If you are just starting with verb voice and want to understand how it works, then you might need to take a look at the Active voice. It is an important part of English Grammar which can make your writing clearer, concise and even more engaging. For example, “the cat chased the mouse” and “The mouse was chased by the cat.” Which one do you think is better? It’s the first one because it is clear, concise and engaging. Following this, in our blog, we will talk about the meaning of active voice, its definition, examples, and much more to help you understand what it is and the role it plays in English communication.
Table of Contents
Active voice is a part of the grammatical structure in English where the subject of a sentence acts. To put the meaning of active voice in simpler terms, in a sentence, the subject acts as the verb. This can help the reader to easily identify who or what is responsible for the action.
Essentially, there are two main types of grammatical voices in English. One is passive voice, and the other is active voice. And both are different from each other in terms of subject role and what the sentence is focusing on.
Before we talk more about them, let's take a look at a few common examples of active voice sentences below:
1. She wrote a heartfelt letter
2. The cat chased the mouse across the yard
3. The teacher explained the lesson clearly
In each of these active voice examples, the subject or the doer is acting on the object. But if these sentences were in passive voice, we would have to shift the focus on the action instead of the subject. For example, the ball was chased by the dog.
There are also multiple definition of active voice as per different dictionaries. Some of the popular ones include “the grammatical form in which the subject performs the action of the verb,” which is given by the Cambridge dictionary. Similarly, Collins describes it as “a voice of verbs used to indicate that the subject of a sentence is performing the action or causing the event or process described by the verb.”
Active voice plays a big role in everyday English communication. This is especially true when it comes to creative writing, essays, journalism, and everyday communication. However, there are a few rules of using active voice in English that you need to follow. These include things like:
1. It follows a basic Subject + Verb + Object structure. For example, my mother (subject) prepared (verb) a delicious dinner (object).
2. The subject always comes before the verb and is actively involved in its action.
3. "to be" verbs like was, were, is, are + past participles are generally avoided as we use them in passive voice.
The easiest way to identify the use of active voice in a sentence is by taking a look at its structure. Since they already follow a pre-defined format, we can easily check if the sentence is direct or not. Here is a breakdown to help you identify active voice in English easily:
1. Identify who the subject is and what action is being done.
2. Check if the sentence follows a subject + verb + (object) structure.
3. Look for “to be” forms of the verb + past participle, as we generally do not use them in active voice.
4. To double-check, ask yourself, "Who is doing the action?" If the doer is the subject at the start of the sentence, it’s active voice.
5. Lastly, you can also check if the sentence is direct and clear, as they are the characteristics of active voice.
Now that you understand the definition of active voice, its rules, and how you can identify them. Let’s take a look at the easiest way to form them in all the tenses, along with some examples of active voice in the table below:
| Tense | Structure | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | Subject + Verb (base / -s/-es) + Object | She writes emails every morning |
| The dog chases the cat. | ||
| They play soccer on weekends. | ||
| Simple Past | Subject + Verb (past form) + Object | He cooked dinner last night. |
| They visited the museum yesterday. | ||
| She finished her homework early. | ||
| Simple Future | Subject + will + Verb (base form) + Object | I will call you tomorrow. |
| They will travel to Japan next month. | ||
| She will finish the project by Friday. | ||
| Present Continuous | Subject + is/am/are + Verb (-ing) + Object | She is reading a book right now. |
| They are playing basketball in the park. | ||
| I am working on my assignment. | ||
| Past Continuous | Subject + was/were + Verb (-ing) + Object | He was watching TV when I called. |
| They were playing soccer all afternoon. | ||
| She was studying for her exams last night. | ||
| Future Continuous | Subject + will be + Verb (-ing) + Object | I will be working late tomorrow. |
| They will be traveling to Europe next week. | ||
| She will be attending the meeting at 3 PM. | ||
| Present Perfect | Subject + has/have + Verb (past participle) + Object | She has written three books. |
| They have completed the project. | ||
| I have visited that museum before. | ||
| Past Perfect | Subject + had + Verb (past participle) + Object | He had finished his homework before dinner. |
| They had left when we arrived. | ||
| She had cooked the meal by 7 PM. | ||
| Future Perfect | Subject + will have + Verb (past participle) + Object | She will have completed the report by Monday. |
| They will have finished the project before the deadline. | ||
| I will have cleaned the house by the time you arrive. | ||
| With Modal Verbs | Subject + modal + Verb (base form) + Object | She can solve the problem easily. |
| They must finish the work today. | ||
| He should call his parents more often. |
Since active voice is the preferred type of voice for clear and direct sentences, you have to pay extra attention to its nuances and the most appropriate way to use it. Below are some common mistakes that you can avoid to make your English language proficiency better:
1. Using it unnecessarily: Yes, active voice is preferred for everyday speech; however, there are some instances where passive voice is more suitable. So, try to avoid unnecessarily using them.
