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1. Active and Passive Voice

2. ACTIVE – PASSIVE VERBS
A. Active voice
* the subject is the doer
B. Passive voice
* the subject is the receiver (Agent)

3. Potential Problems
Potential problems with active and passive voice
are :
1. One voice form may be substituted for the
other.
2. The auxiliary may not agree in tense or
number.

4. Study the following potential
problems!
She couldn’t consult the map because it was
packing away.
She couldn’t consult the map because it was
packed away.

5. • He is read many books everyday.
• He reads many books everyday.
• Some sugar are poured into the sauce pan.
• Some sugar is poured into the sauce pan.

6. Active Voice
In sentences written in active voice, the subject performs
the action expressed in the verb; the subject acts.
1. The dog bit the boy
2. Pooja will present her research at the conference.
3. Scientist have conducted the experiments to test the
hypothesis.
4. Watching a framed, mobile through a car windshield
reminds me of watching a movie or TV.

7. Passive Voice

8. passive (more wordy) active (more concise)

9. passive (more wordy) active (more concise)

10. Changing passive to active
Passive Voice Agent Changed to Active
Voice
most of the class
agent not specified;
most likely agents
such as "the
researchers"

11. the CIA director and
his close advisors
agent not specified;
most likely agents
such as "we"

12. Changing active to passive
Active Voice Agent Changed to Passive
Voice
The
presiding
officer
The leaders
The scientists

13. Passive Voice Exercises
Practicing I
Read the paired sentences aloud. Write "A" in the blank
beside the sentence in the active voice,
"P" in the blank beside the sentence in the passive voice.
• a. _______ Louise made the coffee.
• b. _______ The coffee was made by Louise.
• c. _______ The package was advertised by the travel
agent.
• d. _______ The travel agent advertised the package

14. Practicing II
Rewrite these sentences to put them in the active
voice.
a. The sugar water was relished by the hummingbirds.
_____________________________________________
b. Jogging is done by many people for exercise.
_____________________________________________
c. A standing ovation was given to the guitar player.
_____________________________________________
d. The syllabus was handed out by the professor.
_____________________________________________

15. Practicing III
Change the following active sentences into passive ones!
1. They make Fords in Cologne
2. Susan is cooking dinner.
3. James Joyce wrote "Dubliners".
4. They were painting the house when I arrived.
5. They have produced over 20 models in the past two years.

16. 6. They are going to build a new factory in Portland.
7. I will finish it.
8. Farmers plant rice in Indonesia.
9. They make Nissan cars in Japan.
10. They make Bajaj Pulsar motor cycle in India.

17. HOMEWORK
Using either a computer or a piece of scratch paper, rewrite
the following paragraph in the active voice.
Last summer our house was painted by me. The job took
about two weeks. First, the exterior was washed using
warm water and a mild detergent. Then all the chinks and
pores in the walls were sealed with putty. After the putty
had had a a chance to dry, the exterior could be painted. A
latex paint was used because it is easy to apply and cleans
up with water. A whole week was needed to finish this part
of the job of the job. I was very careful to apply the paint
evenly because I did not want to have to apply two coats. A
color was used that was very close to the original color. Our
house is a two-story house, which meant that a tall ladder
was needed to do the second story. The paint can had to
be balanced on the top rung of the ladder while I worked.
When the job was finished, a great deal of satisfaction was
felt by me. I had to pat myself on the back. Even my dad
said that a good job was done.