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Active Voice and Passive Voice

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Kenzie Tang
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19 views

Active Voice and Passive Voice

Uploaded by

Kenzie Tang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The active and the passive voice

Use of Passive and Active Voice

Created by Alice Frye, Ph.D., 1


Department of Psychology,
The active and the passive voice
Active Voice

• The subject performs the action of the verb


• Example:

The student presented the talk.

The subject
The action of the verb

Created by Alice Frye, Ph.D., 2


Department of Psychology,
The active and the passive voice
Active Voice

• The subject performs the action of the verb


• Example:

The article summarized the research

The subject
The action of the verb

Created by Alice Frye, Ph.D., 3


Department of Psychology,
The active and the passive voice
Passive Voice

• The object performs the action of the verb

The talk was presented by the student

The action of the verb


The object

Created by Alice Frye, Ph.D., 4


Department of Psychology,
The active and the passive voice
Passive Voice

• The object performs the action of the verb


• Example:

The research was summarized by the article

The object
The action of the verb

Created by Alice Frye, Ph.D., 5


Department of Psychology,
The active and the passive voice

a.The first bicycle _______________________(manufacture)


in the early 19th century.
b.My sister’s car _____________________ (steal).
c.Which method of transport_____________(use) most in yo
ur country?
d.Sometimes airships ___________________(can/hear) when
they come in to land.
e.The tickets___________________(have/book) many month
s before the trip.
The active and the passive voice

We usually use the active voice in writing


and speaking. E.g.

The girl kicked the ball.

to someone or
Someone or does
something
something something
else
(the agent) (verb)
(recipient)

7
The active and the passive voice

Here’s another example:

The rain soaked the pitch.

to someone or
Someone or does
something
something something
else
(the agent) (verb)
(recipient)

8
The active and the passive voice

In the passive voice, we change this around,


so that the recipient has something done to
it by the agent. E.g.

The ball was kicked by the girl.

has
Someone or by someone
something
something or something
done to it
(recipient) (the agent)
(verb)

9
The active and the passive voice

Let’s see that again.

The pitch was soaked by the rain.

has
Someone or by someone
something
something or something
done to it
(recipient) (the agent)
(verb)

10
The active and the passive voice

In these examples, spot the use of the


active voice and the passive voice.

The music was played by the DJ. passive

The sun was hidden by the clouds. passive


Delighted fans streamed onto the pitch.
active
Marie wrote the letter to the headteacher. active

Danny was praised by the headteacher. passive


11
The active and the passive voice

Sometimes in passive sentences, the agent is left


out.
The agent - ‘the
The pitch was soaked rain’
by the
- israin
left
out.
Why do you
has
Someone or
something
think that the
by someone
something or something
(recipient)
done to it agent might be
(the agent)
(verb) left out in this
example?
12
The active and the passive voice

Compare these sentences. One has the


agent, and the other hasn’t. Discuss the
differences.

TheIman
see was
yourmurdered
car was Far
We better
do not to leave
know who
damaged last night by
by someone! out
did the
the agent
murderif so
you
my friend don’t want is
the agent tonot
be
The man was involved!
needed. It’s more
I see your car was
murdered! dramatic without it.
damaged last night.
Create your own passive
sentences which would be
best without an agent. 13
The active and the passive voice

The passive is generally found in more


formal kinds of texts, such as reports,
forms, evaluations, etc.
E.g. A small amount of water was added
to the beaker, while the mixture was
heated using a Bunsen-burner.

The passive is used because the person doing


the action (the agent) is not needed. 14
The active and the passive voice

Sometimes the passive voice is


appropriate in a story because it is
used to describe a person being
affected by events, just like in this
passage:
In the middle of the night Sebastian was woken
by the most hideous scream. He jerked upright
and his eyes sprang open. He was even more
terrified by what he saw then.His flesh turned
to goose bumps and his very blood curdled. His
body was gripped by a paroxysm of horror.
(passage courtesy of ‘Grammar for Writing’ DfES)
15
The active and the passive voice

Look out for the use of the passive


voice in sentences.
Try to establish the effect of the
passive in different texts.
Use it in your own writing when
appropriate.

16

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