Active and Passive Voice : Online English Practice Public Class

About the Class

In sentences written in active voice, the subject performs the action expressed in the verb; the subject acts. Example :

• The car hit the passerby.
• I will present at the conference tonight.

In sentences written in passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed in the verb; the subject is acted upon. The agent performing the action may appear in a "by the . . ." phrase or may be omitted. Examples :

• The passerby was hit by the car.
• Presentation will be made by me [at the conference].

You can recognize passive-voice expressions because the verb phrase will always include a form of be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been. The presence of a be-verb, however, does not necessarily mean that the sentence is in passive voice. Another way to recognize passive-voice sentences is that they may include a "by the..." phrase after the verb; the agent performing the action, if named, is the object of the preposition in this phrase. Sentences in active voice are generally--though not always-- clearer and more direct than those in passive voice. Sentences in active voice are also more concise than those in passive voice because fewer words are required to express action in active voice than in passive.

In this class we discuss the active and passive voice and when to use what.

This class is part of the online weekly practice space for those willing to learn, refresh or improve their skills in English as a second language. This weekly session is in continuation of the previous classes :

• Principles of Learning Second Languages
• The Sentence
• The Subject
• Verb Forms and Verb Tenses
• Modals and Modal Like Verbs

Language of instruction:

Keywords: english, languages, communication skills, esl, active voice, passive voice