ACTIVE PASSIVE VOICE

By
Dr. Nurochman
Dr. Erni Hastuti
 Active Voice
Active voice is used to show that the subject of the sentence
is performing or causing the action.

Because the subject does or “acts upon”

the verb in such sentences, the sentences
are said to be in the active voice.
 Active Voice
These examples show that the subject is doing the verb’s action.

The dog jumped on to the boy.

The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb).

Kristy will give a book report to the class.

Kristy (subject) is doing the giving (verb).

The computer ate my paper.

The computer (subject) is doing the eating (verb).
 PASSIVE VOICE
In a passive voice sentence, the subject becomes the passive
recipient of the action.

Because the subject is being “acted upon” (or

is passive), such sentences are said to be in
the passive voice.
 Passive Voice
These examples show the subject being acted upon by the verb.

The boy was jumped on by the dog.

Boy (subject) was being jumped on (verb).

A book report will be given by kristy to the class.

Report (subject) will be given (verb).

My paper was eaten by the computer.

Paper (subject) was being eaten (verb).
 Sentence Structure (SV0)
The police arrested the robbers.

(subject) (verb) (object)

A verb is an action. The performer of that action is called the subject,

and the one on whom that action is performed is called the object.
Active Voice

Millions of viewers watched the World Cup.

(Subject) (verb) (object)

Passive Voice

The World Cup was watched by millions of viewers.

(object) (verb) (subject)

Changing Active to Passive Voice
- Positions of the subject and the object
are switched.
- Auxiliary verbs and prepositions are
added where necessary
- The verb is converted to its 3rd form.
Active Voice
The storm caused the delay of the light.

(subject) (verb) (object)

Passive Voice
The delay of the light was caused by the storm.

(object) (h.verb) (m.verb) (preposition) (the subject)

Form of Passive Voice verbs
• The passive voice requires a “double verb” and will always consist of
a form of the verb “to be” and the past participle (usually the
“en/ed/t” form) of another verb.

Example :
• Active : John baked the bread.
• Passive: The bread was baked by John.
(Was is a form of the verb “be”.)
Form of Passive Voice Verbs
Writers should be familiar with the forms of “to be”, often
called linking verbs, so that they can easily identify the
passive voice in their work.

The forms of ‘to be’ am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been

Often passive voice sentences will contain a “by” phrase

indicting who or what performed the action.

Passive sentences can be easily transformed into active

sentences when the object of the preposition “by” is
moved to the subject position in the sentence.
 The Form of Active Voice and Passive Voice in Tenses
Active Voice Passive Voice

Simple Present Tense

Subject + infinitive + object S + to be + past participle + by object

Example:
Simson cares the lion. The lion is cared by Simson.

Present Continuous Tense

Subject + to be (is, am, are) + Present participle + object S + to be (is, am, are) + being + past participle + by
object
Example :
Ratna is writing the letter. The letter is being written by her.

Simple Past Tense

Subject +past participle +object Subject + was/were + past participle +by object

Example: The house was cleaned by her.

She cleaned the house.
 Active Voice Passive Voice

Past Continuous Tense

S + was/were + past participle + object S + was/were + being + past participle + by object

Example:
I was waiting for Dina. Dina was being waited by me.

Past perfect Tense

S + had + past participle + object S + had been + past participle + by object

Example:
He had left that place. That place had been left by him.

Simple Future tense

S + will +infinitive + object S will + be +past participle + by object

Example:
Budi will repair his bicycle. His bicycle will be repaired by Budi.
 Active Voice Passive Voice

Future Continuous Tense

S+ will be +present participle + object S + will + be + ing + past participle +by object

Example:
He will be doing a test tomorrow A test will be being done by him tomorrow

Past Future Tense

S + would +infinitive + object S + would + be +past participle + by object

Example:
I would buy a book tomorrow A book would be bought by me
Some sentences cannot be Converted
to the passive voice
Sentences containing intransitive verbs cannot be converted to the
passive voice.

For example: “The lion roared”, “the glass cracked”

(since these sentences do not contain an object, they cannot be
converted to the passive voice)
REASONS TO use the ACTIVE vOICE
• Most writers prefer to use active voice because it is more direct.

Compare
Active : The waiter dropped the tray of food.
Passive: The tray of food was dropped by the waiter.

• The active voice is less awkward and clearly states

relationship between subject and action.

Compare :
Passive : Your request for funding has been denied by the review committee.
Active : The review committee denied your request for funding.
when TO use the passive vOICE
• In general, the passive voice is less direct, less forceful, and less concise than
the active voice.

• Use the passive voice in the following situations:

- Use passive voice when you do not know or
do not want to reveal the performer of an action.

- Use passive voice when you want to emphasize

the receiver of an action.

Examples:
Awkward Passive: My bicycle was repainted by John.
Deliberate Passive: My bicycle was repainted.
(The performer is not mentioned and the emphasis is on the bicycle.)
The passive voice should be generally avoided:
• When writing new articles and stories.
• When the subject of the sentence is more important than the
object.
• When there needs to be a direct relationship between the
subject and the verb.
Directions: Change the sentences
below to the active voice
1. The statue is being visited by hundreds of tourists every year.
2. My books were stolen by someone yesterday.
3. These books had been left in the classroom by a careless student.
4. Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by plantation workers
5. The house had been broken into by someone while the owners were
on vacation
Directions: Change the sentences
below to the passive voice.
1. Children cannot open these bottles easily.
2. The government built a road right outside her front door.
3. Mr. Ross broke the antique vase as he walked through the store.
4. When she arrived, the changes amazed her.
5. The construction workers are making street repairs all month long.
Change the following active sentences
into passive forms
1. They are building a new ring-road round the city.
2. They have changed the date of the meeting.
3. Professor Rivers is teaching that course.
4. Waitresses and waiters serve customers.
5. Hundred of people visit the Washington Monument every day.
6. They don’t pay Jim very much.
7. These students are learning the passive.
8. The secretary opens the mail.
9. The members are considering that proposal.
10. Shirley had suggested a new idea.
Change the following active sentences
into passive forms
1. People grow orchids in tropical countries.
2. We built the house two years ago.
3. It will bite you
4. We are repairing the car.
5. They were cleaning the house.
6. We had saved him before you come.
7. I will give your message to him
8. We have confirmed your reservation.
9. I don’t need your charity.
10. I am still serving this gentlemen
Directions: Change the sentences
below to the active voice
1. A reservation has been made by her.
2. A memo is developed for interoffice communication.
3. Is English spoken by your family?
4. I will be blamed by the manager.
5. Have you been invited by her?
6. Handicrafts are being promoted for export by our government.
7. Three books will have been written (by them) by the end of next year.
8. Your wallet has been found (by somebody).
9. Pearls are found by us in oysters.
10. He was bitten by dog.
Rewrite the active sentences in passive voice
and the passive sentences in active voice.
1. Active : Many people visit Washington.
Passive :

2. Active :
Passive : The White House was built by James Hoban.

3. Active :
Passive : The White House and the Capitol are connected by Pennsylvania Avenue.

4. Active : In the Capitol, workers are building a visitors center.

Passive :

5. Active : They will probably finish it in 2006.

Passive :