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| URL | https://www.lsi.edu/en/active-v-passive-voice |
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| Meta Title | The active versus the passive voice in the English language | LSI |
| Meta Description | A clear explanation of the active versus the passive voice with examples |
| Meta Canonical | null |
| Boilerpipe Text | The typical English sentence is structured SVO (subject + verb + object). In an active sentence, the subject is the doer* or agent of the verb. When the subject is the doer of the verb, the voice is
active
. For example, in the active sentence
Julie ate the pizza, Julie does
the action.
Sometimes we donât want to include the doer in the sentence. In that case, we can change the structure of the sentence to the
passive voice
. In a passive sentence, the subject is no longer the doer. We often omit the doer, but it can be included after the preposition âbyâ. Here are 4 examples:
Passive: I was hit by a car.
Active: A car hit me.
Passive: My wallet was stolen.
Active: Someone stole my wallet.
Passive: Corn is grown in Iowa (by farmers).
Active: Farmers grow corn in Iowa.
Passive: The contract was sent to the wrong person.
Active: Linda in HR sent the contract to the wrong person.
âBut why?â you might ask. There are several reasons why we might prefer to use the passive:
The object is more important/relevant than the subject.
In example 1 above, I hope I am more important than the car that hit me! By using a passive sentence, I focus on myself rather than the car. In this way, the passive is often used to discuss injuries.
We donât know who the doer is.
In example 2, I didnât see who stole my wallet.
The doer doesnât need to be mentioned, because it is understood/implied.
In example 3, the topic is the corn rather than the farmers who grow it. We know farmers grow crops, so we donât have to include the doer. In this way, the passive can be used to discuss production and manufacturing.
It may be more polite not to name the doer.
In example 4, naming Linda might embarrass her, so we can use the passive instead to focus on the situation rather than the person at fault.
***
So how do you make a passive sentence? The structure of the passive is âbeâ + past participle. You will need to conjugate âbeâ according to the appropriate tense. Here are some examples of the passive in different tenses:
Simple past: Paper
was invented
in China.
Future: Dinner
will be served
at 8:00.
Present continuous: A new highway
is being constructed
just outside the city.
Present perfect: The plants
have not been watered
today.
(Just for fun, you could ask yourself these questions: âWho is the doer of each sentence? Why isnât the doer included in the sentence?)
***
Now that you know the basics of the passive, youâll need to consider one more thing: transitive versus intransitive verbs. A transitive verb uses a
direct object
. For example, in the sentence I
broke
the
glass
, the glass is a direct object because it is directly affected by the verb
broke
.
An intransitive verb doesnât use a direct object. For example, in the sentence I
was sleeping
, the verb
sleep
doesnât use a
direct object
. You donât sleep something; you just sleep! Keep in mind that an intransitive verb can use an
indirect object
. I
was sleeping in
my bed
. (An indirect object usually comes after a preposition, like in.) But still, there is no direct object in the sentence.
How does this relate to the passive? Remember that in a passive sentence, the object takes the place of the doer. Therefore, you need a direct object in order to use the passive. Since an intransitive verb doesnât use a direct object, an intransitive verb canât be used in a passive sentence.
Active: A car
hit
me
.
Passive:
I
was hit by
a car
.
This works because âhitâ is transitive.
Active: Something funny
happened
(no object).
Passive: It was happened something funny.
This is a common mistake. Happen is intransitive, so it canât be used in the passive.
Active: I
slept in
my bed (indirect object).
Passive: My bed was slept in by me.
This passive sentence is technically correct, but you wonât often hear indirect objects used with the passive.
How do you know if a verb is transitive or intransitive? A good dictionary should tell you. Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on the usage.
***
Students often ask:
*What do you mean by âdoerâ?
A doer (pronounced do-er) is someone who does an action. Someone who teaches is a teacher; someone who does is a doer. Fun fact: If someone says youâre a âdoerâ, it can mean that youâre an efficient person who gets things done rather than just talking about it.
Sometimes I hear people say âI got hitâ instead of âI was hitâ. Why?
Sometimes you can use âgetâ instead of âbeâ as a more casual way of speaking in the passive. This form works best with actions that happen suddenly or unexpectedly. For example, I got fired or I got hurt playing soccer. NOT: Paper got invented in China, because inventions donât happen in a sudden, unexpected way.
