the body of knowledge coming out of others’ research). Often the two go together. In both instances, you can easily use active constructions even though you might be tempted by the passive—especially if you’re used to writing your own lab reports in the passive.

You decide: Which of these two examples is clearer?

(passive) Heart disease is considered the leading cause of death in the United States.

or (active)  Research points to heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States.

Alternatively, you could write this sentence with human actors:

Researchers have concluded that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

The last two sentences illustrate a relationship that the first one lacks. The first example does not tell who or what leads us to accept this conclusion about heart disease.

Here’s one last example from a report that describes angioplasty. Which sounds better to you?

The balloon is positioned in an area of blockage and is inflated. or The surgeon positions the balloon in an area of blockage and inflates it.

You can improve your scientific writing by relying less on the passive. The advice we’ve given for papers on history or literature equally applies to papers in more “scientific” courses. No matter what field you’re writing in, when you use the passive voice, you risk conveying to your reader a sense of uncertainty and imprecision regarding your writing and thinking. The key is to know when your instructor wants you to use the passive voice. For a more general discussion of writing in the sciences , see our handout.

“Swindles and perversions”

Before we discuss a few instances when the passive might be preferable, we should mention one of the more political uses of the passive: to hide blame or obscure responsibility. You wouldn’t do this, but you can learn how to become a critic of those who exhibit what George Orwell included among the “swindles and perversions” of writing. For example:

Mistakes were made.

The Exxon Company accepts that a few gallons might have been spilled.

By becoming critically aware of how others use language to shape clarity and meaning, you can learn how better to revise your own work. Keep Orwell’s swindles and perversions in mind as you read other writers. Because it’s easy to leave the actor out of passive sentences, some people use the passive voice to avoid mentioning who is responsible for certain actions.

So when is it OK to use the passive?

Sometimes the passive voice is the best choice. Here are a few instances when the passive voice is quite useful:

1. To emphasize an object. Take a look at this example:

One hundred votes are required to pass the bill.

This passive sentence emphasizes the number of votes required. An active version of the sentence (“The bill requires 100 votes to pass”) would put the emphasis on the bill, which may be less dramatic.

2. To de-emphasize an unknown subject/actor. Consider this example:

Over 120 different contaminants have been dumped into the river.

If you don’t know who the actor is—in this case, if you don’t actually know who dumped all of those contaminants in the river—then you may need to write in the passive. But remember, if you do know the actor, and if the clarity and meaning of your writing would benefit from indicating him/her/it/them, then use an active construction. Yet consider the third case.

3. If your readers don’t need to know who’s responsible for the action.

Here’s where your choice can be difficult; some instances are less clear than others. Try to put yourself in your reader’s position to anticipate how they will react to the way you have phrased your thoughts. Here are two examples:

(passive)  Baby Sophia was delivered at 3:30 a.m. yesterday.

and (active)  Dr. Susan Jones delivered baby Sophia at 3:30 a.m. yesterday.

The first sentence might be more appropriate in a birth announcement sent to family and friends—they are not likely to know Dr. Jones and are much more interested in the “object”(the baby) than in the actor (the doctor). A hospital report of yesterday’s events might be more likely to focus on Dr. Jones’ role.

Summary of strategies

• Look for the passive voice: “to be” + a past participle (usually, but not always, ending in “-ed”)
• If you don’t see both components, move on.
• Does the sentence describe an action? If so, where is the actor? Is the he/she/they/it in the grammatical subject position (at the front of the sentence) or in the object position (at the end of the sentence, or missing entirely)?
• Does the sentence end with “by…”? Many passive sentences include the actor at the end of the sentence in a “by” phrase, like “The ball was hit by the player ” or “The shoe was chewed up by the dog .” “By” by itself isn’t a conclusive sign of the passive voice, but it can prompt you to take a closer look.
• Is the doer/actor indicated? Should you indicate him/her/them/it?
• Does it really matter who’s responsible for the action?
• Would your reader ask you to clarify a sentence because of an issue related to your use of the passive?
• Do you use a passive construction in your thesis statement?
• Do you use the passive as a crutch in summarizing a plot or history, or in describing something?
• Do you want to emphasize the object?
• If you decide that your sentence would be clearer in the active voice, switch the sentence around to make the subject and actor one. Put the actor (the one doing the action of the sentence) in front of the verb.

Towards active thinking and writing

We encourage you to keep these tips in mind as you revise. While you may be able to employ this advice as you write your first draft, that’s not necessarily always possible. In writing, clarity often comes when you revise, not on your first try. Don’t worry about the passive if that stress inhibits you in getting your ideas down on paper. But do look for it when you revise. Actively make choices about its proper place in your writing. There is nothing grammatically or otherwise “wrong” about using the passive voice. The key is to recognize when you should, when you shouldn’t, and when your instructor just doesn’t want you to. These choices are yours. We hope this handout helps you to make them.

Works consulted and suggested reading

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Baron, Dennis E. 1989. “The Passive Voice Can Be Your Friend.” In Declining Grammar and Other Essays on the English Vocabulary , 17-22. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers.

Hjortshoj, Keith. 2001. The Transition to College Writing . New York: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Lanham, Richard A. 2006. Revising Prose , 5th ed. New York: Pearson Longman.

Orwell, George. 1968. “Politics and the English Language.” In The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters of George Orwell , edited by Ian Angus and Sonia Orwell, 4: 127-140. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Javanovich.

Rosen, Leonard J., and Laurence Behrens. 2000. The Allyn and Bacon Handbook , 4th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Strunk, William, and E.B. White. 2000. The Elements of Style , 4th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Trimble, John R. 2000. Writing With Style , 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Williams, Joseph, and Joseph Bizup. 2017. Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace , 12th ed. Boston: Pearson.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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What is Passive Voice? Definition, Examples of Passive Sentences in Writing

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is Passive Voice? Definition, Examples of Passive Sentences in Writing

Passive voice definition: The passive voice is a style of writing where what would be the object of a sentence becomes the subject of the sentence.

What is Passive Voice?

What does passive voice mean? The passive writing voice occurs when something that is ordinarily “done by” the subject of a sentence is “done by” the object of a sentence .

