Active and Passive Voices

Passive Voice

The passive voice emphasizes the action being performed rather than the person doing the action

The passive voice has two main uses: To present ideas objectively

(Showing that the results are more important than the person doing the work)

“The surveys were tabulated.” To avoid using names or assigning blame

“An unfortunate error has occurred.”

Construction of passive voice sentences:

They begin with a thing rather than a person

They use a two-word verb “is” or “was” followed by a past-tense verb

They sometimes end with a phrase starting with “by” that identifies the doer of the action All expenses were approved by the CEO.

Starts with a thing

Two-word verb

Can be left out

Active Voice

The active voice is preferred for most type of business writing because it is shorter, more personal, and more forceful

In active voice sentences, the subject of the verb performs the action I heated the solution You made a mistake

Active versus Passive Voice

Are the following sentences in the active or the passive voice?

My professor is teaching three courses. These three courses are taught by the same

professor. The Economist is read by many students and

professionals. I enjoy reading The Economist. The issue of electoral reform was discussed

by the students.

Q: What is the difference between the active and the

passive voice?

A: In an sentence using the active voice, the

subject of the sentence does the action.

In a sentence using the passive voice, the

subject of the sentence receives the action.

Examples:

Active: Active sentences (subject) focus (action, done by the subject) on the person doing the action.

Passive: The recipient of the action (subject) is focused (action, not done by the subject), on in a passive sentence.

Examples:

Active: The explorers climbed the tallest mountain.

Passive: The tallest mountain was climbed by the explorers.

Examples:

Active: Professor Stevens compiled the largest collection of Shakespeare’s sources.

Passive: The largest collection of Shakespeare’s sources was compiled by Professor Stevens.

Active versus Passive

Active Voice More emphatic More concise Used as the general rule

Passive Voice Used when you want to

stress the importance of the action or its recipient.

Used when the actor is unknown or irrelevant.

Used when one wants to avoid (evitar) mentioning the actor: Ex. Mistakes were made.

Q: So what’s the problem?

A: 1. You should not switch (cambiar) active

and passive voices in the same sentence!

2. Be careful with the grammatical

construction.

Examples of switching voices in the same sentence:

i. The contentious issue was contemplated as the debaters prepared to present their arguments.

ii. Once the books were finished, the writers talked to the publisher.

iii. The pipes in the kitchen were fixed, then the plumber started repairing the showers.

Switching voices can confuse the reader. If

your reader is confused, then your writing is not

effective or efficient.

Q: How do I fix (arreglar) it (switching

voices)?

A: Make all parts of your sentence

consistent. Usually, you should change the

passive voice to the active voice.

Corrections:

Incorrect: Once the books were finished, the writers talked to the publisher.

Correct: Once the writers finished their books, they talked to the publisher.

Corrections:

Incorrect: The pipes in the kitchen were fixed, then the plumber started

repairing the showers.

Correct: The plumber fixed the pipes in the kitchen then he started repairing the showers.

Examples of Mistaken Grammatical Construction in the Passive Voice:

i. The horses will groomed.

ii. The great apple tree had cut down.

iii. The hungry bear would shot by the hunter.

iv. Shoes is made in the factory.

v. Bicycles should not be leaving in the driveway.

vi. This skyscraper will finish in 2009.

Q: How do I fix it (mistaken grammatical

construction in the passive voice)?

1. Make sure to know who is receiving the action and who is doing the action. 2. Verify that you have BE + past participle in your sentence!3. Verify your tenses and your subject-verb agreement!

Corrections:

Incorrect: The horses will groomed.

Correct: The horses will be groomed.

Corrections:

Incorrect: The great apple tree had cut down.

Correct: The great apple tree had been cut down.

Corrections:

Incorrect: The hungry bear would shot by the hunter.

Correct: The hungry bear would be shot by the hunter.

Self Test:

Correct the following sentences if there is an inconsistency in voice.

- The new product design will finish very soon.

- They was cooking dinner when I arrived.

- The preparations had all be finished when the guests arrived.

- The refreshments are going to be provide by Karen.

-Mistakes had made by the politicians. - The dinner was eaten as the guests got to know each other better.- “Dubliners” wrote by James Joyce.

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