Active / Passive Voice Form

Voice indicates whether the subject of a sentence is the actor or the receiver of the action.
In the Active Voice, the subject of the sentence does the acting; in the Passive Voice, the subject is acted upon.
In an Active Sentence, the subject is before the predicate (verb and object).
e.g. Global warming, deforestation, and pollution destroy the earths natural resources.
(Subject) (Verb) (Object)

In a Passive Sentence, the subject of the sentence is placed after the verb in the object position.
e.g. The earths natural resources are destroyed by global warming, deforestation, and pollution.
(Object in subject position) (Verb) (Subject in object position)
The passive voice is formed using the verb to be + the past participle.
Examples of the VERB TO BE: am, is, are, was, were, been, being
Examples of the PAST PARTICIPLE: seen, gotten, lived, worked, bought, taught, loved, caught, etc.

Passive

She was being watched by the police.

The house is being taken care of by the neighbors.

A bomb was detonated in the hotel lobby.

The project will be completed before Saturday.

Active

The police were watching her.

The neighbors are taking care of the house.

Someone detonated a bomb in the hotel lobby.

Someone will complete the project before Saturday.



Active / Passive Voice Form
More Examples:

Form Structure When to Use Example
Active subject + verb + object To place emphasis on the subject or
the action it took
The dog ate my homework.
Passive subject + verb + agent To place emphasis on the object of the
sentence
My homework was eaten by the dog.


Passive Active
My shoes were ruined by the rain. The rain ruined my shoes.
My homework was eaten by the dog. The dog ate my homework.
Dinner was burned by Dad. Dad burned dinner.
Her condition was improved by medication. Medication improved her condition.
We were made more miserable by the heat. The heat made us more miserable.
He itched due to a mosquito bite. The mosquito bite made him itch.
Many patients were seen by the doctor. The doctor saw many patients.
We lost the game due to the pitcher's error. The pitcher's error lost us the game.
They were driven here by Sue. Sue drove them here.
We were directed by him. He directed us.



Active / Passive Voice Form
Write whether it is in active or passive voice. (Hint: In these sentences look for the person who is carrying out the action).
1. Mark was eating an apple.

2. The picture was painted by Bob.

3. Tina opened the present.

4. The phone was being used by Mr Thomas.

5. The card was made by Fred.

6. James hit the tree with his stick.