In the passive writing voice, whatever is doing the action of the sentence is not the grammatical subject of the sentence.

Passive Voice Examples:

• The work was completed by Jaime.

Even though “Jaime” completed the work, “Jaime” is not the grammatical subject of this sentence. The subject of this sentence is “work.”

• The ball was hit by Johnny.

Again, in this sentence, rather than say, “Johnny hit the ball.” the ball becomes the subject of the sentence.

How is the Passive Voice Formed?

Passive construction: The passive writing voice is formed when what should be the object of a sentence becomes the subject of a sentence.

Examples of Passive Voice:

• Austin bought clothes.
• “Austin” is subject; “clothes” is object
• The clothes
• The clothes were bought.
• The clothes were bought by Austin.

Passive vs. Active Voice: What’s the Difference?

What is a passive sentence? The passive writing voice occurs when the action is done by what seems like it should be the subject.

Active Voice Example:

• Shakespeare wrote the play.

In this sentence, Shakespeare is “doing” the action of the sentence.

Active vs. Passive Voice Examples:

• Shakespeare wrote the play. (active)
• The play was written by Shakespeare. (passive)

The subject is typically clearer in active voice whereas in passive voice it may seem like the object is the subject.

More Examples:

• President Barack Obama signed a rescue package on Thursday for financially strapped Puerto Rico, which is facing more than $70 billion in debt and a major payment due Friday. – ABC News (active)
• A bill designed to reclaim businesses that have left the state and better Missouri’s port infrastructure was signed into law by Gov. Jay Nixon Tuesday. – The Missouri Times (passive)

Should You Avoid Passive Voice in Writing?

The passive voice is used less frequently in writing. However, it should not be avoided altogether.

Some phrases in English are always stated in the passive voice (i.e. The book was written by Herman Melville).

Stylistically, passive voice can be used as well. The passive voice can add style when:

• the writer wants the “punch” to be at the end of a sentence;
• the agent is unknown or unimportant (i.e. The person doing the action is unknown.);
• the writer wants to hide the agent’s identity

Many will say that the passive voice is not permitted in good writing. This is untrue. Good writers know how to delicately blend the passive writing voice with active sentences. Like all writing techniques, passive voice should be used with intention and purpose.

Passive Voice vs. Active Voice Exercises

• This episode was brought to you by Coca-Cola.
• Children danced in the halls to celebrate the last day of school.
• The china was made in Japan.
• We bought a new entertainment unit.
• The fossil has been discovered.

See Answers Below.

Summary: What is a Passive Voice?

Define passive voice: The definition of passive voice is when the recipient of the verb’s action becomes the subject of a sentence .

The passive voice is not common in writing. However, it is a stylistic choice that writers will occasionally use for effect.

The passive writing voice occurs when what would be the object of a sentence becomes the subject.

For more information on English voice, see our full article on the active voice.

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Active Voice and Passive Voice

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The relationship between verbs and nouns in writing indicates what is important in each sentence. Active voice prioritizes the subject, and passive voice prioritizes the action. In most cases, active voice is preferred to passive voice, but always refer to assignment guidelines and common practices in your field of study.

Active Voice

Most writing assignments encourage the use of active voice because it is clearer and shows the reader who is taking action in the sentence. In sentences with active voice, the subject performs the action (verb), and the object receives the action.

• Example : Shakespeare (subject) wrote (verb) plays (object) for the Globe Theatre.
• Example : The author (subject) published (verb) the article (object).

Passive Voice

Although active voice is usually preferred, there may be some cases where passive voice is most effective. Passive voice emphasizes the object or receiver of the action over the subject or performer of the action.

• Example : The plays (object) were written (verb) by Shakespeare (subject).

Passive voice can also be used the subject is unknown or unimportant to the purpose of the sentence.

• Example : The article (object) was published (verb).

Transforming Passive Sentences into Active Sentences

To change passive voice to active voice, move the subject to the beginning of the sentence and use a verb to connect it to the object.

• Passive : The ice cream cones were eaten by the children.
• Active : The children ate the ice cream cones.

Further Suggestions

If the original sentence contains a modifying phrase or a phrase that describes the subject or object, keep the phrase next to that element when changing from active to passive voice. If the phrase is placed in the wrong spot, the sentence may be unclear.

• Example : The ice cream cones from the store were eaten by the children.
• Incorrect : The children from the store ate the ice cream cones. (“from the store” describes the children)
• Correct : The children ate the ice cream cones from the store. (“from the store” describes the ice cream)

Avoid shifting from active to passive voice because it can create confusion and awkwardness.

• Incorrect : The children ate the ice cream, but it was bought by Peter. (voice shifts—active to passive)
• Correct : The children ate the ice cream, but Peter bought it. (voice is consistent—active to active)

The verb in passive voice takes a form of the verb “to be” and the past participle of the main verb. “Be” verbs include: be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being. Make the subject perform the verb following these steps:

• Make the performer of the action in the “by” phrase the subject of the active sentence. Eliminate the word “by” if necessary.
• Change the verb from a “to be” form to the appropriate active tense.
• Make the subject of the passive sentence the object of the active sentence.

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Passive voice: definition, exercises, and examples

Jessica Malnik

My 10th grade English teacher hated the passive voice. I can still vividly remember seeing tons of giant red corrections on all my essays. 

Chances are you likely had a writing instructor, teacher, or professor like mine growing up. They drilled it into your head that only bad writers use the passive voice. It is wordy, vague, and should be avoided like the plague – or COVID-19. 

I’m here to debunk that myth . Using the passive voice isn’t a grammatical mistake . It’s a matter of stylistic preference.   

In this post, I’m covering the ins and outs of the passive voice, including:

1. What is the passive voice?

2. What are the differences between active voice and passive voice?

3. Passive voice misuse

4. Passive voice exercises

5. Passive voice FAQ

What is the passive voice? 

There are two primary writing formats: passive and active voice. 

One of the simplest ways to tell if a sentence is in the passive voice is if you can add “to be” in front of the main verb. If this addition makes sense, then the the sentence is usually in the passive voice. If not, it is in the active voice.

