v Voice is the form a verb takes to indicate whether the subject of the verb performs or receives the action.
v There are two types of voice: active voice and passive voice.
Active Voice
v Active Voice – indicates that the subject of the verb is acting
v Because the subject does or "acts upon" the verb in such sentences, the sentences are said to be in the active voice.
v These examples show that the subject is doing the verb's action.
> The dog jumped onto the boy.
ü The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb).
> Kristy will give a book report to the class.
ü Kristy (subject) is doing the giving (verb).
> The computer printed my paper.
ü The computer (subject) is doing the printing (verb).
Passive Voice
v In a passive voice sentence, the subject and object flip-flop. The subject becomes the passive recipient of the action.
v Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is passive), such sentences are said to be in the passive voice.
v These examples show the subject being acted upon by the verb.
v The boy was jumped on by the dog.
ü Boy (subject) was being jumped on (verb)
v A book report will be given by Kristy to the class.
ü Report (subject) will be given (verb).
v My paper was printed by the computer.
ü Paper (subject) was being printed (verb).
REASONS FOR USING THE PASSIVE VOICE
v Passive voice is used when the agent (doer of an action) is obvious, unknown, or unnecessary.
J Oranges are grown in California.
J Toyotas are made in Japan.
J Her purse was stolen.
v Passive voice is used when the agent is known, but the speaker/writer does not want to mention it.
J She was given bad advice.
J A mistake has been made.
v Passive voice is often used when the agent is very general such as people or somebody.
J English is spoken here.
J The door should be locked at all times.
v Passive voice is used when the speaker/writer wants to emphasize a result or emphasize the receiver of the action instead of the performer.
J Seven thousand people were killed by the earthquake
=) The earthquake killed 7,000 people.
J The professor was hit by three snowballs.
=) Three snowballs hit the professor.
Reasons to Use the Active Voice
v Most writers prefer to use active voice because it is more direct.
v Compare
J Active: The waiter dropped the tray of food.
J Passive: The tray of food was dropped by the waiter.
v The active voice is less awkward and clearly states relationship between subject and action.
v Compare
J Passive: Your request for funding has been denied by the review committee.
J Active: The review committee denied your request for funding.
v The active voice sentence pattern propels the reader forward through your writing thus avoiding weak prose.
When to Use Passive Voice
v In general, the passive voice is less direct, less forceful, and less concise than the active voice.
v Use the passive voice in the following situations:
J Use passive voice when you do not know or do not want to reveal the performer of an action.
J Use passive voice when you want to emphasize the receiver of an action.
Examples
v Awkward Passive: My bicycle was repainted by John.
v Deliberate Passive: My bicycle was repainted. (The performer is not mentioned and the emphasis is on the bicycle.)
Form of Passive Voice Verbs
v The passive voice requires a "double verb" and will always consist of a form of the verb "to be" and the past participle (usually the "en/ed/t" form) of another verb.
v Example:
Active: John baked the bread.
Passive: The bread was baked by John. (Was is a form of the verb “be”.)
v Writers should be familiar with the forms of "to be" , often called linking verbs, so that they can easily identify the passive voice in their work.
v Review the forms of "to be":
J am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
v Note the forms of "to be" in the examples of the verb "to kick" in various forms of the passive voice:
is kicked - - - - - >had been kicked
was kicked - - - - - >is going to be kicked
is being kicked - - - - - >will be kicked
has been kicked - - - - - >can be kicked
was being kicked - - - - - >should be kicked
v Often passive voice sentences will contain a "by" phrase indicting who or what performed the action.
v Passive sentences can be easily transformed into active sentences when the object of the preposition "by" is moved to the subject position in the sentence.
v Examples:
J Passive: The cookies were eaten by the children.
J Active: The children ate the cookies.
J Passive: The tunnels are dug by the gophers.
J Active: The gophers dug the tunnels.