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Active and Passive Voice
Summary: This handout will explain the difference between active and passive voice in writing. It gives examples of both, and shows how to turn a passive sentence into an active one. Also, it explains how to decide when to choose passive voice instead of active.
Active and Passive Voice
Using Active Versus Passive Voice
In a sentence using active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb.
Image Caption: The arrow points from the subject performing the action (the dog) to the individual being acted upon (the boy). This is an example of a sentence using the active voice.
Image Caption: Sample active voice sentence with the subject performing the action described by the verb.
Image Caption: The active voice sentence subject (watching a framed, mobile world) performs the action of reminding the speaker of something.
Each example above includes a sentence subject performing the action expressed by the verb.
View examples of these verb tenses in the active voice. Please note we are in the process of updating our resources and handouts, so these materials will change to reflect those revisions.