Passive voice sentences tend to be wordier and can give your writing a more formal tone. However, this doesn’t mean that passive sentences have poor readability or shouldn’t be used. You just need to be careful of the context.

Before we dive into when to use the passive voice, here are a couple examples of what a passive sentence looks like:

What are the differences between active voice and passive voice?

The main difference between passive and active voice involves the subject of a sentence. If the subject of the sentence is performing the action, then it’s in the active voice. If someone or something is performing an action on the subject, then it’s in the passive voice.

This means the easiest way to check if a sentence is passive or active is to ask this question: “ Who is taking action in the sentence? ” If the goal is to write in a passive voice, then the subject of the sentence should not be the one taking action.

By looking at one of the passive voice examples above, we can view similar sentences written in both passive and active voice:

Passive: The project has been finished.

Active: Jane finished the project.

In the first sentence, the project is in the subject position, and it’s not taking the action. This makes it passive. In the second sentence, Jane is the subject of the sentence, is the one taking action. This makes it active. 

Copywriters often argue that active voice is superior to passive. In many instances, it is. For example, persuasion and conversion copy can benefit from a direct, active verb that engages the reader. Active voice can also help the reader envision themselves taking action. However, there are several instances where using a passive voice is more appropriate for the piece, such as in scientific writing and in contracts. 

Passive voice misuse

Passive voice has its place in content and copywriting, but it is easy to overuse it. 

In fact, Yoast recommends that no more than 10% of sentences in a given blog post use passive voice sentences.  

For example, if you’re writing a sentence where a specific person is performing an action, it’s best to go with an active voice instead of passive.

If the subject is unknown, then it makes sense to go with a passive voice.

In addition, more formal writing – such as scientific writing, lab reports, or legal content – can also benefit from using the passive voice.

When using passive voice in your writing, here are four common mistakes to be aware of. 

It helps to remember that all passive sentences have a form of the verb “to be.” However, just because a sentence includes it does not mean it’s automatically passive. 

Perhaps one of the most famous examples of this is the miscategorized passive sentence by Strunk and White in The Elements of Style . They claimed this sentence was in passive voice because of the form “to be”: “There were a great number of dead leaves covering the ground.”

This was incorrect, and the sentence is actually in an active voice. Don’t make the mistake of calling a sentence passive only because it includes a passive form of the verb “to be.” Be sure to evaluate the entire sentence before determining whether it’s passive or active.

It’s worth noting again that the most common mistake with passive voice is using it when active voice should be used instead. If your definitive subject is performing an action, stick to an active sentence. Don’t go with a passive voice to fill a word count or because you think it sounds smart. There needs to be a reason for using passive voice.

Passive voice exercises

If you do a quick Google search for “passive sentence exercises,” you’ll find many free online handouts and passive voice exercise tools, such as this one from Perfect English Grammar . These tools are great for helping you understand passive voice use as well as the differences between passive and active voice.

However, my favorite passive voice exercise is “the zombie test.” If you aren’t sure whether your sentence is active or passive, add “by zombies” after the verb. If the sentence still makes sense, then it’s passive. If it doesn’t make sense anymore, then it’s active.

Check out the following example:

Passive: The lawn was mowed [by zombies] today.

Active: She paid [by zombies] her bills yesterday.

The first sentence makes sense with “by zombies” added, so it’s passive. The second sentence is in active voice and no longer makes sense when you throw zombies in it.

This exercise is meant to be a quick way to detect active and passive voice, so feel free to have fun with it and get creative. Instead of zombies, you can use “Gritty,” “hamsters in Speedos,” or “radioactive dust bunnies.” It doesn’t matter what subject you choose, just pick something you can easily remember.

Are these sentences in the passive or active voice?

[quiz-cat id=”11277″]

Remember to be mindful of the type of writing you’re doing before determining if the active or passive voice is the best option for the piece. No matter whether you prefer active or passive voice, be sure to keep sentences as short and clear as possible. This ensures your content is easy to comprehend. 

Passive voice FAQ

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Active And Passive Voice

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35 Active and Passive Voice

There are two main “voices” in English writing: the active voice and the passive voice. You’ve probably heard a lot about them—and you’ve probably been warned away from the passive voice. But what exactly are they?

In the simplest terms, an active voice sentence is written in the form of “A does B.” (For example, “Carmen sings the song.”) A passive voice sentence is written in the form of “B is done by A.” (For example, “The song is sung by Carmen.”) Both constructions are grammatically sound and correct. Let’s look at a couple more examples of the passive voice:

• I’ve been hit! ( or , I have been hit!)
• Jasper was thrown from the car when it was struck from behind.

You may have noticed something unique about the previous two sentences: the subject of the sentence is not the person (or thing) performing the action.  The passive voice “hides” who does the action. Despite these sentences being completely grammatically sound, we don’t know who hit “me” or what struck the car.

The passive is created using the verb  to be and the past participle. When identifying passive sentences, remember that  to be  has other uses than just creating the passive voice. “She was falling” and “His keys were lost” are not passive sentences. In the first, to be  is a continuous past verb, and in the second to be  is past tense linking verb. There are two key features that will help you identify a passive sentence:

• Something is happening (the sentence has a verb that is not a linking verb).
• The subject of the sentence is not doing that thing.

As you read at the two sentences below, think about the how the different voice may affect the meaning or implications of the sentence:

• Passive voice: The rate of evaporation is controlled by the size of an opening.
• Active voice: The size of an opening controls the rate of evaporation.

The passive choice slightly emphasizes “the rate of evaporation,” while the active choice emphasizes “the size of an opening.” Simple. So why all the fuss? Because passive constructions can produce grammatically tangled sentences such as this:

Groundwater flow is influenced by zones of fracture concentration, as can be recognized by the two model simulations (see Figures 1 and 2), by which one can see . . .

The sentence is becoming a burden for the reader, and probably for the writer too. As often happens, the passive voice here has smothered potential verbs and kicked off a runaway train of prepositions. But the reader’s task gets much easier in the revised version below:

Two model simulations (Figures 1 and 2) illustrate how zones of fracture concentration influence groundwater flow. These simulations show . . .

