Definitions and Basics
A sentence where the subject performs the action.
What is:
Active Voice
Change to active voice:
The book was read by the librarian.
What is
The librarian read the book.
Change to passive voice:
The car ran over the garbage.
What is
The garbage was run over by the car.
Identify voice:
The flat tire was changed by Sue.
What is passive voice?
Create a sentence in passive voice using the following words:
Tom, the house, to paint
What is
The house is being painted by Tom.
A sentence where the subject receives the action.
What is
Passive Voice
Change to active voice:
Many items were sold by the Grade 12 students at the garage sale.
What is
The Grade 12 students sold many items at the garage sale.
Change to passive voice:
Everyone at Doulos knows Mr. Valdez.
What is
Mr. Valdez is known by everyone at Doulos.
Identify voice:
Mom read the novel in one day.
What is active voice?
Create a sentence in passive voice using the following words:
I, room, to clean, every Saturday
What is
My room is cleaned by me every Saturday.
The part of the sentence that performs the action in active voice.
What is
The subject
Change to active voice:
It is widely known that too much sugar does not contribute to a healthy diet.
What is
Many people know that too much sugar does not contribute to a healthy diet.
Change to passive voice:
Everyone in Jarabacoa knows how to get to La Vega.
What is
It is known by everyone in Jarabacoa how to get to La Vega.
Identify voice:
The teacher always answers the students’ questions.
What is active voice?
Create a sentence in passive voice using the following words:
the wedding planner, to make, reservations
What is
Reservations were made by the wedding planner.
Voice often used to keep sentences direct and clear.
What is
Active Voice
Change to active voice:
The marriage ceremony was performed in only 5 minutes.
What is
The pastor (or priest or lawyer...) performed the marriage ceremony in only 5 minutes.
Change to passive voice:
I am singing the intro song to Aladdin.
What is
The intro song to Aladdin is being sung by me.
Identify voice:
The Grand Canyon is visited by thousands of tourists every year.
What is passive voice?
Create a sentence in active voice using the following words:
kangaroo, baby, to carry, in her pouch
What is
The kangaroo carries her baby in her pouch.
The part of the sentence that performs the action in passive voice.
What is
The object
Change to active voice:
Seven people were injured in a multi-car accident.
What is
A multi-car accident caused injuries to seven people.
Change to passive voice:
Great literature makes a lasting impression on its readers.
What is
A lasting impression is made by great literature on its readers.
Identify voice:
The treaty is being signed by the two kings.
What is passive voice?
Create a sentence in active voice using the following words:
the cleaning crew, the office, to vacuum and to dust, every night
The cleaning crew vacuums and dusts the office every night.