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Compare the following sentences:
Kyle hit the ball over the fence.
The ball was hit over the fence by Kyle.
Both sentences use an action verb An action verb is any verb that states an action rather than merely linking a subject to another element of the sentence. The following sentence correctly uses an action verb: The part of the sentence that names the person, place, or thing the sentence is about. Subjects are usually nouns or pronouns. The word firefighters is the subject of the following sentence: The tornado destroyed the house.
: hit. In the first sentence, the subject Seven firefighters were injured in the apartment fire.
(Kyle) does the hitting. In the second sentence, the subject (the ball) gets hit.
Sentences of the first type are in the active voice. Sentences of the second type are in the passive voice.
In the active voice the subject in the sentence does what the verb A verb indicates the meaning of a sentence as it shows action, occurrence, or state of being. Verbs change form to show time, voice, number, person, and mood. In the following sentence, the verb have is used correctly: Ben and Ted have so many friends.
describes. In the passive voice the action described by the verb is done to the subject.
In general, the active voice is more effective, more exciting, and more dynamic than the static passive voice. Many writers use the passive voice too often. Practice using more exciting and dynamic sentences written with an active voice rather than the static passive voice. Revise passive sentences to make them active whenever you can.
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Click the sentence that is in the active voice. |
| No. This sentence is in the passive voice. |
| Yes. This sentence is in the active voice. |
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