To revise the above, all we did was look for the two buried things (simulations and zones) in the original version that could actually do something, and we made the sentence clearly about these two nouns by placing them in front of active verbs. This is the general principle to follow as you compose in the active voice: Place concrete nouns that can perform work in front of active verbs.

Are the following sentences in the active or passive voice? How can you tell?

• The samples were prepared in a clean room before being sent out for further examination.
• Karen was dancing with Joshua when she suddenly realized she needed to leave.
• Carlos was a very serious scientist with unique interests.

[practice-area rows=”4″][/practice-area] [reveal-answer q=”206851″]Show Answer[/reveal-answer] [hidden-answer a=”206851″]

• This sentence uses the passive voice. The action ( prepared ) was done to the subject of the sentence ( samples ). If this sentence were written in the active it would be something like this: “[Actor] prepared the samples in a clean room before sending them out for further examination.” Since we do not know who prepared the samples, the active sentence is incomplete.
• This sentence uses the active voice. In this case  was indicates that the sentence happened in the past; it does not indicate the passive voice.
• This sentence uses the active voice. In this case  was  is acting as a linking verb. It links  Carlos with the phrase  very serious scientist .

[/hidden-answer]

Revise Weak Passive-Voice Sentences

As we’ve mentioned, the passive voice can be a shifty operator—it can cover up its source, that is, who’s doing the acting, as this example shows:

• Graded by whom though?
• Active: The teacher will grade the papers according to the criteria stated in the syllabus.

It’s this ability to cover the actor or agent of the sentence that makes the passive voice a favorite of people in authority—policemen, city officials, and, yes, teachers. At any rate, you can see how the passive voice can cause wordiness, indirectness, and comprehension problems.

Convert these passive voice sentences into the active voice. Why is the active voice a better choice for each of these sentences?

• The process, which was essential for the experiment’s success, was completed by Enzo.
• The cake that I worked on all day long is being eaten by Justin.
• After the pattern has been applied to the fabric, work on the embroidery can be started.

[practice-area rows=”4″][/practice-area] [reveal-answer q=”529218″]Show Answer[/reveal-answer] [hidden-answer a=”529218″]

• In the passive sentence, the  which -clause makes the subject of the sentence excessively long. By converting the sentence to the active voice, the clause is moved to the predicate, which makes the sentence easier to understand.
• The active voice works better in this sentence for the same reasons as sentence one. It is also likely that you would want to put emphasis on Justin in this sentence. After all, he’s doing something that is (most likely) inconsiderate.
• This sentence is likely found in a set of instructions, which are usually written directly to the reader. Addressing “you” and avoiding the passive voice will make the instructions feel more natural and accessible.

Don’t get the idea that the passive voice is always wrong and should never be used. It is a good writing technique when we don’t want to be bothered with an obvious or too-often-repeated subject and when we need to rearrange words in a sentence for emphasis. The next page will focus more on how and why to use the passive voice.

English Composition I Copyright © by Lumen Learning is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Understanding Passive and Active Voice in English Writing

In the realm of English grammar, understanding the nuances between passive and active voice is crucial for effective communication. Whether you’re crafting an essay, composing an email, or drafting a report, the choice between active and passive voice can significantly impact the clarity and tone of your writing. In this post, we’ll explore the differences between passive and active voice, their respective strengths, and when to use each in your writing.

What is Active Voice?

Active voice occurs when the subject of a sentence performs the action expressed by the verb. It’s direct, straightforward, and emphasises the doer of the action. In active voice sentences, the subject typically comes before the verb, followed by the object (if present).

• Active Voice: “The chef prepared the delicious meal.”

In this sentence, “the chef” (subject) performs the action of “preparing” (verb), and “the delicious meal” (object) receives the action.

What is Passive Voice?

Passive voice, on the other hand, occurs when the subject of a sentence receives the action expressed by the verb. It often obscures the doer of the action or places less emphasis on it. In passive voice sentences, the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence, followed by a form of the verb “to be” and the past participle of the main verb.

• Passive Voice: “The delicious meal was prepared by the chef.”

Here, “the delicious meal” (subject) receives the action of “being prepared” (verb), and “by the chef” introduces the doer of the action.

When to Use Active Voice:

Active voice is preferred in most writing situations because it’s more direct, engaging, and easier to understand. It highlights the agent responsible for the action and often leads to clearer, more concise sentences. Active voice is particularly effective in narrative writing, persuasive essays, instructions, and when the focus is on the doer of the action.

• “The company implemented new policies to improve efficiency.”

When to Use Passive Voice:

Passive voice has its place in writing when the focus is on the action or when the doer of the action is unknown, less important, or deliberately omitted. It’s commonly used in scientific writing, formal reports, and situations where objectivity or neutrality is desired.

• “The experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis.”

How to Identify Passive Voice:

Identifying passive voice in your writing involves looking for forms of the verb “to be” (e.g., is, am, are, was, were, been) followed by a past participle (often ending in -ed or -en). Additionally, passive voice sentences often omit the doer of the action or place it in a prepositional phrase with “by.”

Tips for Using Active and Passive Voice:

• Consider Your Audience and Purpose: Choose the voice that best suits your audience and the goals of your writing. Active voice tends to be more engaging, while passive voice can convey objectivity.
• Be Conscious of Clarity: Prioritise clarity and readability in your writing. Use active voice for clarity and emphasis, but don’t hesitate to use passive voice when it improves comprehension or suits the context.
• Revise and Edit: During the revision process, pay attention to the voice of your sentences. If you notice instances of passive voice where active voice would be more effective, consider revising for clarity and impact.

