GrammarZ: Unit 9 - Active & Passive Voice

What are four reasons why a writer would want to keep passive voice?

(1) The writer wishes to emphasize the action and deemphasize the doer of the action. (2) The doer of the action is unidentified, unimportant, irrelevant, or unwanted in the sentence. (3) The writer is attempting to demonstrate objectivity (typically used in the fields of science or law). (4) The writer is attempting to create sentence variety.

What are two reasons why a writer should write in active voice?

1) It is direct and concise. 2) It establishes the subject and assumes responsibility for the action.

What are THREE of the problems with passive voice?

1) It makes writing awkward and vague. 2) It makes ideas sound bulky and wordy. 3) Readers can interpret passive voice as a way for the writer (or speaker) to avoid taking ownership or admitting responsibility for an action.

Test for Passive Voice

1. Look to see if the sentence ends with a prepositional phrase [ BY _______ ]. If it does, you most likely have passive voice. 2. Add the prepositional phrase [ BY ZOMBIES ] to your sentence. If the sentence still works, you most likely have passive voice!

Passive Voice Construction

A verb form of the infinitive "to be" followed by a past participle.

Past Participle

A word that usually ends in the suffix -ed, -d, -en, -t.

What is the difference between a simple subject in active voice and a simple subject in passive voice?

In active voice, the simple subject DOES the action. In passive voice, the simple subject is ACTED UPON.

Passive Voice Sentence Equation

S | "Be Verb" + past participle

Active Voice Sentence Equation.

S | AV DO.

Passive Voice

The subject is being acted upon - like a direct object in active voice. Who are what is doing the action (the agent) is either missing or found in a prepositional phrase.

TO BE verbs

be, being, been, am, is, are, was were

Active Voice

Clearly identifies the action and who is doing the action. The subject does the action.

How to Eliminate Passive Voice

In order to revise a sentence written in passive voice, you must first identify three things: (1) Who or what is doing the action (AGENT)? (2) What is the action? (3) Who or what is being acted upon (DIRECT OBJECT)? Then, rewrite the sentence so that these things appear in the order listed above.