Passive voice 1 (basic structure)

Active voice VS Passive voice

Active voice

In sentences written in the active voice, the subject performs the action expressed in the verb; the subject acts.

The tiger attacks the boy.

Janice will present her research on Thursday.

Scientists have conducted experiments to test the hypothesis.

Watching a framed, mobile world through a car's windscreen reminds me of watching a movie or TV.

In each example, the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb.

Passive voice

In sentences written in the passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed in the verb; the subject is acted upon. The agent performing the action may appear in a " by ..." phrase or may be omitted.

The boy was attacked by the tiger. (Active Voice: The tiger attacked the boy.)

The research report will be presented by Janice on Thursday. (Active Voice: Janice will present the research report on Thursday.

by scientists ?

Experiments have been conducted to test the hypothesis. (Active Voice: Scientists have conducted experiments to test the hypothesis.)

(the agent performing the action has been omitted)

I am reminded of watching a movie or TV by watching a framed, mobile world through a car's windscreen.

(Active voice: Watching a framed, mobile world through a car's windscreen reminds me of watching a movie or TV.)

When do we use the passive voice?

We don't necessarily use the passive voice in writing. Sometimes the use of the passive voice can create awkward sentences, as in the last example above. Also overuse of the passive voice throughout a composition can cause your prose to seem flat and uninteresting.

The base form of the Passive Voice

The base form of the passive voice is

Verb to be + p.p. (past participle)

e.g. The money is kept here.

I was expected to visit my grandmother last Sunday.

A new library will be built here.

This window is being repaired.

This cat was given a name several years ago.

Choosing active voice

Sentences in the active voice are generally, though not always, clearer and more direct than those in the passive voice.

Passive (indirect)	Active (direct)
The entrance exam was failed by over 50 students.	Over 50 students failed the entrance exam.
Your car has been damaged. (agent omitted)	I have damaged your car.

Sentences in the active voice are also more concise than those in the passive voice because fewer words are required to express action in the active voice than in the passive.

Passive (more wordy)	Active (more concise)
Action on the bill is being considered by the committee.	The committee is considering action on the bill.
By then, the soundtrack will have been completely remixed by the sound engineers.	By then, the sound engineers will have completely remixed the soundtrack.

Changing passive to active

If you want to change a passive voice sentence to the active voice, find the agent in a 'by ...' phrase, or consider carefully who or what is performing the action expressed in the verb. Make that agent the subject of the sentence, and change the verb accordingly. Sometimes you will need to infer the agent from the surrounding sentences which provide context.

Passive voice	Agent	Changed to Active voice
The book is being read by most of the students.	Most of the students	Most of the students are reading the book.
Mistakes were made.	Agent not specified; most likely agents such as 'we'.	We made mistakes.

Choosing the Passive Voice

While the active voice helps to create clear and direct sentences, sometimes writers find that using an indirect expression is rhetorically effective in a given situation, so they choose the passive voice. The passive voice makes sense when the agent performing the action is obvious, unimportant, or unknown or when a writer doesn't want to mention the agent until the last part of the sentence or wants to avoid mentioning the agent at all.

The passive voice is effective in such circumstances because it highlights the action and what is acted upon rather than the agent performing the action.

Active	Passive
The doctors successfully performed a new experimental operation yesterday.	A new experimental operation was successfully performed by the doctors yesterday.

In the above example, the passive voice makes sense because the agent is relatively unimportant compared to the action itself and what is acted upon.

Changing active to passive

If you want to change an active voice sentence to the passive voice, consider carefully who or what is performing the action expressed in the verb, and then make that agent the object of a 'by...' phrase. Make what is acted upon the subject of the sentence, and change the verb to a form of be + past participle. Including an explicit 'by the...' phrase is optional.

Active voice	Agent	Changed to Passive voice
The leaders are seeking a fair resolution to the crisis.	The leaders	A fair solution to the crisis is being sought. (by the leaders)

In the above example, the passive voice is useful for highlighting the action and what is acted upon instead of the agent.