More Examples

Active Voice:

• Explanation: In this sentence, “the teacher” (subject) performs the action of “grading” (verb) directly on “the students’ assignments” (object). The active voice emphasises the teacher’s role in the action.
• Explanation: “Sheila” (subject) is the doer of the action, “baked” (verb), directly on “a delicious cake” (object). The active voice highlights Sheila’s activity in baking the cake.
• Explanation: In this sentence, “the construction crew” (subject) takes direct action by “repairing” (verb) the “damaged road” (object). Active voice emphasises the crew’s responsibility for the repair work.
• Explanation: “The artist” (subject) actively “painted” (verb) the “vibrant landscape” (object) onto the canvas. Active voice emphasises the artist’s creative action.
• Explanation: Here, “the team” (subject) takes action by “completing” (verb) the “project” (object). Active voice highlights the team’s achievement and efficiency.
• Explanation: In this sentence, “Sheila” (subject) performs the action of “watering” (verb) directly on “the plants in the garden” (object). Active voice emphasises Sheila’s regular activity.
• Explanation: “The company” (subject) actively “launched” (verb) the “new product line” (object). Active voice emphasises the company’s initiative in introducing the new products.
• Explanation: In this sentence, “the chef” (subject) actively “prepared” (verb) the “delicious three-course meal” (object). Active voice highlights the chef’s culinary skills.
• Explanation: Here, “the athlete” (subject) takes direct action by “breaking” (verb) the “world record” (object) in the 100-metre dash. Active voice emphasises the athlete’s achievement.
• Explanation: In this sentence, “the volunteers” (subject) actively “cleaned up” (verb) the “beach” (object) following the event. Active voice highlights the volunteers’ efforts in maintaining the environment.

Passive Voice:

• Explanation: In this sentence, “the students’ assignments” (subject) receive the action of “being graded” (passive verb phrase) by “the teacher.” The passive voice emphasises the action rather than the doer.
• Explanation: Here, “a delicious cake” (subject) receives the action of “being baked” (passive verb phrase) by “Sheila.” Passive voice places emphasis on the action of baking rather than the baker.
• Explanation: In this sentence, “the damaged road” (subject) undergoes the action of “being repaired” (passive verb phrase) by “the construction crew.” Passive voice emphasises the action of repair.
• Explanation: “A vibrant landscape” (subject) receives the action of “being painted” (passive verb phrase) on the canvas by “the artist.” Passive voice shifts focus to the action of painting.
• Explanation: Here, “the project” (subject) undergoes the action of “being completed” (passive verb phrase) ahead of schedule by “the team.” Passive voice emphasises the action of completion.
• Explanation: In this sentence, “the plants in the garden” (subject) receive the action of “being watered” (passive verb phrase) every morning by “Sheila.” Passive voice emphasises the action of watering.
• Explanation: “A new product line” (subject) undergoes the action of “being launched” (passive verb phrase) by “the company” last month. Passive voice focuses on the action of launching.
• Explanation: In this sentence, “a delicious three-course meal” (subject) receives the action of “being prepared” (passive verb phrase) for the guests by “the chef.” Passive voice highlights the action of preparation.
• Explanation: Here, “the world record in the 100-metre dash” (subject) undergoes the action of “being broken” (passive verb phrase) by “the athlete.” Passive voice emphasises the action of breaking the record.
• Explanation: In this sentence, “the beach” (subject) receives the action of “being cleaned up” (passive verb phrase) after the event by “the volunteers.” Passive voice focuses on the action of cleaning.

In summary, active and passive voice offer distinct advantages in English writing, each serving its purpose depending on the context and intent of the communication. By understanding when and how to use active and passive voice effectively, you can elevate the clarity, coherence, and impact of your writing.

At English Al Fresco we give small lessons on grammar subjects like Active and Passive voice. It’s essential to know these particulars of the English language when you want to reach a higher level of English language. If you want to know more about our short courses, check out our website below.

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The Passive Voice In English (Definition, Form, And Examples)

Passive voice is a grammatical structure where the subject of a sentence receives the action of the verb instead of performing it. The structure of the passive voice in English involves the use of transitive verbs, which have both active and passive forms.

Active Voice vs. Passive Voice

The primary distinction between active and passive voice in English lies in the role of the subject. In active voice, the subject performs the action, while in passive voice, it receives the action. Consider the following example:

Examples of Active and Passive Voice In English:

Form of the Passive Voice In English

Use of the passive voice in english, examples of the passive voice.

Passive Voice Sentences with Two Objects

Impersonal passive voice, passive voice with infinitives, passive voice with gerunds, what tense is used in passive voice, is passive voice bad, is passive voice formal or informal, when to use the passive voice.

Understanding Active vs Passive Voice: Making Your Writing Clear and Direct

Word definitions, usage, and comparison, active voice.

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed by the verb. This construction typically results in more direct and concise sentences.

Example: "The chef prepared the meal."

In this sentence, "The chef" is the subject who performs the action "prepared." This structure is straightforward and easy to understand.

Passive Voice

In the passive voice, the subject receives the action performed by the verb. This structure can be useful for emphasizing the action itself or when the performer is unknown or irrelevant.

Example: "The meal was prepared by the chef."

Here, "The meal" is the subject receiving the action "was prepared," performed by "the chef." Passive voice often requires more words and can be less clear compared to active voice.

Direct comparison shows that active voice is typically more concise and clearer:

• Active: "The dog chased the cat."
• Passive: "The cat was chased by the dog."

Synonyms and Related Words

Active voice synonyms.

• Direct : Sentences in active voice are straightforward and to the point.
• Assertive : Active voice often conveys a stronger, more assertive tone.

Passive Voice Synonyms

• Indirect : Passive constructions are more about the action or result rather than who performs it.
• Impersonal : Passive sentences often downplay the importance of the subject performing the action.

Etymology and Word Origins

Understanding the origins of these terms helps in remembering their usage. "Active" comes from the Latin "activus," meaning "doing," and implies direct action. "Passive" derives from the Latin "passivus," meaning "capable of suffering or receiving," which aligns with its function of receiving action.

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

Error: Overusing passive voice can lead to wordiness and unclear statements.

Fix: Identify passive sentences by looking for "by" phrases and rephrase them to active voice.

Example Sentences and Real-world Applications

Active voice examples.

• Tom wrote the report.
• The teacher explained the lesson.
• The dog fetched the stick.

Passive Voice Examples

• The report was written by Tom.
• The lesson was explained by the teacher.
• The stick was fetched by the dog.

Incorrect Usage Example

Incorrect: "The report by Tom was written."

Correct: "The report was written by Tom."

Memorization Techniques and Practice

To remember the difference, think of the sentence pattern. Active Voice: Subject + Verb + Object. Passive Voice: Object + "be" verb + Past Participle + (by) Subject.

