What Is Active Voice?

Active voice is a sentence structure where the subject performs the action expressed by the verb. Using active voice makes your writing clear and direct, emphasizing who is responsible for the action.

Explanation of Active Voice

In active voice, the sentence follows the basic structure: Subject + Verb + Object. The subject of the sentence actively carries out the action, which makes the statement straightforward and easier to understand.

• Example:

  • The chef cooked a delicious meal.
    (Here, "The chef" is the subject performing the action "cooked," and "a delicious meal" is the object that receives the action.)

Active voice is preferred in most writing because it is more dynamic and concise compared to the passive voice, where the object is promoted to the subject position.

Examples of Active Voice

• Simple Sentence:

  • The teacher explains the lesson.

• Compound Sentence:

  • The dog barked loudly, and the cat ran away.

• Complex Sentence:

  • After the storm, the repair team fixed the broken window.

Each sentence clearly shows the subject doing the action, making the communication direct and engaging.

Common Mistakes with Active Voice (With Corrections and Explanations)

❌ Mistake 1: Unclear Subject

• Incorrect: Walked to the store yesterday.

• Correct: She walked to the store yesterday.

• Explanation: The sentence is incomplete without a clear subject. In active voice, it is important to mention who is performing the action.

❌ Mistake 2: Overuse of the Passive-Looking Structure

• Incorrect: The decision was made by the committee.

• Correct: The committee made the decision.

• Explanation: Although the first sentence is grammatically correct, it uses passive construction. For active voice, the subject ("the committee") should directly perform the action.

❌ Mistake 3: Verb Tense Consistency Errors

• Incorrect: He write a letter and mailed it.

• Correct: He wrote a letter and mailed it.

• Explanation: The verb tenses must remain consistent. In active voice, ensure that the verbs are correctly conjugated.

❌ Mistake 4: Misplaced Modifiers Creating Ambiguity

• Incorrect: Running quickly improves your stamina every day.

• Correct: Running quickly every day improves your stamina.

• Explanation: While the sentence is active, its meaning can become unclear if time or manner descriptors are misplaced. Position modifiers to avoid ambiguity.

4 Exercises on Active Voice

✔ Exercise 1: Identify the Active Voice Sentences
Determine which of the following sentences is written in active voice:

1. The report was written by the manager.

2. The manager wrote the report.

3. The report is being written by the team.

4. The team has been praised by the supervisor.

✔ Exercise 2: Convert Passive to Active Voice
Rewrite the following sentences in active voice:

1. The cake was baked by the baker.

2. The project has been completed by the team.

3. The novel was written by the famous author.

4. A new policy was introduced by the government.

✔ Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following active voice sentences:

1. ___ (Subject) fixed the leaking faucet.

2. The teacher ___ (Verb) a challenging problem on the board.

3. They ___ (Verb) the match last night.

4. ___ (Subject) organized the charity event.

✔ Exercise 4: Rewrite for Active Voice
Change the following ambiguous or passive sentences into clear, active constructions:

1. A beautiful painting was created by the artist last week.

2. The instructions were followed by everyone.

3. A new song was composed by the musician.

4. The problem was solved by the engineer.