Active & Passive Voice: Understanding Sentence Structure

1. What is Voice in Grammar?

In English grammar, voice refers to the form of a verb that indicates whether the subject performs or receives the action. There are two types:

• Active Voice: The subject performs the action.
• Passive Voice: The subject receives the action.

2. Active Voice

Definition:

A sentence is in Active Voice when the subject performs the action of the verb.

Structure:

Subject + Verb + Object

Examples:

• She (subject) wrote (verb) a book (object).
• The teacher (subject) explains (verb) the lesson (object).

Why Use Active Voice?
✅ More direct and clear
✅ Concise and engaging
✅ Common in everyday writing and speaking

3. Passive Voice

Definition:

A sentence is in Passive Voice when the subject receives the action of the verb.

Structure:

Object + Form of “to be” + Past Participle + (by + Subject) [optional]

Examples:

• A book (object) was written (verb) by her (subject).
• The lesson (object) is explained (verb) by the teacher (subject).

Why Use Passive Voice?
✅ When the doer is unknown or unimportant
✅ To focus on the result rather than the action
✅ Common in scientific and formal writing

4. Conversion Rules: Active to Passive Voice

Present Simple:

• Active: He writes a letter.
• Passive: A letter is written by him.

Past Simple:

• Active: She painted the picture.
• Passive: The picture was painted by her.

Future Simple:

• Active: They will complete the project.
• Passive: The project will be completed by them.

Present Continuous:

• Active: He is watching a movie.
• Passive: A movie is being watched by him.

Past Continuous:

• Active: She was cooking dinner.
• Passive: Dinner was being cooked by her.

Present Perfect:

• Active: They have finished the work.
• Passive: The work has been finished by them.

5. When to Avoid Passive Voice?

❌ In casual or conversational writing
❌ When clarity and directness are important
❌ When it makes sentences unnecessarily long

Example:

• Passive: A mistake was made by the company.
• Active: The company made a mistake. ✅ (Better and clearer)

Conclusion

Understanding Active and Passive Voice is essential for clear and effective communication. Use Active Voice for concise writing and Passive Voice when the focus is on the action rather than the subject.