Active voice and passive voice are two different ways of constructing sentences in English based on the relationship between the subject and the action of the verb.
Active Voice
In the active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb. The structure typically follows the pattern: Subject + Verb + Object.
Example:
- The dog (subject) chased (verb) the cat (object).
Passive Voice
In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb. The focus is on the action or the recipient rather than the doer. The structure typically follows the pattern: Subject + form of "to be" + past participle (verb) + (by + agent).
Example:
- The cat (subject) was chased (verb) by the dog (agent).
Key Differences
- Focus: Active voice emphasizes the doer of the action, while passive voice emphasizes the action and the recipient of that action.
- Clarity: Active voice tends to be clearer and more direct, while passive voice can sometimes be less clear or more wordy.
- Usage: Passive voice may be used when the doer is unknown, irrelevant, or less important than the action itself.
Understanding when to use active or passive voice can enhance writing clarity and impact.
1 answer