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Active vs Passive Voice

Active vs Passive Voice . What is Active Voice?. When the subject of a sentence PERFORMS the action. Frank built the house. Active Example. The blazing fire blistered the outside walls. Subject – fire Verb – blistered Object – walls. What is Passive Voice.

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Active vs Passive Voice

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  1. Active vs Passive Voice

  2. What is Active Voice? • When the subject of a sentence PERFORMS the action. • Frank built the house.

  3. Active Example • The blazing fire blistered the outside walls. • Subject – fire • Verb – blistered • Object – walls

  4. What is Passive Voice • When the subject receives the action. • When the “doer” of the action comes late in the sentence. • The house was built by Frank

  5. Why Does This Matter • Active voice is stronger and more direct. • We know who did something! • More concise • Passive voice is often vague and boring. • Have to read more to find out who did something • Verbose – “to be”

  6. Active is Usually Better • Immediately know the subject • Know the doer of the action • If we WANT to be vague – Passive Voice • Academic writing is NOT to be vague!

  7. Examples • Active • The nymphs dished it out. • Passive • It was dished out by the nymphs

  8. Examples • Active • They broke into the Watergate Hotel. • Passive • The Watergate Hotel was broken into. • By whom? Who ordered it? • Very vague

  9. Clues of Passive Voice • A form of the verb “to be” • As, is, are, was, were, etc • A past-participle • Past-tense for of a verb • Convicted, stolen • The word “by” • If the performer of the action is implied, unknown, or omitted

  10. Scenario • While rough housing with your brother, one of you broke a lamp. • If your brother broke it, you’d say….. • Active voice • If you broke it, you’d say…. • Passive voice….

  11. Practice • The art of Lucia Wilcox was admired by artists around the world. • Exhibits of her paintings were shown all over the world. • Her blindness was caused by a tumor near the optic nerve.

  12. Practice Answers • Artists from around the world admired Lucia Wilcox’s work. • Museums showed exhibits of her work. • A tumor near her optic nerve caused her blindness.

  13. Summary • Seek to write in the ACTIVE voice. • More precise • More clear • PASSIVE voice • Feels slow • Feels vague

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