Passive Voice Examples Sentences, Passive and Active Voice Examples
English teachers often tell their students to use an active voice in their writing. But what is the difference between the active and passive voice, and when should each one be used? In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between the two voices and provide some examples of sentences written in both voices. We hope that this information will help you to become a better writer!
Definition of Active and Passive Voice
First, let’s define the active and passive voices. The active voice is a verb tense in which the subject of a sentence performs the action. For example, “The dog barks” is an example of the active voice. In contrast, the passive voice is a verb tense in which the subject of a sentence does not perform the action. Instead, the action is performed on the subject. For example, “The dog was barked at by a stranger” is an example of the passive voice.
Rules to Make Passive Voice Sentences
There are a few simple rules to follow in order to create a sentence in the passive voice.
- The verb must be in the past tense form.
- The subject of the sentence must be something that can be acted upon (i.e., it cannot be a person or animal).
- The object of the action must be placed after the verb.
- The subject and object must be separated by a preposition (usually by).
Now that we have defined the active and passive voices, let’s take a look at some examples of sentences written in both voices.
Passive Voice Examples
- The door was opened by me.
- The book was written by Hemingway.
- The test will be given by the professor.
- The cat was petted by the woman.
- The window was broken by a rock.
Active Voice Examples
- I opened the door.
- Hemingway wrote the book.
- The professor will give the test.
- The woman petted the cat.
- A rock broke the window.
As you can see, there are some simple rules to follow in order to create a sentence in the passive voice. However, it is important to note that using the passive voice can often make your writing sound weak and passive. In contrast, using the active voice can make your writing sound more powerful and active.
So, When should you use active and passive voices?
Active Voice
The active voice should be used when you want to create a sentence that is strong and direct. For example, “I opened the door” is a stronger sentence than “The door was opened by me.”
Passive Voice
The passive voice should be used when you want to create a sentence that is indirect or when the subject of the sentence cannot perform the action. For example, “The door was opened by me” is a weaker sentence than “I opened the door.”
Exercise of Active & Passive Voice Sentences
Exercise 1:
Rewrite the following sentence in the active voice:
1) The test was given by the professor.
2) The window was broken by a rock.
3) The cat was petted by the woman.
4) The door was opened by me.
Answers:
1) The professor gave the test.
2) A rock broke the window.
3) The woman petted the cat.
4) I opened the door.
Exercise 2:
Rewrite the following sentences in passive voice:
1) She makes the tea.
2) I open the door.
3) He hit me.
4) They sell ice cream.
Answers:
1) The tea is made by her.
2) The door is opened by me.
3) I am hit by him.
4) Ice cream is sold by them.