2. Using active and passive voice in the same sentence: It is generally advised not to use them together, as it can create awkward and confusing writing.
3. Unclear or Vague Subjects: Using pronouns like "it" or "they" without specifying the subject can make the sentence ambiguous. So, try to replace vague pronouns with specific nouns.
4. Using Active voice in technical or scientific writing: In such types of writing, the focus is mainly on the action rather than the doer. This can make the use of passive voice more appropriate.
Lastly, let’s take a look at 10 common examples of active voice sentences in different contexts so that you understand the use of active voice in various types of writing:
1. The marketing team launched the campaign ahead of schedule.
2. Researchers discovered a new method to reduce emissions.
3. The knight drew his sword and faced the dragon.
4. I made pasta for dinner last night.
5. Firefighters contained the blaze within two hours.
6. First, mix the flour with the eggs.
7. The engineer adjusted the settings to improve performance.
8. Our product saves you time and money.
9. She nailed the presentation today!
10. I attached the updated file for your review.
To improve your writing clarity, conciseness, and understanding of the active voice, below is an active and passive voice worksheet. Through these exercises, you will understand the sentence structure and how you can change the role of the subject. Take a look:
1. He painted a beautiful portrait.
2. John completed the assignment on time.
3. The police officer caught the thief.
4. Tina planted new flowers.
5. Arthur wrote a best-selling novel.
6. The engineer designed the new bridge.
7. Rob and his friends are playing a game.
8. The company will launch a new product next month.
9. My mother is preparing dinner now.
10. They won the championship last year.
Answer Key
Exercise 1: Active to Passive
1. The letter was sent by John.
2. The room is cleaned by the staff every morning.
3. The homework has been finished by the students.
4. The repairs were done by the technician yesterday.
5. The song is sung by the choir.
6. The invitations were mailed by the secretary.
7. The documents are being reviewed by the manager.
8. The decision was made by the committee.
9. The windows have been washed by the cleaners.
10. The message is being typed by the assistant.
Answer Key
Exercise 2: Passive to Active
So yes, active voice is an important part of English communication. Mainly because it clearly shows who or what is doing the action, which in turn removes ambiguity and makes the sentences easier to understand. Even though learning about active voice is not tough, understanding other important parts of English grammar, like auxiliary verb and adverb, can get a little difficult. But don’t worry, you can take help from our experts at Gradding.com for a tailored and in-depth assistance in your English learning journey.
1. What’s the Difference Between Active Voice and Passive Voice?
The main difference between active and passive voice is that, in active voice, the subject acts. Whereas in passive voice, the subject receives the action. We use active voice to make sentences more direct and passive voice to put the main focus on the action that is being performed.
2. Should You Write in Active Voice or Passive Voice?
There is no correct answer for this, mainly because it depends on the context and situation. However, active voice is generally preferred because it provides clearer, more concise, and more engaging writing. You can use passive voice when the action is more important than the subject.
3. When Should You Use Active Voice vs. Passive Voice?
You should use active voice when the doer of the action in a sentence is more important than the action. Similarly, use passive voice if the action is more important.
4. What are the Active and Passive Voice Rules?
The main rule for using active and passive voice is that, in active voice, the subject performs the actions. Whereas, the subject receives the action in passive voice.
5. Why is Active Voice Important in Communication?
Active voice is important in communication because it helps in improving clarity, conciseness, and engagement. It also makes writing more direct and easier to understand, which can help in knowing who is acting.
6. Active Voice in Different Types of Writing
Active voice is widely used in different types of writing, such as academic, creative, business, journalistic, and technical writing. This is mainly to express actions clearly and engage readers.
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