Active and Passive Voice

Exercises

Explanation

1. Active Voice

In the active voice, the subject performs the action. The focus is on who or what is doing the action.

Structure

subject + verb + object

Examples

• The scientist conducted an experiment.

• Julia opened the window.

• My grandparents started this business.

The active voice is direct, clear, and commonly used in everyday communication because it emphasizes the actor.

2. Passive Voice

In the passive voice, the subject receives the action instead of performing it. The person who does the action (called the agent) may be:

• unknown,

• unimportant, or

• not necessary to mention.

Structure

subject + be (in the correct tense) + past participle (V3) (+ by + agent – optional)

Examples

• The experiment was conducted yesterday.

• The window is opened every morning.

• The business was started in 1980.

Passive voice shifts the focus to the action itself or its result, rather than the performer.

3. Passive Voice Across Different Tenses

Passive forms exist in many (but not all) English tenses. Here are the most common:

Note: Some tenses (like Future Continuous) are not normally used in the passive.

4. When Do We Use the Passive Voice?

When the doer is unknown

• My bicycle was stolen last night.

When the doer is not important

• Rice is grown in many regions.

When the action or result matters more than the person

• A new stadium will be built next year.
  (typical in news, reports, and formal writing)

When we prefer not to mention who did it

• Several rules were ignored during the meeting.

• The files were deleted accidentally.

Passive voice is especially common in scientific writing, academic texts, instructions, and official announcements.

5. Using “by” to Show the Performer

If we want to say who did the action, we add by + agent.

Examples

• The mural was designed by a local artist.

• The cookies were baked by my neighbor.

We only mention the agent when it adds useful information.

6. Negative and Question Forms

Negative Passive

Add not after the verb be.

• The report was not completed yesterday.

• The invitation isn’t sent yet.

Passive Questions

Put the verb be before the subject.

• Is the equipment checked regularly?

• Was the message delivered on time?

• Will the results be posted online?

7. Common Passive Expressions

English often uses impersonal passive structures to report information more formally:

It is said that…
It is believed that…
It is known that…

Examples

• It is said that the library has rare books.

• It is believed that the island is uninhabited.

• It is known that the project needs more funding.

These structures allow us to present information without identifying the speaker.

Quick Summary

Both voices are useful—you choose the one that fits your message best.