Active Voice
* What it is: The subject of the sentence performs the action.
* Example: "The dog chased the ball." (The dog is the subject, and it is performing the action of chasing.)
* Key Features:
* Emphasizes the doer of the action.
* Direct and concise language.
* Often considered more vigorous and engaging.
Passive Voice
* What it is: The subject of the sentence receives the action.
* Example: "The ball was chased by the dog." (The ball is the subject, and it is receiving the action of being chased.)
* Key Features:
* Emphasizes the receiver of the action.
* Can be used to avoid naming the doer of the action.
* Often considered more formal or impersonal.
When to Use Each:
* Active Voice:
* Use active voice most of the time for clear and direct writing.
* It's typically preferred for writing that needs to be engaging and easy to understand.
* Passive Voice:
* Use passive voice when:
* The doer of the action is unknown or unimportant. ("The window was broken.")
* You want to emphasize the object of the action. ("The award was presented to her.")
* You want to create a more formal or objective tone. ("The experiment was conducted according to protocol.")
Example of Active and Passive:
* Active: "The chef baked the cake."
* Passive: "The cake was baked by the chef."
Key Differences in Structure:
* Active: Subject + Verb + Object
* Passive: Object + "be" verb + Past Participle (e.g., "baked") + by + Agent (optional)
Remember: While both active and passive voices have their place, active voice is generally preferred for its clarity and directness.