Post by domynoe on Jul 20, 2018 10:09:43 GMT -7
The voice of a verb tells whether the subject of the sentence performs or receives the action. In English there are two voices: passive and active.
Passive Voice
In passive tense, the subject receives the action expressed by a verb: A song was written by the student. The passive voice is always formed with a 'to be' verb + a past participle:
Passive Voice Form
it is cleaned
(present tense)
it was cleaned
(past tense)
it will be cleaned
(future tense)
it has been cleaned
(present perfect tense)
it had been cleaned
(past perfect tense)
it will have been cleaned
(future perfect tense)
Passive vs. active voice
Use the passive voice to:
» call attention to the receiver of the action rather than the person doing the action
The professor was hit by three snowballs.
» point out the receiver of the action when the performer is unknown or unimportant
A love letter was slipped under the door.
» to avoid calling attention to the performer of the action (known as the "institutional passive")
The fines will be collected on Monday.
In active voice, on the other hand, the subject performs the action of the verb:
The cats climbed the curtains.
Active and passive in writing
The choice between using the active or passive in writing is a matter of style, not correctness. However, most handbooks recommend using active voice, which they describe as more natural, direct, lively, and succinct. The passive voice is considered wordy and weak (except when used in the cases above).
Hints for identifying the passive voice
» an active verb may or may not have a direct object, but the passive verb almost never does
» "it is. . . that" construction: it is noted that, it is clear that
» use of the verbs 'to be', 'to make, 'to have' (should, would, could, etc)
» endings that turn verbs into abstract nouns: -ion, -ing, -ment
Passive Voice
In passive tense, the subject receives the action expressed by a verb: A song was written by the student. The passive voice is always formed with a 'to be' verb + a past participle:
Passive Voice Form
it is cleaned
(present tense)
it was cleaned
(past tense)
it will be cleaned
(future tense)
it has been cleaned
(present perfect tense)
it had been cleaned
(past perfect tense)
it will have been cleaned
(future perfect tense)
Passive vs. active voice
Use the passive voice to:
» call attention to the receiver of the action rather than the person doing the action
The professor was hit by three snowballs.
» point out the receiver of the action when the performer is unknown or unimportant
A love letter was slipped under the door.
» to avoid calling attention to the performer of the action (known as the "institutional passive")
The fines will be collected on Monday.
In active voice, on the other hand, the subject performs the action of the verb:
The cats climbed the curtains.
Active and passive in writing
The choice between using the active or passive in writing is a matter of style, not correctness. However, most handbooks recommend using active voice, which they describe as more natural, direct, lively, and succinct. The passive voice is considered wordy and weak (except when used in the cases above).
Hints for identifying the passive voice
» an active verb may or may not have a direct object, but the passive verb almost never does
» "it is. . . that" construction: it is noted that, it is clear that
» use of the verbs 'to be', 'to make, 'to have' (should, would, could, etc)
» endings that turn verbs into abstract nouns: -ion, -ing, -ment