Understanding the shift from passive to active voice is essential for improving clarity and engagement in writing. Whether you’re a student, professional, or a general reader, mastering this shift can significantly enhance your writing style. The active voice creates more direct, engaging sentences, while the passive voice can sometimes make writing seem convoluted or detached.
This article will explore the process of changing passive voice to active voice, explain why it matters, and provide clear steps and examples to help you make the transition effortlessly.
What Is Active and Passive Voice?
Before diving into the conversion process, it’s important to define the two voices:
Active Voice:
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In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action. It is typically more direct and clearer to the reader.
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Example: “The dog chased the ball.”
Passive Voice:
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In passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action. The focus is on the action itself or the recipient of the action rather than the doer.
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Example: “The ball was chased by the dog.”
Differences Between Active and Passive Voice
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|
| The subject does the action. | The subject receives the action. |
| The sentence is usually more straightforward. | The sentence may seem indirect or awkward. |
| Active voice often uses fewer words. | Passive voice can result in longer sentences. |
| Common in writing that aims for clarity. | Often used in formal or academic writing. |
Why Switch from Passive to Active Voice?
Switching from passive to active voice often makes your writing clearer and more engaging. It creates a stronger connection with the reader by focusing on the subject performing the action rather than the recipient. Active voice is typically more concise and easier to read, which is especially important in online content where readers often skim.
When Should You Use Active Voice?
While active voice is often the better choice for clear and engaging writing, there are times when passive voice might be necessary:
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When the doer is unknown: If the person performing the action is not important or unknown, passive voice works well. For example, “The package was delivered.”
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In scientific or formal writing: Passive voice is often used in technical writing, where the focus is on the process or result rather than the individual performing the action.
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To emphasize the action: If the action itself is more important than the doer, passive voice can help shift the focus. For example, “The law was passed unanimously.”
Now that we’ve defined the difference, let’s explore how to effectively change passive voice into active voice.
How to Change Passive to Active Voice
Changing passive voice to active voice is a straightforward process once you understand the structure. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Identify the subject, verb, and object in the sentence.
In passive voice, the object of the action is usually placed at the start of the sentence, and the subject is either omitted or placed at the end.
Example:
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Passive: “The book was read by John.”
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Active: “John read the book.”
Here, “The book” is the object in the passive sentence, and “John” is the subject performing the action.
2. Move the object to the end of the sentence.
In the passive sentence, the object is placed at the beginning, but in the active voice, the subject performing the action comes first.
Example:
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Passive: “The letter was sent by Mary.”
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Active: “Mary sent the letter.”
3. Use the correct verb tense.
Ensure that the verb tense in the active voice matches the original tense in the passive voice. This will maintain the integrity of the sentence’s meaning.
Example:
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Passive: “The car was cleaned yesterday.”
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Active: “Someone cleaned the car yesterday.”
4. Adjust the sentence to make it clear.
Sometimes, additional tweaks may be needed to ensure the sentence makes sense and remains grammatically correct. Make sure the subject and object are clear and that the sentence flows naturally.
Example:
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Passive: “The project was completed by the team.”
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Active: “The team completed the project.”
Tip: If you can’t identify who performed the action, consider using “someone” or “they” as the subject. For instance, “The package was delivered” becomes “They delivered the package.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Switching from Passive to Active Voice
While converting passive voice to active voice is relatively simple, there are a few common mistakes that writers often make. Understanding and avoiding these mistakes can improve your writing and ensure that the switch is smooth.
1. Forgetting to Change the Subject
One of the most frequent errors is not properly identifying the correct subject when converting from passive to active voice. Remember, in passive voice, the subject is typically the recipient of the action, while in active voice, the subject is the doer of the action.
Mistake:
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Passive: “The report was written by the manager.”
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Incorrect Active: “The report wrote the manager.”
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Correct Active: “The manager wrote the report.”
2. Overuse of “They” or “Someone”
Sometimes, in an attempt to make the sentence active, writers use vague pronouns like “they” or “someone” as the subject. While this can work in certain contexts, it often leads to weak or imprecise writing. It’s best to avoid these vague subjects unless absolutely necessary.
Mistake:
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Passive: “The decision was made by the team.”
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Incorrect Active: “Someone made the decision.”
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Correct Active: “The team made the decision.”
3. Changing the Meaning of the Sentence
In some cases, the action in a passive voice sentence may not translate smoothly into active voice without altering the meaning. If the focus of the sentence needs to remain on the recipient of the action, it’s best to stick with passive voice. Changing the structure too much can change the meaning of the sentence.
Mistake:
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Passive: “The rules were followed by the students.”
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Incorrect Active: “The students followed the rules.”
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Correct Active: “The students followed the rules” (still valid, but consider the emphasis).
4. Losing Sentence Fluidity
Sometimes, in the effort to convert to active voice, the sentence structure becomes awkward. Active voice often results in simpler sentences, but that doesn’t mean you should force it when it makes the sentence harder to read. Aim for a natural flow.
Mistake:
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Passive: “The letter was written by the manager, which was sent to all employees.”
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Incorrect Active: “The manager wrote the letter and sent it to all employees, which was written.”
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Correct Active: “The manager wrote the letter and sent it to all employees.”
Advantages of Active Voice
Switching from passive to active voice isn’t just a matter of grammar. It brings several advantages that improve the overall quality of your writing.
1. Increased Clarity
Active voice often makes sentences more straightforward. When the subject is at the beginning of the sentence, it is immediately clear who is performing the action, which reduces ambiguity.
Example:
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Passive: “The meeting was led by the director.”
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Active: “The director led the meeting.”
