Active and Passive Voice

Active and Passive Voice

By Mirell Angob

Voice indicates the form of a verb that shows whether the subject is the doer or the receiver of the action.

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The active voice shows the subject as the doer.

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The passive voice shows the subject as the receiver.

William Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet.

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Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare.​

Passive voice can be used in some instances such as:

• when the speaker is more interested in the thing that is done than in the person who does it.

  • The 17th President of the Philippines was announced.

• when the doer of the action is vague or unknown.

  • My bag was stolen.

• for general, impersonal statements.

  • Pineapples are grown in Bukidnon.

• ​when the writer wants to sound objective.

  • It is said that the parents regretted their decision.

The verb form in the passive voice is composed of the helping verb be + the past participle form of the main verb.​

• ate -> was/were eaten

  Ken ate my lunch.

  My lunch was eaten by Ken.

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• will eat -> ​ will be eaten

  Ken will eat my lunch.

  My lunch will be eaten by Ken.​

• is eating -> is/are being eaten

  Ken is eating my lunch.

  My lunch is being eaten by Ken.

• eats -> is eaten

• Ken eats my lunch every day.

• My lunch is eaten by Ken every day.

activity: change the sentences from active voice to passive voice.

Open Ended

He locked the door.

Open Ended

Someone stole my money.

Open Ended

We celebrate Christmas every year.

Open Ended

The company president rejected his resignation.

Open Ended

A flying stone shattered the front window of the car.

activity: change the sentences from passive voice to active voice.

Open Ended

His nose was punched by Lance.

Open Ended

English spoken by a lot of people.

Open Ended

Floods are caused by overflowing rivers.

Open Ended

The incandescent lamp was invented by Thomas Alva Edison.

Open Ended

The new car was driven by Mrs. Legarda's son.