Here’s a mini-exercise: Convert the following passive sentences to active voice.

• The cake was baked by Sarah.
• The movie was directed by James Cameron.
• The test was completed by the student.

Special Cases and Exceptions

There are situations where passive voice is preferable, such as scientific writing, legal documents, or when the performer of the action is unknown or unimportant. For example, "New regulations were implemented" focuses on the action rather than who implemented it.

Regional Differences and Evolving Usage

While American and British English both use active and passive voices similarly, certain academic or legal contexts may exhibit a higher prevalence of passive constructions.

Test your understanding with this brief quiz:

• Identify if the following sentence is in active or passive voice: "The novel was written by George Orwell."
• Rewrite this sentence in active voice: "The ball was kicked by the player."
• Choose the right voice for this scenario: A manual instruction.
• Why might you use passive voice in a scientific paper?
• Convert to passive voice: "The researcher conducted the experiment."

Understanding the distinction between active and passive voice will improve the clarity and impact of your writing. Practice regularly to master the use of both voices effectively.

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Understanding the Difference Between ‘Affect’ and ‘Effect’

Confused about “affect vs effect”? This guide clears it up. Learn definitions, usage, and common errors. Boost your language skills today! #affectvseffect

Advisor vs. Adviser: Understanding the Difference and Choosing the Right Term

Wondering about the difference between ? Discover the regional preferences, US vs. UK usage, and when to choose “advisor” or “adviser” in your writing.

Advice or Advise? Clearing Up the Confusion

Knowing the difference between “advise vs advice” clears up common errors in English. Advice is the guidance you receive, while advise is the act of giving it. Learn more!

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50 Examples of Active and Passive Voice Sentences

In this lesson, we’ll look at active and passive voice in English. Active voice is when the subject does the action, like “ I eat an apple. ” Passive voice is when the action happens to the subject, like “ The apple is eaten by me. ” This is great for beginners or those who want to get better at English. Let’s keep it simple and start learning these important parts of speaking and writing in English.

Rules to Make Active and Passive Voice

Active Voice: In active voice, the subject performs the action expressed by the verb. The structure is straightforward: Subject + Verb + Object. For example, “The cat (subject) chased (verb) the mouse (object).”

Passive Voice: In passive voice, the subject receives the action. The structure changes to: Object (as subject) + Form of “be” (am/is/are/was/were) + Past Participle of the Verb + by + Original Subject. For example, “The mouse (object as subject) was chased (form of ‘be’ + past participle) by the cat (original subject).”

To Convert from Active to Passive Voice:

• Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object: First, figure out who is doing the action, what the action is, and who receives the action in the active sentence.
• Switch the Object and Subject: Move the object of the active sentence to the subject position in the passive sentence.
• Change the Verb: Use the appropriate form of “be” (depending on tense) followed by the past participle of the main verb.
• Add the Original Subject with ‘by’: Include the original doer of the action after ‘by’ if necessary for clarity or emphasis.
• Adjust the Tense: Ensure that the tense remains consistent during the conversion from active to passive voice.

Examples Across Different Tenses:

• Simple Present: “The chef cooks the meal.” becomes “The meal is cooked by the chef.”
• Simple Past: “The teacher praised the student.” becomes “The student was praised by the teacher.”
• Future: “The author will write a new book.” becomes “A new book will be written by the author.”
• Present Continuous: “The artist is painting a mural.” becomes “A mural is being painted by the artist.”
• Past Continuous: “The gardener was watering the plants.” becomes “The plants were being watered by the gardener.”

Remember, not every sentence should be converted to passive voice; use it selectively to emphasize the action or when the doer is unknown or irrelevant.

Examples of Active and Passive Voice

• Active: The chef cooks a meal. Passive: A meal is cooked by the chef.
• Active: She sings a song. Passive: A song is sung by her.
• Active: The dog chased the cat. Passive: The cat was chased by the dog.
• Active: The team won the game. Passive: The game was won by the team.
• Active: The gardener waters the plants. Passive: The plants are watered by the gardener.
• Active: The teacher assigns homework. Passive: Homework is assigned by the teacher.
• Active: The painter is painting the wall. Passive: The wall is being painted by the painter.
• Active: The children played in the park. Passive: The park was played in by the children.
• Active: The mechanic fixes the car. Passive: The car is fixed by the mechanic.
• Active: The student answered the question. Passive: The question was answered by the student.
• Active: The baker bakes bread every morning. Passive: Bread is baked every morning by the baker.
• Active: The mailman delivers letters. Passive: Letters are delivered by the mailman.
• Active: The artist draws a portrait. Passive: A portrait is drawn by the artist.
• Active: The author wrote a novel. Passive: A novel was written by the author.
• Active: The cat catches mice. Passive: Mice are caught by the cat.
• Active: The birds chirp at dawn. Passive: At dawn, chirping is done by the birds.
• Active: The boy broke the window. Passive: The window was broken by the boy.
• Active: The photographer takes beautiful photos. Passive: Beautiful photos are taken by the photographer.
• Active: The students are preparing a presentation. Passive: A presentation is being prepared by the students.
• Active: The teacher explains the lesson. Passive: The lesson is explained by the teacher.
• Active: The janitor cleans the office. Passive: The office is cleaned by the janitor.
• Active: The sun melts the snow. Passive: The snow is melted by the sun.
• Active: The customer returned the product. Passive: The product was returned by the customer.
• Active: The bee pollinates the flower. Passive: The flower is pollinated by the bee.
• Active: The chef tastes the sauce. Passive: The sauce is tasted by the chef.
• Active: The boy kicks the ball. Passive: The ball is kicked by the boy.
• Active: The audience applauds the performer. Passive: The performer is applauded by the audience.
• Active: The teacher corrects the tests. Passive: The tests are corrected by the teacher.
• Active: The fisherman caught a big fish. Passive: A big fish was caught by the fisherman.
• Active: The runner wins the race. Passive: The race is won by the runner.
• Active: The bird builds a nest. Passive: A nest is built by the bird.
• Active: The student reads a book. Passive: A book is read by the student.
• Active: The wind moves the leaves. Passive: The leaves are moved by the wind.
• Active: The company launches a new product. Passive: A new product is launched by the company.
• Active: The photographer captures a moment. Passive: A moment is captured by the photographer.
• Active: The waiter serves the food. Passive: The food is served by the waiter.
• Active: The artist sketches a drawing. Passive: A drawing is sketched by the artist.
• Active: The player scores a goal. Passive: A goal is scored by the player.
• Active: The judge announces the verdict. Passive: The verdict is announced by the judge.
• Active: The programmer writes code. Passive: Code is written by the programmer.
• Active: The librarian organizes the books. Passive: The books are organized by the librarian.
• Active: The chef recommends a dish. Passive: A dish is recommended by the chef.
• Active: The cat knocks over the vase. Passive: The vase is knocked over by the cat.
• Active: The teacher praises the student. Passive: The student is praised by the teacher.
• Active: The gardener plants new flowers. Passive: New flowers are planted by the gardener.
• Active: The driver honks the horn. Passive: The horn is honked by the driver.
• Active: The children decorate the classroom. Passive: The classroom is decorated by the children.
• Active: The author signs the books. Passive: The books are signed by the author.
• Active: The tourists visit the monument. Passive: The monument is visited by the tourists.
• Active: The baker kneads the dough. Passive: The dough is kneaded by the baker.