2. More Engaging
Active voice is usually more engaging because it draws the reader’s attention directly to the subject performing the action. This creates a more energetic, dynamic flow to the writing.
Example:
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Passive: “The problem was solved by the team.”
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Active: “The team solved the problem.”
3. Better for Stronger, Direct Statements
Active voice tends to produce more decisive and impactful sentences. It communicates authority and clarity by placing the focus on the subject’s actions.
Example:
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Passive: “The solution was agreed upon by the committee.”
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Active: “The committee agreed on the solution.”
4. Reduces Wordiness
Active voice often uses fewer words, making it a more efficient way to communicate. Sentences become more concise without losing meaning.
Example:
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Passive: “The book was read by everyone in the class.”
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Active: “Everyone in the class read the book.”
When Passive Voice Can Be Useful
Although active voice is generally preferred for its clarity and conciseness, there are times when passive voice is a better fit. Here are situations where passive voice is effective:
1. When the Action is More Important Than the Subject
In some cases, you might want to emphasize the action over who is performing it. This is often seen in scientific or technical writing, where the process or result takes precedence.
Example:
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Passive: “The experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis.”
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Active: “We conducted the experiment to test the hypothesis.”
In scientific writing, focusing on the action (the experiment being conducted) rather than who performed it (we) is often preferred.
2. When the Subject is Unknown or Irrelevant
If you don’t know who performed the action or if it’s not important to mention, passive voice can work well.
Example:
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Passive: “The letter was sent yesterday.”
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Active: “Someone sent the letter yesterday.”
In this case, the identity of the sender is unknown or irrelevant, so passive voice works well.
3. Formal or Professional Tone
In certain formal contexts, such as business reports or academic papers, passive voice is often used to maintain an objective, impersonal tone. It can help focus on the action or the result rather than the individual performing the action.
Example:
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Passive: “The issue was resolved in the meeting.”
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Active: “We resolved the issue in the meeting.”
Here, the passive voice is often preferred in formal settings to keep the tone neutral.
Practice Makes Perfect: Exercises for Shifting from Passive to Active Voice
Now that you understand the principles of converting passive voice to active voice, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. Below are some exercises to help you master the skill of shifting from passive to active voice, enhancing your writing clarity and style.
Exercise 1: Convert Passive Sentences to Active Voice
Take the following passive voice sentences and rewrite them in active voice:
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The homework was completed by the students.
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The decision was made by the board yesterday.
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The book was read by every student in the class.
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The report was submitted by the manager this morning.
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The proposal was reviewed by the committee.
Answers:
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The students completed the homework.
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The board made the decision yesterday.
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Every student in the class read the book.
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The manager submitted the report this morning.
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The committee reviewed the proposal.
Exercise 2: Identify Active and Passive Voice
Read the sentences below and identify whether they are written in active or passive voice:
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The cake was baked by Sarah.
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The teacher explained the lesson.
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The car was repaired by the mechanic.
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We completed the project on time.
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The letters were delivered by the postman.
Answers:
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Passive
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Active
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Passive
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Active
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Passive
Exercise 3: Create Active Voice Sentences
Using the following objects and actions, create active voice sentences:
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(The dog, chase)
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(The team, finish)
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(The artist, paint)
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(The manager, oversee)
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(The teacher, prepare)
Answers:
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The dog chased the ball.
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The team finished the game.
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The artist painted a beautiful portrait.
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The manager oversaw the project.
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The teacher prepared the lesson plan.
Conclusion On Passive to Active Voice
Converting passive voice to active voice is a simple yet powerful way to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your writing. Active voice makes your sentences more direct, concise, and engaging, drawing the reader’s attention to the subject performing the action. This is especially useful in creating clear and compelling content, whether you’re writing for professional, academic, or personal purposes.
While passive voice has its place—particularly in formal, scientific, or technical writing—active voice is generally preferred for its straightforwardness and readability. Understanding when and how to switch between the two voices is a valuable skill that can help you communicate your ideas more clearly and make your writing more dynamic.
By practicing the techniques and exercises outlined in this article, you can confidently improve your writing, making each sentence more impactful and engaging. Remember, the key is to always aim for clarity and purpose in your writing, ensuring that your words resonate with your audience.
FAQs On Passive to Active Voice
1. How do you change passive voice to active voice?
To change passive voice to active voice, follow these steps:
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Identify the subject, verb, and object in the sentence.
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Move the object to the end of the sentence.
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Ensure the subject is performing the action.
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Use the correct verb tense to match the original sentence.
Example:
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Passive: “The cake was eaten by the child.”
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Active: “The child ate the cake.”
2. What are passive voice and active voice examples?
Active Voice Example:
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“The teacher explains the lesson.”
In this sentence, the subject (the teacher) is performing the action.
Passive Voice Example:
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“The lesson is explained by the teacher.”
Here, the subject (the lesson) receives the action rather than performing it.
3. What are 5 examples of passive voice?
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“The book was read by Sarah.”
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“The homework was completed by the students.”
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“The car was repaired by the mechanic.”
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“The project was finished by the team.”
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“The email was sent by the manager.”
4. How do you convert to passive voice?
To convert a sentence to passive voice:
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Identify the object in the active sentence.
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Make the object the subject of the passive sentence.
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Change the verb to the appropriate form of “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb.
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Add the original subject after “by,” or omit it if it’s not necessary.
Example:
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Active: “The chef cooked the meal.”
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Passive: “The meal was cooked by the chef.”
5. Why is it important to use active voice?
Using active voice in writing makes sentences more direct, clear, and engaging. It focuses on the subject performing the action, which makes the sentence easier to understand. Active voice is especially important in communication where clarity and reader engagement are key.