I heard that we should avoid using the passive, especially in writing.
Itâs true that we donât want to use the passive too much. Most of the time itâs helpful to know who or what did the action of the verb. But itâs perfectly normal to use the passive occasionally.
Practice: Imagine that you work for a vacation resort, and you are trying to attract visitors. Briefly describe the location and then use the passive to write about the services and features of the resort. Try to use a variety of tenses in the passive.
You are invited toâŠ
The resort is locatedâŠ
Our luxury hotel has been awardedâŠ
You will be picked up at the airport in aâŠ
All meals are prepared byâŠ
You will be taken toâŠ
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# The Active Versus Passive Voice in the English Language
The typical English sentence is structured SVO (subject + verb + object). In an active sentence, the subject is the doer\* or agent of the verb. When the subject is the doer of the verb, the voice is **active**. For example, in the active sentence *Julie ate the pizza, Julie does* the action.
Sometimes we donât want to include the doer in the sentence. In that case, we can change the structure of the sentence to the **passive voice**. In a passive sentence, the subject is no longer the doer. We often omit the doer, but it can be included after the preposition âbyâ. Here are 4 examples:
- 1. Passive: I was hit by a car.
- Active: A car hit me.
2. Passive: My wallet was stolen.
- Active: Someone stole my wallet.
3. Passive: Corn is grown in Iowa (by farmers).
- Active: Farmers grow corn in Iowa.
4. Passive: The contract was sent to the wrong person.
- Active: Linda in HR sent the contract to the wrong person.
1. The object is more important/relevant than the subject.
- In example 1 above, I hope I am more important than the car that hit me! By using a passive sentence, I focus on myself rather than the car. In this way, the passive is often used to discuss injuries.
2. We donât know who the doer is.
- In example 2, I didnât see who stole my wallet.
3. The doer doesnât need to be mentioned, because it is understood/implied.
- In example 3, the topic is the corn rather than the farmers who grow it. We know farmers grow crops, so we donât have to include the doer. In this way, the passive can be used to discuss production and manufacturing.
4. It may be more polite not to name the doer.
- In example 4, naming Linda might embarrass her, so we can use the passive instead to focus on the situation rather than the person at fault.
1. Simple past: Paper **was invented** in China.
2. Future: Dinner **will be served** at 8:00.
3. Present continuous: A new highway **is being constructed** just outside the city.
4. Present perfect: The plants **have not been watered** today.
- **Active: A car** hit **me**.
- Passive: **I** was hit by **a car**.
- This works because âhitâ is transitive.
- **Active: Something funny** happened **(no object).**
- Passive: It was happened something funny.
- This is a common mistake. Happen is intransitive, so it canât be used in the passive.
- **Active: I** slept in **my bed (indirect object).**
- Passive: My bed was slept in by me.
- This passive sentence is technically correct, but you wonât often hear indirect objects used with the passive.
- You are invited toâŠ
- The resort is locatedâŠ
- Our luxury hotel has been awardedâŠ
- You will be picked up at the airport in aâŠ
- All meals are prepared byâŠ
- You will be taken toâŠ
- âŠ
## Grammar Resources
| | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Simple Pesents vs Present Continuous](https://www.lsi.edu/en/simple-present-v-present-continuous) | | [Present Perfect tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/present-perfect-tense) | | [Past Continuous tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/past-continuous-tense) |
| [Past Perfect tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/past-perfect-tense) | | [Past Perfect Continuous tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/past-perfect-continuous-tense) | | [Irregular verbs](https://www.lsi.edu/en/irregular-verbs) |
| [Future Continuous tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/future-continuous-tense) | | [Future Perfect tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/future-perfect-tense) | | [Future Perfect Continous tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/future-perfect-continuous-tense) |
| [Phrasal verbs](https://www.lsi.edu/en/phrasal-verbs) | | [may and might](https://www.lsi.edu/en/may-and-might) | | [should and shouldnât](https://www.lsi.edu/en/should-and-should-not) |
| [must and have to](https://www.lsi.edu/en/must-and-have-to) | | [Active versus Passive voice](https://www.lsi.edu/en/active-v-passive-voice) | | [Common Phrases and Idioms](https://www.lsi.edu/en/common-phrases-and-idioms) |
