Sentence Structure 5: Active/Passive Voice

What is the Passive Voice?

The subject is being Acted Upon by the verb. "Five hamburgers must have been eaten by the man." Five hamburgers (subject) are being eaten (verb). Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is passive), such sentences are said to be in the passive voice.

How do you change the following sentence from active to passive voice? "Marilyn mailed the letter."

1. Move the active sentences direct object into the sentences subject slot. Active voice: Marilyn mailed the letter. Direct object = letter Passive voice: The letter (subject) 2. Place the active sentence's subject into a phrase beginning with the preposition "by" Active Voice = Marilyn mailed the letter. Subject = Marilyn Passive Voice: The letter... by Marilyn 3. Add a form of the auxiliary verb "be" to the main verb and change the main verb's form Active Voice: Marilyn mailed the letter. Passive Voice: The letter was mailed by Marilyn. Verb + Be auxiliary = was mailed

What is the Active Voice?

Sentences with an action verb, where the subject performs the action. "The man must have eaten five hamburgers." The man (subject) is doing the eating (verb). The subject does or "acts upon" the verb.