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[Sign in](https://session.bbc.co.uk/session?ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fbitesize%2Farticles%2Fzkttng8%23zcw6m39&sequenceId=abe7c429-7072-48a2-b6c9-690502faaa44) or[Register](https://session.bbc.co.uk/session?action=register&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fbitesize%2Farticles%2Fzkttng8%23zcw6m39&sequenceId=abe7c429-7072-48a2-b6c9-690502faaa44) Maybe later ## Jump to 1. [Introduction](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#zq6ysk7) 1. [Video](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#zmpbvwx) 2. [Active voice](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#zxng3j6) 3. [Passive voice](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#zyrw8hv) 4. [Active versus passive](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#zcw6m39) 5. [Test your knowledge](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#zxsrbqt) 1. [Worked example](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#z6fcg7h) **Look at these pairs of sentences:** "The dog is chasing the squirrel"/ "The squirrel is being chased by the dog" "Scientists classify glass as a solid"/ "Glass is classified as a solid" ### Show moreShow less Both sentence pairs make sense. Both describe the same facts. However, in each pair one sentence uses the active voice and one uses the passive voice. Which sentence would you use? That would depend on what tone you wanted to convey and what you wanted the reader to focus on… [Back to top](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#main-content) ## Introduction Sentences can be described as active or passive. Sentences are usually constructed using the active voice close active voiceIn a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. with a subject close subjectThe subject (in a sentence) is the actor of the sentence, the person or thing doing the action., verb close verbA verb is a word that shows an action (physical or mental) or state of being. and object close objectThe object (in a sentence) is the element of the sentence that is acted on, that the verb is directed towards.. Using the passive voice close passive voiceIn a sentence written in the passive voice, the subject is acted on by the verb. is a way of writing sentences so that the subject has the action 'done' to it – the object of the sentence comes first. The passive voice can be useful for making writing sound more formal and objective by focussing on the result of an action rather than the person doing the action. ### Video about differences between the active and passive voice ## To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Find out the difference between the active and passive voice [Back to top](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#main-content) ## Active voice In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject close subjectThe subject (in a sentence) is the actor of the sentence, the person or thing doing the action. of the sentence performs the action. Sentences which use the active voice are usually more straightforward to understand as they are clear and direct. Both these sentences use the active voice: - The winner of the race lifted the trophy. - The doctor examined the patient. The subject 'the winner of the race' performs the action described by the verb 'lifted'. The subject 'the doctor' performs the action described by 'examined'. The subjects are all doing something – they are all taking action in these sentences. [Back to top](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#main-content) ## Passive voice In a sentence written in the passive voice the subject close subjectThe subject (in a sentence) is the actor of the sentence, the person or thing doing the action. is acted on by the verb close verbA verb is a word that shows an action (physical or mental) or state of being.. Active: The puppy chewed the toy. Passive: The toy **was chewed by** the puppy. Passive: The toy **was chewed**. To create the passive voice, add the verb 'to be' (in the correct tense) and then the main verb. Often a preposition close prepositionA preposition is a word that tells you where or when something is in relation to something else (examples include like after, before, on, under, inside and outside). such as 'by' is also used. For example:The patient **was** (past tense of to be) **examined** (verb) **by** (preposition) the doctor.Exams have **to be taken** every year **by** pupils. **Which of these is in the passive voice?** 1. Someone has eaten the ice cream. 2. The ball was saved by the goalkeeper. 3. His grandma was looking after him. 4. We are going to watch a movie tonight. ### Show answerHide answer Answer: 2. The ball was saved by the goalkeeper is **not** in the active voice.  [Back to top](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#main-content) ## Active versus passive Using the active voice in a sentence often means fewer words are used than in the passive voice. For example: - **Passive**: The books were collected by the teacher. (7 words) - **Active**: The teacher collected the books. (5 words) Passive sentences can cause confusion because they can be vague about who is responsible for the action. For example, ‘A goal was scored’. Who scored the goal? Doesn’t the writer know? ### Converting sentences to active voice One way to avoid using the passive voice is to look for a ‘by’ phrase. Rewrite the sentence so that the subject in the 'by' phrase is closer to the beginning of the sentence. For example:‘The exam was passed by the pupil’ would **change** to ‘The pupil passed the exam’. ### Reasons to use the passive voice Although the active voice is usually the preferred choice, there are sometimes good reasons to use the passive voice: - To show interest in the person or object that experiences an action rather than the person or object that performs the action. For example, the castle was built in 1066 - we are interested in the castle, not in who built it. - Because we don't know or do not want to say who performed the action. For example, ‘I had the feeling that I was being watched.’ - I don’t know who was watching me - To create an authoritative or factual tone. For example, ‘Pupils are not allowed in the dining hall after 1:45 p.m.’ - it is a general rule **Which of these is *not* in the passive voice?** 1. Mistakes were made. 2. In this science experiment, sugar and hot water are stirred together to form a solution. 3. The kite soared high in the sky. 4. The secret plans were stolen last night\! ### Show answerHide answer Answer: 3. The kite soared high in the sky is **not** in the passive voice.  [Back to top](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#main-content) ## Test your knowledge ### Worked example Image gallery[Skip image gallery](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#storyboard-end-of-image-gallery) 1.  Image caption, Click to see a step-by-step slideshow about using the active and passive voice to explain how to make a banana sandwich. 2.  Image caption, STEP 1 - Write about making the sandwich in the active voice. 3.  Image caption, STEP 2 - ‘I took two slices of bread’ is an example of the active voice. Here, the subject (I) is doing the action (took). 4.  Image caption, STEP 3 - Write about making the sandwich in the passive voice. 5.  Image caption, STEP 4 - ‘Two slices of bread were taken’ is in the passive voice. In this sentence, the object (two slices of bread) is having the action done to it. 6.  Image caption, Here are examples of both the active voice and the passive voice used in writing. 7.  Image caption, STEP 5 - Compare the paragraphs. What effect do you think the passive voice has? 1 of 7 Previous image Next image Slide 1 of 7, An image of an open banana sandwich with a step by step graphic next to it, Click to see a step-by-step slideshow about using the active and passive voice to explain how to make a banana sandwich. End of image gallery [Back to top](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#main-content) [Solve the Story\!](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/groups/c4gqzw1kxn6t?at_mid=I8TkL5DdoJ&at_campaign=Bitesize_promo_recirculation_KS3_to_Solve_the_Story&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_audience_id=UE&at_product=bitesize&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=editorial&at_format=inarticle_banner&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Bitesize_KS3_to_Solve_the_Story&at_bbc_team=ps) An exciting new series from the Other Side of the Story, designed to help young people strengthen their media literacy skills.  [Back to top](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkttng8#main-content) ## More on Grammar Find out more by working through a topic - [Modal verbs](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z4hrt39/articles/zfbyb82)  - [How to use subordinating conjunctions](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z4hrt39/articles/zfphsrd)  - [What is an adjective?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z4hrt39/articles/zj33rwx)  - [What is a noun?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z4hrt39/articles/znddqhv)  Language: ## Best of CBBC - [The real-life drama at a performing arts school](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002kwjb?at_mid=422ox8tkt9&at_campaign=Stage_Stars&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m002kwjd&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Stage_Stars&at_bbc_team=BBC) - Attribution iPlayer  - [Old friends and new directions in Pokémon Horizons Rising Hope](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002l3zk/pokemon-horizons-rising-hope-1-eyes-to-the-skies-once-again-part-1?at_mid=SMzNpVV7fi&at_campaign=Pokemon_Horizons_Rising_Hope_1_Eyes_to_the_Skies_Once_Again&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=p0grjk93&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Pokemon_Horizons_Rising_Hope_1_Eyes_to_the_Skies_Once_Again&at_bbc_team=BBC) - Attribution iPlayer  - [Steve Backshall tracks down the world’s deadliest wildlife](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002hdhg/deadly-60-series-6-1-cheetah-special?at_mid=1HoKCHH33N&at_campaign=Deadly_60_Series_6_Episode_1_Cheetah_Special&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=b00t2kc7&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Deadly_60_Series_6_Episode_1_Cheetah_Special&at_bbc_team=BBC) - Attribution iPlayer  - [Which Stranger Things character are you?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zskpqyc#zf8n7v4) - Attribution Bitesize  - [Home](https://www.bbc.co.uk/) - [News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news) - [Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport) - [Weather](https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather) - [iPlayer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer) - [Sounds](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) - [Bitesize](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize) - [CBBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc) - [CBeebies](https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies) - [Food](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food) - [Terms of Use](https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms) - [About the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/privacy) - [Cookies](https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/cookies) - [Accessibility Help](https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility) - [Parental Guidance](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guidance) - [Contact the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) - [Make an editorial complaint](https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints) - [BBC emails for you](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter) Copyright © 2026 BBC. 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