Voice in grammar denotes two ways of looking at the action of a verb: the active voice and the passive voice. Transitive verbs, which take an object, can be expressed in either form to show whether the subject performs or receives the action.
What is Voice and Its Classification?
Voice with reference to verbs has nothing to do with the voice that makes sounds. Instead, it denotes two ways of looking at the action of the verb. Transitive verbs, verbs which take an object (see 1), can either be in the active voice or the passive voice.
What is Active Voice?
In the case of sentences using the active voice of the verb, the subject (see 3) performs the action described by the verb. Thus, in the sentence
The boy threw the ball.
the verb threw is in the active voice because the subject of the sentence The boy is performing the action of throwing.
Similarly, in the sentence
She is driving the car too fast.
the verb is driving is in the active voice because the subject of the sentence She is performing the action of driving.
In the following sentences the underlined words form examples of verbs in the active voice:
- Terrorists hijacked the plane.
- Rain spoiled the day.
- He found the solution.
- Dad dug the garden.
- I lost the ring.
- A thief stole the purse.
What is Passive Voice?
In the case of sentences using the passive voice of the verb the subject is the recipient of the action of the verb. Thus, in the sentence
The ball was thrown by the boy.
the verb was thrown is in the passive voice because the subject of the sentence The ball is having the action of throwing performed on it. Similarly, in the sentence
The car was being driven too fast by her.
the verb was being driven is in the passive voice because the subject of the sentence The car is having the action of driving performed on it.
In the following sentences the underlined words form examples of verbs in the passive voice:
- He was fatally wounded.
- A woman was found dead.
- The car was badly damaged in the crash.
- We were delighted by the news.
- It is known that a statement will be released tomorrow.
How to Convert and Use Active and Passive Voice Effectively
As you will see from the examples given in Active voice and Passive voice above, it is often quite easy to convert active form to passive form and vice versa.
Verbs in the active voice are much more commonly used in English than verbs in the passive voice. Overuse of the passive voice can sound rather formal and unnatural and it can make sentences sound unnecessarily complicated.
However, it should not be avoided altogether. For example, it is a useful construction when it is not yet known who carried out the action of the verb, as in:
A young man has been murdered.
It is also useful, especially to people such as journalists, in sentences such as the following where it is not known whose opinion is being given:
It is believed that such conditions may occur again.
However, this habit of generalization should not be overdone. Also, the passive construction is often used in pieces of scientific or other specialist writing where the question of who exactly is performing the action of a verb is not important, as in:
A sample of the bacterium is being tested under lab conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Voice denotes two ways of looking at the action of a transitive verb: active and passive.
- In the active voice, the subject performs the action described by the verb.
- In the passive voice, the subject is the recipient of the action of the verb.
- Active voice is more common in English, while passive voice is useful when the agent is unknown or in scientific writing.
Quick Practice
Test your understanding of voice and its classification by answering the questions below in the comments:
- Identify whether the sentence "The boy threw the ball" is in the active or passive voice.
- Why is the passive voice often used in scientific or specialist writing?
Frequently Asked Questions About Voice and Its Classification
What is the main difference between active and passive voice?
In the active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb, whereas in the passive voice, the subject receives the action.
When should you use the passive voice?
The passive voice is useful when the person who carried out the action is not yet known, when generalizing opinions, or in scientific writing where the exact doer of the action is unimportant.
Are transitive verbs required for voice?
Yes, transitive verbs, which take an object, can be in either the active voice or the passive voice.