Grammar: Passive or Active

What is Active Voice?

In order to understand Passive Voice, it is helpful to first understand the Active Voice and the concepts subject, verb and object. We’ll first examine the Active Voice:

The Subject is the doer of an action.
We sometimes refer to the subject as an ‘agent’
Verbs are doing or being words, actions such as think, want, run and be.
The Object is the receiver of the action.

Let’s look at an example of an active sentence:

The subject is the doer of the action – in this sentence I.
The action word is called a verb – read.
The receiver of an action is called the object – a new book.

From this example, it can be seen that the order of an active sentence is Subject> Verb> Object (SVO).

What is Passive Voice?

In the Passive Voice, the order of information is changed. In an active sentence, we would say “Peter told him to go to the office.” let’s look at a passive version of that sentence:

In the example above, the passive is used because who was told is important, but who told him is less important. Who did the action might be considered relevant or important, it may not be mentioned as in the first version. The order is Object > Verb > (Subject) or OVS.

The structure of a passive

Object + be + Past Participle + [by* + Subject] +?

From the example above, we can see that our example passive sentence starts with an object (he) followed by the verb be in the appropriate tense and form (was), and the Past Participle of the main verb tell (told).

* Note: Although by is the most frequently used preposition to link the Subject to a passive phrase, sometimes another preposition such as in is used.

+? Often passive phrases have an adverbial or other phrase added. For example:

Adverbial of time: The government is expected to be voted out of office [next month.]

Adverbial of place: The antique vase was sold [at an auction in Sydney.]

Purpose phrase: Prototype cars are carefully tested [to avoid manufacturing faults.]

Often these phrases can be placed in other parts of the sentence:

[Next month] the government is expected to be voted out of office.

[To avoid manufacturing faults,] prototype cars are carefully tested.

Exercise 1: Active or passive?

Look at the following sentences and decide if they are active or passive:

Exercise 2: Grammar check

Answer the following grammar questions.

Passives in a series

Sometimes we use a series of passives in one sentence:

The tables are assembled, painted and shipped to shops for sale.

In order to restore it, the wooden cabinet was cleaned, sanded, stained and then finally varnished.

In the examples above, it is not necessary to repeat the verb be (are/was). In fact, repeating the verb be will make the text repetitive:

In order to restore it, the wooden cabinet was cleaned, was sanded, was stained and then finally was varnished.

Exercise 3: Practice

Change the sentences from Active Voice to Passive Voice.

Note: The verb be should follow the tense and form of the main verb in the active sentence. In the example above, the main verb ran is Past Simple and the subject a speeding drunk driver is in the singular form. Therefore the verb be is was (Past Simple singular).

Instructions:

Fill the gaps to complete the passive versions of the active sentences.
Follow the steps in the example above.

Can all sentences be converted to Passive Voice?

(Transitive and intransitive verbs)

No. Sentences can only be passive if the verb can take a direct object. Consider the following example:

Example 1: [The governor] ordered [an investigation].

The verb ‘ordered‘ has an object (an investigation). As it has a direct object, it can be made passive:

An investigation was ordered by the governor.

Example 2: [John] sold [his house] for $700,000.

The verb ‘sold‘ has an object (his house). As it has a direct object, it can be made passive:

The house was sold for $700,000.

Transitive Verbs such as order and sell are verbs/actions which can transfer to a direct object. For example, in the sentence above the verbs order and sell are done to (or ‘transfer’ to) the object an investigation/the house. In a dictionary, transitive verbs are often indicated by the abbreviation VT.

Verbs which cannot be used in the Passive Voice.

Some actions just happen without a person or agent making them happen. Consider the following examples:

He sneezed violently.
Babies usually cry a lot at night.
Jane and Michael walked to Ballarat.
The children grew up in Geelong.
The sun rose slowly, bathing the forest with its light.
He smiled happily.
He screamed with pain when he burnt his hand.

All of the verbs in bold above are things that happen or are done by a subject, but cannot take a direct object: they cannot be done to a person or thing. You cannot ‘cry someone’ or ‘grow someone up’. Likewise, you cannot ‘rise the sun’ or ‘smile another person’. You cannot say “Peter sneezed John.” We call these verbs Intransitive Verbs because the action cannot directly transfer to an object. In many dictionaries, Intransitive Verbs are indicated by the abbreviation VI.

Verbs which can be both transitive and intransitive.

Sometimes verbs which are usually intransitive can be used transitively:

Intransitive use of cry: Jenny cried.
Transitive use of cry: Jenny cried bitter tears.

Intransitive use of eat: Cecilia ate. [Simple fact, no object].
Transitive use of eat: Cecilia ate two hamburgers.

Transitive use that changes the meaning

In its normal meaning, walk is intransitive, but it can be used transitively. However, in the transitive sense, the meaning changes.

She walks her dog every day.
The disobedient student was walked to the headmaster’s office.

In Sentence 1, walk means “take for a walk”. In Sentence 2, the meaning of walk is “force someone else to walk.” In both cases the verb walk transfers to a direct object and can therefore, be changed to a passive.

Sometimes the meaning changes completely with transitive use.

The enemy declined our invitation for peace talks.
My credit card was declined because I exceeded my credit limit.
Gold prices declined for two quarters.
~~Gold prices were declined by market manipulation.~~

In Sentences 1 & 2, decline means reject. In Sentences 3 & 4, decline means reduce in value. As the second meaning of decline is intransitive, Sentence 4 is not possible and it is necessary to replace it with a transitive verb:

Gold prices were reduced by market manipulation.

Adding a preposition to link an intransitive verb to an indirect object.

You can also use a preposition like to to link the verb to an indirect object.

