A passive sentence or phrase may lead with the object, and the verb and then the subject follow.Įxample: The cereal was eaten by my sister. Passive voice tells you what an action is doing to someone or something. Related: The Creative Writing Process What does “passive voice” mean? It can assist the readers with visualizing, processing and retaining information. It can help readers feel present and engaged with the content since an active voice uses direct sentences and can call the reader to action.ĭelivers understanding. Provides clarity: The tone is informal and conversational, which can make it easier to understand for those who are not proficient in reading or for those who know English as a second language. Makes work concise: An active voice can make the content feel less overwhelming by using shorter sentences and action verbs. Here are some other benefits of using active voice: Creative writers might also use an active voice instead of a passive voice since it describes situations in a narrative form. Because active voice identifies the action and who or what is performing the action, it can make it easier for the writer or listener to understand.įor non-scientific writing, sentences may have an active voice. Related: 31 Common Grammar Mistakes (With Examples and Corrections) When to use active voiceĪctive voice is ideal for sharing direct, concise information with an audience. "Jaguars" is the subject, "explore" is the verb and "jungle" is the object. The subject of the sentence performs an action that influences the object. An active voice emphasizes a subject that engages in action. What does “active voice” mean?Īctive voice is a form of writing that has the subject at the beginning of a sentence, and the verb and the object that receives the verb follow the subject.
In this article, we compare passive voice versus active voice by providing a definition for each term, showing the steps for changing passive to active voice and offering examples of each voice. Using the proper voice to express ideas can increase the chances of your audience understanding you and could persuade them to take action. For writers or speakers, it's important to understand when it's appropriate to use active voice or passive voice. Side Note: The use of “to be” verbs ( is, are, were, etc.) is a big tip off that a sentence may be passive (though not always because you can’t completely avoid using them).In grammar, the term "voice" describes the connection between the subject, a verb and the object related to the subject. You want them to perform for you.Īctive Voice: The instructor graded the midterm exams.
the subject of your sentence) a lot of money to act in your sentence. Side Note: Imagine that you are the director of your sentence, and you have paid your star (a.k.a. Make them the subject (star) of your sentence.What’s the action in the sentence? (graded).These steps help spot a passive sentence and revise it into the active voice: Passive Voice:The midterm exams were graded by the instructor. Remember, you want to be “active” not “passive” in your writing. Instead, writers prefer the active voice because the subject of the sentence is actually doing the action (thus making the sentence more commanding and confident). Writers try to avoid the passive voice when possible because the passive voice often leads to wordier and less powerful sentences.
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