Passive and active voice
Passive voice: type of sentence in which the subject receives the verb’s action
Active voice: Type of sentence in which the subject performs the action stated by the verb.
If you can add the phrase “by zombies” after the verb and it makes sense, the sentence is passive. If it doesn’t make sense, the sentence is active.
To make this easier to remember, use the following:
“Pass (passive) me a zombie, please. I’ll buy this zombie (by zombies).”
Example 1
Is “The town was attacked” active or passive?
The town was attacked (by zombies).
This makes sense, so it is passive.
Or, for the active voice:
They attacked (by zombies) the town.
This doesn’t make sense, so it is active.
Example 2
He delivers the letters.
The letters are delivered by him.
Which is active and which is passive?
Active – He delivers (by zombies) the letters. (Makes no sense)
Passive – The letters are delivered (by zombies) by him. (Makes sense)
Example 3
The professor teaches the students.
The students are taught by the professor.
Which is active and which is passive?
Active: The professor teaches (by zombies) the students. (Makes no sense)
Passive: The students are taught (by zombies) by the professor. (Makes sense)
Example 4
The cat was chasing the mouse
The mouse was being chased by the cat
Which is active and which is passive?
Active: The cat was chasing (by zombies) the mouse. (Makes no sense)
Passive: The mouse was being chased (by zombies) by the cat. (Makes sense).
