Active vs Passive Voice Active vs Passive Voice

Active vs. Passive Voice

Active vs. Passive Voice • Most writers and editors dislike the passive voice. • Why? – They say it’s too blah. • PASSIVE VOICE: The ball was hit. (By whom? The passive voice hides the doer of the action. ) • ACTIVE VOICE: Tucker hit the ball • PASSIVE VOICE: Cigarette taxes will be raised. (By whom? ) • ACTIVE VOICE: Congress will raise taxes on cigarettes.

Active vs. Passive Voice They say it’s less dynamic because it downplays or ignores the doer of the action. PASSIVE VOICE: The ball was hit a run was scored. The score was kept and eventually the game was won. Strong emotions were felt by the fans and much applause was heard. ACTIVE VOICE: In the bottom of the ninth inning, Slugger Batson slammed the ball across the fence, and every player on the previously loaded bases slid home. Our team won 10 -8! The crowd went wild!

When should you use passive voice? • When the doer of the action is not important or not known. – Example: School is canceled today. (Who cares who canceled it? ) • The cafeteria food was contaminated. (Nobody knows who contaminated it. ) • When you want to be polite, avoid sounding bossy, or soften a strong statement. – Example: Your application was rejected. • ACTIVE VOICE: We rejected your application.

When should you use passive voice? – Example: The test must be finished in one hour. • ACTIVE VOICE: You must finish the test in one hour. • When you want to emphasize thing you’re talking about, not the person who does the action. – Example: The big blue ribbon [emphasizing the thing] will be given to the winner. • ACTIVE VOICE: The winner [emphasizing the person] will receive this big blue ribbon.

When should you use passive voice? • When you are writing in an impersonal, scientific manner. – Example: The mice were separated into two groups. • ACTIVE VOICE: My lab partner and I separated the mice into two groups.

Directions: Write out each sentence. Write a P next to the sentences that are in passive voice and an A next to the sentences in active voice. • • The narrator of the poem is the mother. The glass was broken by the cat. The radio was turned on by the student. She was walking down the street. They were going to the store. The tutor is helping Sharon. Jake hit the ball over the outfield fence.