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When To Pass on Passive Voice

There’s a time and place for passive voice. We’ll explain what it is and when you should (or shouldn’t) use it.

What Is Passive Voice?

• The voice of a verb refers to the subject that is performing the verb , or the subject that is having the verb done to them.
• The passive voice structure is direct object-verb-subject.
• Unlike active voice, passive sentences emphasize the result of the action.

To know when you should or shouldn’t use passive voice , you must first understand what it is. Passive voice is when a sentence puts the direct object before the verb, and the subject after the verb. In other words, a passive sentence emphasizes the results (or the recipient) of the action, instead of the subject that committed the action.

Usually, the active voice is the safer bet and results in clearer, more direct writing. However, there are a few circumstances where passive voice is appropriate. If you’re scratching your head and still asking yourself what passive voice is, don’t panic. You will learn everything you need to know about passive voice after reading this article.

The school’s basketball team won the championship game.

In this sentence, the school’s basketball team is the subject (the person, place, or thing that performs the action). The verb (the word that refers to the action or state of being) is won. And the direct object (a noun or pronoun that follows an action verb) is the championship game.

The example sentence uses the active voice , meaning it has a subject-verb-direct object structure . In passive sentences , the direct object comes before the verb, and the subject after the verb. Here’s the example sentence in passive voice :

The championship game was won by the school’s basketball team.

Passive sentences are composed by using a form of to be followed by the past participle form of a verb. They also require a preposition .

The stove was turned on by the sous-chef.

The passive voice emphasizes the result of the action rather than who or what performed the action.

Remember that passive voice requires transitive verbs (verbs that demand an object).

Here are a few more examples of sentences in both active and passive voice :

What’s Wrong With Passive Voice?

Many writing guides advise avoiding passive voice. Why? What’s wrong with passive voice? It’s not that passive voice is grammatically incorrect (it’s not). But compared to active voice , it can be too wordy, unclear, and indirect.

Passive voice makes your readers work a little harder to decipher the message of your sentence. That’s why it’s best to use an active voice most of the time.

Active— My wife prepared lunch .

Passive— Lunch was prepared by my wife .

Notice how both sentences express the same thing, but the active sentence has four words, whereas the passive sentence has six. Because passive voice can make sentences unnecessarily long, it’s a good idea to avoid passive voice . There are some instances where the passive structure is appropriate, though.

The passive voice comes up a lot in written text (and speech). Many writers don’t even notice when they’re using it, or that an alternative active sentence is possible. That’s why using LanguageTool can significantly strengthen your writing.

This intelligent text editor can identify the use of passive voice in your writing so that you can rephrase it to active voice . It can also correct spelling and grammar mistakes, quickly provide synonyms, and recommend stylistic improvements. Keep in mind that users can turn off the passive voice rule whenever they want.

When Passive Voice is Okay To Use

When a sentence specifically mentions people, it’s best to use active voice . However, sometimes the subject is unknown or insignificant. In this situation, it’s best to use passive voice. Let’s consider the following sentences:

Active— Someone robbed The Shell Supermarket early yesterday morning.

Passive— The Shell Supermarket was robbed early yesterday morning.

Passive voice is appropriate in this example because the person who robbed the supermarket is unknown. It’s also suitable for emphasizing the recipient of the action rather than the subject who performed it.

Wordle was bought by The New York Times .

The structure of the above sentence brings attention to “Wordle.” However, if you think “The New York Times” is what needs to be accentuated, then switch it to active voice :

The New York Times bought Wordle .

To convert a sentence from passive voice to active , consider who or what is performing the action and shift them to the subject of the sentence.

Passive— The children were taken to the park by their parents .

Active— The parents took their children to the park.

Passive— The money was stolen by me .

Active— I stole the money

The active voice structure is subject-verb or subject-verb-direct object . On the other hand, the passive voice structure is direct object-verb-subject . Although there are a few circumstances where using passive voice is okay, it’s usually better to write in the active voice. Doing this can help you avoid wordiness and is one of the many well-known tips that improve your writing . Now you know when and why you should pass on passive voice .

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Active and Passive Voice

One key decision writers routinely make is how to construct their voice–how do you, the writer, want your writing to sound, active voice.

Active voice is a grammatical voice in which the sentence clearly indicates who’s performing the main action:

• “I kicked the ball.”
• “She wrote the paper."
• “Jane invited me to the dance.”
• “Rick spoke to Grandma on the phone for an entire hour.”

In each of these examples the agent (or subject) comes before the verb, so we know who’s kicking whom. Think of this as a form of emphasis–the writer wants readers to know what happened (a ball was kicked), but the writer also wants to clearly tell readers who is responsible . . . I did it . . . I kicked the ball, okay?

Passive voice

In passive voice, the emphasis of the sentence becomes the object–the thing that is affected by the verb.

