We often hear that the sentences written in the active voice
are clearer and more effective than sentences written in the passive voice .
But that does not mean that we should always avoid the passive voice ? Let's
start by looking at the meaning of the terms andpassive voice active voice.
What is the active voice ?
When a sentence is in active voice, the subject does (or did
or will) the action expressed in the verb :
The runners train together every Saturday.
[ The runners do training. ]
Taylor went skydiving for his birthday .
[ Taylor did skydiving. ]
Maneesha held his first solo album next week .
[ Maneesha will yield. ]
Sometimes a verb has a direct object , which is the direct
recipient of the action expressed in the verb . Ask what ? or who ? after the
verb to find the direct object :
Maneesha held his first solo album next week .
[ Maneesha done what? His first solo . ]
Yvon lead to his house after dinner .
[ Yvon boost whom? Her. ]
In an active voice sentence , then, the subject is the doer
of the action and the direct object (if any ) is the recipient of the action.
What is the passive voice ?
In the passive voice , however , the subject does the action
expressed in the verb :
The apple was eaten by Sarah .
[ The apple did not eat . ]
The party was planned in detail.
[ The party did the planning . ]
The sculpture was completed in time for the ceremony.
[ The sculpture did not complete . ]
In these passive sentences , apple issues , the party and
sculpture are not doing the action - they get action.
The difference between active and passive voice is simply
this , then: in the active voice , the subject is the doer of the action, while
in the passive voice , the subject is the receiver of the action.
Why is the active voice better?
The active voice is clearer and more direct , because it
puts the author of the first action and follows a logical order :
doer of the action + action + receptor action (if
applicable)
In addition, an active voice sentence is always shorter than
the same sentence in the passive voice . And of course , the active voice is
active - what makes our writing more dynamic and energetic. For these reasons ,
it is usually best to write in the active voice and rewrite passive voice
sentences to be active .
Do I need to avoid the passive voice completely?
No, the passive voice of common sense in the following
situations :
• when you do not know the author of the action:
The lights are left on .
[ Do not know what the left . ]
• when the doer of the action is less important than the
receiver:
The package was delivered this morning .
[ No matter who brought it . ]
• when the doer of the action is someone who does not want
to name :
They gave me the wrong address .
[ You do not want to blame anyone in particular. ]
If you write most of their sentences in the active voice and
the passive voice used only when one of these three situations applies , your
writing will be clearer , more concise and more effective.
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