Active voice

In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject of

sentence performs the action.

Passive voice

In a sentence written in the passive voice the subject receives the action.

Examples:

Active: The candidate believes that Congress must place a ceiling on the budget

Passive: It is believed by the candidate that a ceiling must be placed on the

budget by Congress.

Active: The dog bit the man.

Passive: The man was bitten by the dog

Active voice construction:

Subject+ verb+ object.

Examples:

someone stole the money

A setence generally begins with the

performer of the action (subject)

then the verb, then the object or

person that the action is performed

on. This is called an “active”

sentence.

Passive voice construction:

Object+ verb “to be”in thesame tense as the active voice +verb in past participle.

Examples:

The money was stolen

If we begin the sentence with the

object or person that the action

is performed on, we formulate a

“Passive”

1.- we do not know who thesubject is, or it is notimportant who the subject is.

Examples:Somebody cleaned the room

The room wascleaned.

2.- when it is obvious to thelistener or reader who thesubject is because it is theperson who usually does it.

Examples:The cleaner cleaned the room

The room was cleaned