| [Common proverbs](https://www.lsi.edu/en/common-proverbs) | | [Tongue Twisters](https://www.lsi.edu/en/tongue-twisters) | | [25 Essential English Phrases](https://www.lsi.edu/en/essential-en-phrases) |
| |
|---|
| Tense |
| [Simple Pesents vs Present Continuous](https://www.lsi.edu/en/simple-present-v-present-continuous) |
| [Present Perfect tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/present-perfect-tense) |
| [Past Perfect tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/past-perfect-tense) |
| [Past Continuous tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/past-continuous-tense) |
| [Past Perfect Continuous tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/past-perfect-continuous-tense) |
| [Future Continuous tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/future-continuous-tense) |
| [Future Perfect tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/future-perfect-tense) |
| [Future Perfect Continous tense](https://www.lsi.edu/en/future-perfect-continuous-tense) |
| Verbs |
| [Irregular verbs](https://www.lsi.edu/en/irregular-verbs) |
| [Phrasal verbs](https://www.lsi.edu/en/phrasal-verbs) |
| [Active versus Passive voice](https://www.lsi.edu/en/active-v-passive-voice) |
| [Common Phrases and Idioms](https://www.lsi.edu/en/common-phrases-and-idioms) |
| [Common proverbs](https://www.lsi.edu/en/common-proverbs) |
| [Tongue Twisters](https://www.lsi.edu/en/tongue-twisters) |
| [may and might](https://www.lsi.edu/en/may-and-might) |
| [should and shouldnât](https://www.lsi.edu/en/should-and-should-not) |
| [must and have to](https://www.lsi.edu/en/must-and-have-to) |
| [25 Essential English Phrases](https://www.lsi.edu/en/essential-en-phrases) |
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## SEARCH
  |
| Readable Markdown | The typical English sentence is structured SVO (subject + verb + object). In an active sentence, the subject is the doer\* or agent of the verb. When the subject is the doer of the verb, the voice is **active**. For example, in the active sentence *Julie ate the pizza, Julie does* the action.
Sometimes we donât want to include the doer in the sentence. In that case, we can change the structure of the sentence to the **passive voice**. In a passive sentence, the subject is no longer the doer. We often omit the doer, but it can be included after the preposition âbyâ. Here are 4 examples:
- 1. Passive: I was hit by a car.
- Active: A car hit me.
2. Passive: My wallet was stolen.
- Active: Someone stole my wallet.
3. Passive: Corn is grown in Iowa (by farmers).
- Active: Farmers grow corn in Iowa.
4. Passive: The contract was sent to the wrong person.
- Active: Linda in HR sent the contract to the wrong person.
1. The object is more important/relevant than the subject.
- In example 1 above, I hope I am more important than the car that hit me! By using a passive sentence, I focus on myself rather than the car. In this way, the passive is often used to discuss injuries.
2. We donât know who the doer is.
- In example 2, I didnât see who stole my wallet.
3. The doer doesnât need to be mentioned, because it is understood/implied.
- In example 3, the topic is the corn rather than the farmers who grow it. We know farmers grow crops, so we donât have to include the doer. In this way, the passive can be used to discuss production and manufacturing.
4. It may be more polite not to name the doer.
- In example 4, naming Linda might embarrass her, so we can use the passive instead to focus on the situation rather than the person at fault.
1. Simple past: Paper **was invented** in China.
2. Future: Dinner **will be served** at 8:00.
3. Present continuous: A new highway **is being constructed** just outside the city.
4. Present perfect: The plants **have not been watered** today.
- **Active: A car** hit **me**.
- Passive: **I** was hit by **a car**.
- This works because âhitâ is transitive.
- **Active: Something funny** happened **(no object).**
- Passive: It was happened something funny.
- This is a common mistake. Happen is intransitive, so it canât be used in the passive.
- **Active: I** slept in **my bed (indirect object).**
- Passive: My bed was slept in by me.
- This passive sentence is technically correct, but you wonât often hear indirect objects used with the passive.
- You are invited toâŠ
- The resort is locatedâŠ
- Our luxury hotel has been awardedâŠ
- You will be picked up at the airport in aâŠ
- All meals are prepared byâŠ
- You will be taken toâŠ
- ⊠|
| Shard | 180 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 16213010053844999380 |
| Unparsed URL | edu,lsi!www,/en/active-v-passive-voice s443 |