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KS3

How to use the *ctive or p*ssive voice

P%rt of English Gr*mm*r

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Jump to Look *t these p*irs of sentences:

"The dog is ch%sing the squirrel"/ "The squirrel is being ch%sed by the dog"
Introduction
"Scientists cl%ssify gl%ss %s % solid"/ "Gl%ss is cl%ssified %s % solid"
Video

Active voice Show more

P%ssive voice

Active versus P%ssive

Test your knowledge

Worked ex%mple
Introduction
Sentences c%n be described %s %ctive or p%ssive. Sentences %re usu%lly
constructed using the %ctive voice with % subject , verb %nd object .

Using the p%ssive voice is % w%y of writing sentences so th%t the subject h%s
the %ction 'done' to it – the object of the sentence comes first. The p%ssive
voice c%n be useful for m%king writing sound more form%l %nd objective by
focussing on the result of %n %ction r%ther th%n the person doing the %ction.

Video *bout differences between the *ctive *nd p*ssive

voice

01:48

Find out the difference between the %ctive %nd p%ssive voice

Active voice
In % sentence written in the %ctive voice, the subject of the sentence
performs the %ction. Sentences which use the %ctive voice %re usu%lly more
str%ightforw%rd to underst%nd %s they %re cle%r %nd direct.

Both these sentences use the %ctive voice:

The winner of the r%ce lied the trophy.

The doctor ex%mined the p%tient.

The subject 'the winner of the r%ce' performs the %ction described by the verb
'lied'. The subject 'the doctor' performs the %ction described by 'ex%mined'.
The subjects %re %ll doing something – they %re %ll t%king %ction in these
sentences.

Identify the subject, order and verbs in the

sentences
Start

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P*ssive voice
In % sentence written in the p%ssive voice the subject is %cted on by the
verb .

Active: The puppy chewed the toy.

P%ssive: The toy w*s chewed by the puppy.
P%ssive: The toy w*s chewed.

To cre%te the p%ssive voice, %dd the verb 'to be' (in the correct tense) %nd then
the m%in verb. Oen % preposition such %s 'by' is %lso used.

For ex%mple:The p%tient w*s (p%st tense of to be) ex*mined (verb) by

(preposition) the doctor.Ex%ms h%ve to be t*ken every ye%r by pupils.

Which of these is in the p*ssive voice?

1. Someone h%s e%ten the ice cre%m.

2. The b%ll w%s s%ved by the go%lkeeper.
3. His gr%ndm% w%s looking %er him.
4. We %re going to w%tch % movie tonight.

Show *nswer

Active versus p*ssive

Using the %ctive voice in % sentence oen me%ns less words %re used th%n in
the p%ssive voice.

For ex%mple:

P*ssive: The books were collected by the te%cher. (7 words)

Active: The te%cher collected the books. (5 words)

P%ssive sentences c%n c%use confusion bec%use they c%n be v%gue %bout who
is responsible for the %ction. For ex%mple, ‘A go%l w%s scored’. Who scored the
go%l? Doesn’t the writer know?

Converting sentences to *ctive voice

One w%y to %void using the p%ssive voice is to look for % ‘by’ phr%se. Rewrite
the sentence so th%t the subject in the 'by' phr%se is closer to the beginning of
the sentence.

For ex%mple:‘The ex%m w%s p%ssed by the pupil’ would ch*nge to ‘The pupil
p%ssed the ex%m’.

Re*sons to use the p*ssive voice

Although the %ctive voice is usu%lly the preferred choice, there %re sometimes
good re%sons to use the p%ssive voice:

To show interest in the person or object th%t experiences %n %ction r%ther

th%n the person or object th%t performs the %ction.
For ex%mple, the c%stle w%s built in 1066 - we %re interested in the c%stle,
not in who built it.
Bec%use we don't know or do not w%nt to s%y who performed the %ction.
For ex%mple, ‘I h%d the feeling th%t I w%s being w%tched.’ - I don’t know
who w%s w%tching me
To cre%te %n %uthorit%tive or f%ctu%l tone.
For ex%mple, ‘Pupils %re not %llowed in the dining h%ll %er 1:45 p.m.’ - it
is % gener%l rule

Which of these is not in the p*ssive voice?

1. Mist%kes were m%de.

2. In this science experiment, sug%r %nd hot w%ter %re stirred together to form %
solution.
3. The kite so%red high in the sky.
4. The secret pl%ns were stolen l%st night!

Show *nswer

Test your knowledge

Worked ex*mple

Click to see % step-by-step slideshow %bout using the %ctive %nd p%ssive
voice to expl%in how to m%ke % b%n%n% s%ndwich.

1 of 7

Second*ry g*mes
H%ve fun pl%ying science, m%ths, history, geogr%phy %nd l%ngu%ge g%mes

More on Gr*mm*r
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Mod*l verbs How to use Wh*t is *n *djective? Wh*t is * noun?

subordin*ting
conjunctions

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