~~Peter said me that there will be a party tomorrow.~~ Say is intransitive, so it cannot take a direct object. It is also not possible to say “~~I was said that…~~“

The word to can be used to link the verb say to the indirect object me:

Peter said to me that there will be a party tomorrow.

Replace the verb with another verb

Sometimes an intransitive verb must be replaced with another verb in order to add a direct object.

Told is transitive and can take a direct object. The sentence can be made passive:

Active: Peter told me that there will be a party tomorrow.
Passive: I was told that there will be a party tomorrow.

Fall is intransitive and cannot be passive, while drop is transitive and can be passive.

Active: Jenny tripped and the eggs fell on the floor.
Passive: The eggs were dropped by Jenny.

When and why should I use the Passive Voice?

The Passive Voice is used far more frequently in writing than in speaking, and more frequently in some text types. We are more likely to use the Passive Voice when:

A. The focus is on what has happened to what/whom, rather than who did it. Consider the two sentences below:

Dr. Edward Jenner, a British scientist, invented the smallpox vaccine in 1796.
The smallpox vaccine was invented by Dr. Edward Jenner in 1796.

Sentence 1 might be a good choice in a text about Dr. Jenner. However, if the text is about the smallpox vaccine, Sentence 2 is a better choice.

B. When the does/cause of something happening is obvious, unknown or unimportant. Consider this example:

Building designers design modern buildings to be comfortable, safe, durable and environmentally friendly.

This is a strange sentence because it is obvious that building designers design building. The wording is also repetitive. Imagine an entire text in which “building designers” are mentioned in sentence after sentence. A better sentence would be:

Modern buildings are designed to be comfortable, safe, durable and environmentally friendly.

In another example: The gangster was arrested yesterday, the doer or subject is obvious, because only the police can arrest people, so it is not necessary to mention the police.

C. The doer of an action is unknown, or the speaker has a reason for not naming them.

For example, newspapers sometimes avoid naming the person suspected of a crime because there is not enough proof and they could be sued. Sometimes it might be illegal to name a suspect as this could prejudice a legal case. For example:

My car was stolen yesterday.

The victim was assaulted and was left unconscious and bleeding in the gutter.

D. When talking about general truths:

It is generally agreed that the unemployment rate is an important measure of the economic health of a country.
Cars should be serviced regularly in order to limit wear and tear.
It is believed that the Dutch reached Australia before the British.

E. Certain text types avoid the use of the Active Voice because using it would result in a repetitive text. For example, in descriptions of mechanical processes or manufacturing processes, frequent use of the passive is expected. See this example here How people make matches. In academic writing, it is generally expected that you avoid using in informal personal pronouns such as I, you or we. Using the passive allows us to easily avoid using them.

F. My discipline (area of study e.g. science) expects it. Check with your lecturers as ideas about use of the Passive Voice are changing.

G. Language can be used to manipulate facts and hide the truth. The Passive Voice is no exception. Consider this example of a manager informing a staff member that he has lost his job:

I’m sorry to inform you that a decision has been made and we are going to have to let you go.

The manager quite possibly took this decision on his own, or was part of the decision-making process, but is avoiding responsibility by trying to distance himself from it by using the passive.

Governments and people in business also use the passive to avoid drawing attention to their mistakes:

Unfortunately, an error was made and all customers were overcharged for 24 months. We are very sorry for the error…
We are sorry to inform you that an error was made and your car was damaged while parked at our centre.

H. In English exams. In English language tests such as TOEFL, Cambridge, IELTS and PTE, you will be evaluated of the range and appropriateness of your use of grmmatical structures. Using the Passive Voice appropriately and naturally, mixed with Active Voice used appropriately will improve your score.

I. Paraphrasing. Changing sentences from active to passive (or from passive to active) is a useful method for paraphrasing. However, you should consider whether your use of the passive is appropriate and accepted in your discipline. It would not be good to use a lot of passive in certain disciplines.

When and why should I NOT use the Passive Voice?

A. When the verb is intransitive (see here) it is not possible to write a passive version. Replace the verb with a transitive verb.

B. Certain text types make frequent use of the passive impossible. For example, the verbs used in describing natural processes such as the germination of a seed are often intransitive. Consider the following:

The germination process of a seed

The seeds fall from the pods and sink into the soil. In Spring, warmth and moisture from Spring rains activate the germination process. The seeds absorb moisture and swell up. Baby roots, called radicals sprout out of the seed. Eventually, the husk falls off and the seed splits in two. The beginnings of a plant stem grow out of the seed, feeding off energy stored in the seed. This stem grows upwards and eventually protrudes outside the soil surface. Leaves sprout from the stem and begin to produce food for the plant by absorbing energy from the sun in a process called photosynthesis.

The verbs fall, sink, sprout, fall off, split, grow, grow and protrude are intransitive and cannot take a direct object. For example, you can drop a seed (transitive), but you cannot fall a seed. These sentences cannot be passive.

C. When it is important to identify who has done a particular action. For example, in a court case, it is important that individuals be identified, especially if they are accused of something.

D. Certain academic disciplines prefer the Active Voice as it makes it clear who has done what to whom. However, this does not mean that you cannot use the passive, rather that you should use it carefully and appropriately.

E. Some sentences sound rather strange in Passive Voice. For example, the first sentence below sounds rather strange, while the second sounds normal and natural:

The window was broken by me yesterday.
I broke the window yesterday.

We do not generally use Passive Voice to talk about our own actions unless we are trying to hide from blame. When we do use the passive to hide our own faults, we do not identify ourselves with I or me:

The window was broken yesterday.

F. Paraphrasing. Changing sentences from active to passive (or from passive to active) is a useful method for paraphrasing. However, you should consider whether your use of the passive or active voice is appropriate and accepted in your discipline.