Active and passive voices
Active and passive voices are different forms of expressing the relationship between the subject, verb, and object in a sentence. They provide different perspectives on who or what performs the action and who or what receives the action.
Here's an overview of the active and passive voices:
Active Voice:
- In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action indicated by the verb.
- The subject is the doer of the action.
- The active voice is generally more direct, clear, and preferred in most cases.
- Example: "John (subject) wrote (verb) a letter (object)."
- She paints beautiful landscapes.
- The company released a new product.
- They built a bridge across the river.
Passive Voice:
- In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action or is acted upon.
- The subject becomes the receiver or the affected entity.
- The active voice object or the preposition "by" is used to indicate the doer of the action.
- The passive voice is used when the focus is on the receiver or when the doer is unknown, less important, or intentionally omitted.
- Example: "The letter (subject) was written (verb) by John (doer)."
- Beautiful landscapes are painted by her.
- A new product was released by the company.
- A bridge was built across the river by them.
KEY DIFFERENCES:
| Active Voice | Passive Voice | |
| Subject and Object Placement: | The subject is the doer of the action, and the object receives the action. | The subject receives the action, and the doer (if mentioned) is introduced using "by." |
| Verb Structure: | The verb is in the active form, directly indicating the action performed by the subject. | The verb is in the passive form, formed by using a form of "be" (e.g., is, are, was, were) + past participle of the main verb. |
| Focus and Emphasis: | Emphasizes the doer or the subject that performs the action. | Emphasizes the receiver or the subject that receives the action. |
| Usage: | Commonly used in most forms of communication and writing. | Used when the focus is on the receiver, when the doer is unknown, less important, or intentionally omitted. |
It's important to note that while both active and passive voices have their uses, the active voice is generally preferred in English writing and communication as it is more direct and clear. The passive voice is useful in specific contexts or when there is a deliberate choice to shift the focus to the receiver of the action.
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