Verb Voice
Verb voice specifies to the reader whether the subject is doing the action or if the subject is the recipient of the action.
(Learn more here)
Common Core standards L.8.1.b; L.8.1.d
Active Voice
What it is: Active voice is when the subject does the action.
How it’s formed: Subject + verb + rest of sentence
Why it’s used: Active voice is the most common and generally preferred in writing. It keeps the action moving forward.
Examples: The dog ate the bone. Stuart read a book. Jimothy and Bertha danced all night.
Passive Voice
What it is: Passive voice happens when the action is done to the object. It sounds the same as active voice, but the focus is on whether the focus is on the subject or the object.
How it’s formed: A sentence must have an object in order to be written in passive voice. The object is moved to the subject spot, usually first in the sentence. The verb is written with a form of “to be,” usually “was.” Occasionally the original subject is added at the end in a “by” phrase.
Why it’s used: Occasionally passive voice is necessary. Sometimes the doer of an action is unknown or unimportant. Sometimes the subject is deliberately left off in order to avoid offense. However, most instances of passive voice are unintentional and would sound better being changed to active voice.
Examples: The bridge was completed in 1847. (doer unknown/unimportant) The remarks were misinterpreted. (avoiding offense) Clothing was worn by early settlers. (should be active voice)
Practice! Active voice or passive voice? (Bonus: For each passive voice, should it stay in passive voice or be rewritten in active voice?
The paper ripped in half.
Books were read over the summer.
The essays were graded before the end of the week.
Stuart enjoyed fishing by the lake.
A dead bird was found by the side of the road.
Answers
Active
Passive (should be rewritten starting with who read the books)
Passive (should be rewritten starting with who graded the essays)
Active
Passive (can stay passive – the dead bird is the focus, not who found it)
Maintaining Consistent Voice
What it is: Sentences that begin in active voice should stay in active voice. Similarly, sentences that (deliberately) begin in passive voice should continue in passive voice. This is a concern when there is more than one verb in the sentence.
What it isn’t: Sometimes a sentence will start in active voice but then switch to passive voice. This happens when the writer gets caught up in the action themselves and tries to emphasize the object of the action.
Example (don’t do this): When Mom started the car, a cloud of smoke was seen. After we completed our research, we learned that the library was built in 1757.
Why it’s important: When voice is inconsistent, readers often get confused. They’re not sure who is doing the action or where to focus their attention. Additionally, switching voice breaks up the flow of the sentence.
How to avoid it: Make a list of all verbs in the sentence. Don’t forget the helping verbs! Decide, within the context of the sentence, if the verb is in active voice or passive voice. All verbs should be in the same voice. (Be careful here: Not all helping verbs cause passive voice. For example: I was running yesterday. This sentence is active voice because the subject is doing the action.) Once you have found an instance of inconsistent verb voice, either change all verbs to be in the same voice or make two sentences where one is in active voice and the other is in passive voice.
Example: When Mom started the car, a cloud of smoke was seen. VERBS: started (active), was seen (passive)
Option 1: When Mom started the car, we saw a cloud of smoke.
Option 2: Mom started the car. Then a cloud of smoke was seen. <- not very strong because the second sentence shouldn’t be in passive voice.
Example: After we completed our research, we learned that the library was built in 1757. VERBS: completed (active), learned (active), was completed (passive)
Option 1: After we completed our research, we learned that the construction team built the library in 1757.
Option 2: After we completed our research, we learned many things about the library. First of all, it was built in 1757. <- Passive voice is ok here because it keeps the focus on the library. Also, you might not know – or care about – who built it.