What Are Active / Passive Voice Uses?

Understanding when to use active and passive voice is key to mastering English grammar. While both are grammatically correct, they serve different purposes in communication. This article explores how and when to use each, complete with examples, common errors, and exercises.

Explanation:

Active voice is commonly used in everyday communication because it’s direct, dynamic, and places focus on the doer (subject) of the action.

Passive voice is used when:

• The doer is unknown, irrelevant, or obvious

• The action/result is more important than the subject

• You want to sound formal or objective

Examples of When to Use Each Voice

✅ Use Active Voice:

• In casual speech and writing
  Example: She writes articles every week.

• When the subject is important
  Example: The teacher explained the rule.

✅ Use Passive Voice:

• When the focus is on the object or result
  Example: The documents were approved yesterday.

• When the subject is unknown
  Example: The wallet was stolen.

• In scientific or formal writing
  Example: The experiment was conducted in a lab.

Common Mistakes With Correction and Explanation

❌ Mistake 1: Using Passive When Active Is Better

• Incorrect: The homework was done by me.

• Better: I did the homework.

• Explanation: Use active voice when the subject is known and important.

❌ Mistake 2: Confusing Tense in Passive

• Incorrect: The food is ate by the children.

• Correct: The food is eaten by the children.

• Explanation: Passive forms must use the correct past participle.

❌ Mistake 3: Unnecessary Agent in Passive

• Incorrect: The decision was made by someone.

• Better: A decision was made.

• Explanation: If the agent is vague (like “someone”), it's often better left out.

❌ Mistake 4: Changing Meaning When Switching Voice

• Incorrect: The room cleaned the student.

• Correct (Active): The student cleaned the room.

• Explanation: Ensure the subject and object roles are clear.

4 Exercises to Practice Active and Passive Voice Uses

✔ Exercise 1: Identify the Voice

1. The manager approved the request.

2. The door was opened slowly.

3. They built the house in 1990.

4. The book was written by a famous author.

✔ Exercise 2: Change to Passive Voice

1. The chef cooked a delicious meal.

2. She reads the newspaper every morning.

3. The kids broke the window.

4. They are painting the walls.

✔ Exercise 3: Change to Active Voice

1. The homework was completed by Sarah.

2. The cake was baked yesterday.

3. The job will be done by the technician.

4. The results have been published.

✔ Exercise 4: Fill in the Correct Voice

1. The meeting ___ (schedule) for 9 a.m.

2. She ___ (deliver) the report by noon.

3. A new app ___ (launch) next week.

4. We ___ (clean) the office every Friday.