• “The ball was kicked.”
• “The paper was finished.”
• “I was invited to the dance by Jane.”
• “Grandma was called on the phone by Rick, and an hour passed before they finished.”
• “The research and development (R&D) described in this document was conducted within the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solar Thermal Technology Program” (Alley 126).

Here, our first two examples don’t even mention who is doing the action . . . did you kick the ball? Did I finish the paper? More than likely the writer wasn’t interested in who did the action; what matters is the action itself, so the sentence focuses all its emphasis on the verb construction (was kicked) and the object (the ball).

In the last three examples the subject is delayed to the end or the middle of the sentence, again, perhaps, for emphasis—the fact that “I was invited to the dance,” I’m telling my readers, is the first thing I want you to know (sorry, Jane!).

Rhetorical Act

Here's a key takeaway: writing in the active voice or the passive voice is, at least in part, a rhetorical decision. The CEO who says “mistakes were made” in a press conference knows exactly what he or she is doing (compare this to “I made a mistake”), as does the scientist who writes “the rats were dissected” (instead of “I dissected the rats . . .”).

You’ll often hear that active is “better” if you want to write concisely or “crisply,” or that passive is the only way to write “formal papers” for scholarly audiences because it “sounds more academic.” While there are arguments to be made for claims like this, choosing to write in the active or passive voice is ultimately the writer’s decision, and that decision should be made by deciding what to emphasize (or deemphasize, as the case may be).

Final thoughts

Your choice of active or passive voice–or a combination of the two–does a lot for the readability of your writing. Don’t write passively just to up the word count. Don’t write actively if your readers shouldn’t know who’s kicking the ball.

“The burning of books is considered to be censorship by some people” may be trying too hard. This passive sentence may be forcing a distant, emotionless prose style for the sake of sounding objective, but in some ways it loses its power by sandwiching the real action of the sentence, the verb “consider,” between two forms of the “to be” verb (“is” and “to be”). Compare this with a more active approach: “Some people consider book burning censorship.”

On the flip side, the active sentence, “I tested the rats by injecting them with a serum, and then I tracked their movements through the maze I crafted out of pencils and lollipop sticks, and then I coded the results in my own little spreadsheet . . .” has a whole lot of emphases that probably don’t matter and are likely off-putting to science readers who, again, really only care about the experiment and its results rather than who performed it. Why not write, “The test rats were first injected with the test serum, after which their movements were tracked, recorded, and coded . . .”

In short, active and passive voice are grammatical and rhetorical tools, like everything else in writing, so use them accordingly.

Are you ready to talk to one of our consultants about the differences between active and passive voice? If so, consider these questions as you prepare for a consultation:

• Does my genre, assignment, or audience have an expectation for whether I use active or passive voice in this paper?
• Is my usage of active or passive voice consistent?
• Does my use of active or passive voice add to the readability of my writing?
• Where could my writing be more concise?
• Where could my writing be clearer?
• How do you, the reader, feel about the emphasis of each sentence?

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Passive to active voice converter FAQs

What is passive voice.

Active voice and passive voice are two different grammatical voices in the English language. When a sentence is written in active voice, the subject performs the verb. When a sentence is written in passive voice, the subject gets acted upon by the verb. For example, “I’m writing a novel” is in active voice, whereas “A novel is being written by me” is in passive voice.

Why should I avoid passive voice?

Passive voice isn’t a grammatical error, but it’s typically weaker than active voice. Sentences written in passive voice tend to feel unnecessarily convoluted or indirect. Unless you have a strong stylistic reason for using the passive voice, it’s better to write your sentences using the active voice.

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Passive voice

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Active and Passive Voice

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Using Active Versus Passive Voice

In a sentence using active voice , the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb.

The arrow points from the subject performing the action (the dog) to the individual being acted upon (the boy). This is an example of a sentence using the active voice.

Sample active voice sentence with the subject performing the action described by the verb.

The active voice sentence subject (watching a framed, mobile world) performs the action of reminding the speaker of something.

Each example above includes a sentence subject performing the action expressed by the verb.

View examples of active verb tenses.

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Active and passive voice.

This handout is also available for download in PDF format .

We refer to a sentence as being in the "active voice" when the subject is performing the action of the sentence (the verb). A sentence is in the " passive voice" when the subject is being acted upon by the verb. For example, the following sentence is in the active voice: "She ate the hamburger." She is the subject, and she is doing the eating . On the other hand, this sentence is in the passive voice: "The hamburger was being eaten by her." The hamburger is the subject, and it's being eaten , or being acted upon, by the verb. What was the original subject in the active-voice sentence is now relegated to being the object of the sentence.

Many of us have been taught to avoid using the passive voice at all costs, but following this rule doesn't always make an essay better! Instead, you need to remember these two basic principles:

• Using the active voice emphasizes the person or agent who performs an action.
• Using the passive voice emphasizes the recipient of the action, or sometimes the action itself.

Take a look at the examples below to see how active voice is not always superior to passive voice.

• Passive: Atlas.ti software was used for qualitative data analysis.
• Active: The researchers used Atlas.ti software for qualitative data analysis.

The active option, which uses the third person ("the researchers"), is grammatically correct but sounds a bit awkward. Again, the authors of this article are emphasizing aspects of their methodology, one of which is their software choice. Thus, their use of the passive voice is acceptable and appropriate.

• Passive: The methods and principles by which each process in product synthesis could be analyzed were proposed by Choudhary.
• Active: Choudhary proposed the methods and principles by which each process in product synthesis could be analyzed.

In this case, the active voice is the better choice. The literature review section of a paper often seeks to delineate the most important contributions in the field, which makes actors/agents/authors important. In the example above, the active sentence reads much more clearly and concisely.

Five Times to Use Passive Voice

• Example: After long debate, the proposal was endorsed by the planning committee.
• Example: The data processing department presented what proved to be a controversial proposal to expand its staff. After long debate, the proposal was endorsed by…
• Example: Mistakes were made.
• Example: Every year, thousands of people are diagnosed as having cancer.
• Example: Visitors are not allowed after 9:00 p.m.

Credit: Adapted from "Grammar Crash Course Packet," Kalee Hall, The Writing Center

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