Voice

Definition

Voice is the grammatical form of a verb that indicates whether the subject of a sentence is doing the action or having the action done to it.

There are mainly two voices in English:

Active voice

: the subject performs the action.

Passive voice

: the subject receives the action.

Voice is used to organize sentences according to emphasis, clarity, and purpose. It is especially useful when the writer wants to focus on the action, the object, or the result rather than the person or thing doing the action.

Main Content

1. Active Voice

In active voice, the subject is the doer of the action.
The structure is usually: Subject + Verb + Object.

Examples:

She writes a letter.
The students completed the project.
The dog chased the cat.

In these examples:

She

, the students, and the dog are the subjects doing the actions.
The sentences are direct, clear, and easy to understand.

Why active voice is important

Active voice is commonly preferred in everyday communication because it is:

Clear and direct
Shorter and more natural
Easier for readers to follow

For example:

Active

The manager approved the request.
This sentence is straightforward and places emphasis on the manager.

When active voice is useful

Active voice is often used when:

The doer of the action is important.
The writer wants a strong, energetic style.
The sentence should be simple and easy to read.

Examples in use:

The scientists discovered a new planet.
My brother fixed the computer.
The company launched a new product.

2. Passive Voice

In passive voice, the subject receives the action.
The structure is usually: Object + form of “be” + past participle + optional “by” phrase.

Examples:

A letter is written by her.
The project was completed by the students.
The cat was chased by the dog.

In these sentences:

The focus is on a letter, the project, and the cat.
The doer may be less important, unknown, or intentionally omitted.

Why passive voice is important

Passive voice is useful when:

The action itself is more important than who did it.
The doer is unknown.
The writer wants to sound formal, objective, or scientific.

Examples:

The exam papers were collected.
The bridge was built in 1995.
The food is prepared daily.

In these cases, the emphasis is on the action or result rather than the person doing it.

When passive voice is useful

Passive voice is commonly used in:

Scientific reports
Formal writing
News reports
Instructions

Examples:

The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions.
The window was broken during the storm.
The rules must be followed carefully.

Pattern transformation

Active to passive:

Active: The chef cooked the meal.
Passive: The meal was cooked by the chef.

Another example:

Active: The boy kicked the ball.
Passive: The ball was kicked by the boy.

3. Difference Between Active and Passive Voice

Active voice focuses on the subject performing the action.
Passive voice focuses on the subject receiving the action.

Comparison table

Active Voice	Passive Voice
The farmer grows rice.	Rice is grown by the farmer.
The police arrested the thief.	The thief was arrested by the police.
The children made a sandcastle.	A sandcastle was made by the children.

Main differences

Clarity

Active voice is usually clearer and shorter.

Focus

Passive voice changes the emphasis to the object or result.

Use

Active voice is common in conversation; passive voice is common in formal and academic writing.

Simple visual structure

Subject → Verb → Object
This is the typical flow of active voice.

Object → form of be → past participle → (by Subject)
This is the typical flow of passive voice.

For example:

Active

The teacher praised the student.

Passive

The student was praised by the teacher.

The meaning remains the same, but the sentence focus changes.

Important idea about voice

Voice does not change the tense of the sentence by itself. Instead, the passive form is built using a helping verb such as:

is, am, are
was, were
has been, have been
will be

Examples:

The letter is sent every morning.
The letter was sent yesterday.
The letter will be sent tomorrow.

Working / Process

1. Identify the subject, verb, and object

In an active sentence, find who is doing the action and who receives it.
Example: The cat chased the mouse.
Subject = The cat, Verb = chased, Object = the mouse.

2. Decide the focus

If the doer is important, keep the sentence in active voice.
If the receiver or action is more important, change it to passive voice.
Example:
- Active: The scientist discovered the cure.
- Passive: The cure was discovered by the scientist.

3. Form the correct passive structure

Move the object to the subject position.
Add the correct form of “be.”
Use the past participle of the main verb.
Add “by” only if the doer needs to be mentioned.
Example:
- Active: They are building a new road.
- Passive: A new road is being built by them.

Advantages / Applications

Helps make writing clear and direct when active voice is used appropriately.
Allows writers to emphasize the action or result when passive voice is needed.
Useful in academic, scientific, and formal contexts where objectivity is important.
Helps vary sentence structure and avoid repetitive writing style.
Makes instructions, reports, and descriptions more effective depending on the purpose.
Supports better understanding of grammar, sentence formation, and communication skills.
Helps speakers and writers choose the most suitable sentence structure for different situations.

Summary

Voice shows whether the subject does the action or receives it.
Active voice is direct, while passive voice shifts focus to the action or receiver.
Voice is important for clear, formal, and effective communication.
Important terms to remember: active voice, passive voice, subject, object, past participle, be-verb