While writing an essay, thesis, dissertation, or any other written document, you got to make the correct use of active and passive voice. Being an important part of the speech, the rules of active and passive should settle well in your mind to avoid any mistakes. Here are the main uses of active and passive voice with examples for you to explain where and how to use each of them. The basic points to remember while learning about active and passive voice are:-
Active voice is when a subject acts upon its verb in a sentence.
A passive voice is when the is a recipient of the verb’s action.
The structure of the same sentences reverses in both the voices, while the meaning remains the same.
Active voice = Subject + Verb+ Object
Passive voice = Object + Verb+ Subject
E.g., I eat food.
The food is eaten by me.
Examples of Active Voice vs Passive Voice
In the below-given examples, all the first sentences represent the active form and the second one represents its passive form.
Mini ate six eggs in breakfast.
In breakfast, six eggs were eaten by Mini.
I do the work.
The work is done by me.
Johhny changed his dirty clothes.
The dirty clothes were changed by Johhny.
We are going to watch a movie tonight.
A movie is going to be watched by us tonight.
I completed my homework within due time.
The homework was done by me within due time.
Danny read the novel in one day.
The novel was read by Danny in one day.
I will clean the house every Sunday.
The house will be cleaned by me every Sunday.
Tom made his friend’s caricature.
His friend’s caricature was painted by Tom.
The teacher always answers the students’ questions.
The students’ questions are always answered by the teacher.
The audience really enjoys that show.
That show is really enjoyed by the audience.
The two kings are signing the treaty.
The treaty is being signed by the two kings.
Larry generously donated money to the homeless shelter.
Money was generously donated to the homeless shelter by Larry.
The wedding planner is making all the reservations.
All the reservations are being made by the wedding planner.
Parker will bake two dozen cupcakes for the bake sale.
Two dozen cookies will be baked by parker for the bake sale.
The whole science class viewed the comet.
The comet was viewed by the whole science class.
The director will give you instructions.
Instructions will be given to you by the director.
Thousands of tourists visit the Statue of Liberty every year.
The Statue of Liberty is visited by thousands of tourists every year.
The saltwater corroded the metal beams.
The metal beams were corroded by the saltwater.
The kangaroo carried her baby in her pouch.
The baby was carried by the kangaroo in her pouch.