checklist active/passive clutter model
Understanding and Using Active and Passive Voice Effectively
One way of writing more effectively is to be aware of sentence structure and
how a particular construction alters meaning and emphasis. When you know when
and why you should use active or passive voice, you can further control the
meaning behind your sentences.
Definitions
Active voice means that the subject of the verb performs the action; in other words,
the subject is the doer, the agent of change, the go-getter, the mover, and the shaker.
Bill built an empire.
Mary designed a Web site.
Passive voice means that the subject of the verb receives the action; in other words,
the subject is the affected, the influenced, the inactive, the motionless, and the submissive party.
An empire was built.
The Web site was designed.
Comparing Active and Passive
| Verb Tense | Active | Passive |
|---|---|---|
| Present | she asks (is asking) | is asked (is being asked) |
| Future | she will ask | will be asked |
| Past | she asked | was asked |
| Perfect | she has asked | has been asked |
| Infinitives | to ask, to have asked | to be asked, to have been asked |
| Participles | asking | being asked |
Adapted from An Index to English by Porter G. Perrin |
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Using the Active Voice—Why and When
For crisp, direct sentences that show the agent doing the action, use active voice.
When it is important to know who did what, then use the active voice.
Active voice construction necessarily assigns responsibility for the action.
Using the Passive Voice—Why and When
For slower, wordier sentences that do not show who or what is performing the action,
use the passive voice. Passive voice is especially useful when the agent is unknown,
unimportant, or if the action should receive the emphasis instead of the agent.
Also, passive voice is a graceful way to avoid assigning blame (or accepting blame),
and can be used effectively when you are trying to be diplomatic in a difficult situation.
Changing Passive to Active
As you have just read, there are obviously times when passive voice
construction is the appropriate choice. However, usually you are aiming
for lively, clean prose; so you'll want to watch these three Flash™
movies to see how to transform verbs in the passive voice to those
in the active voice.
Passive to Active Demonstration
How to Change Passive to Active
Passive and Active Voice Review
Business Writing/English 3880 copyright©sally f. lawrence, 2000