Active and Passive Voice | English for CLAT PDF Download

 Page 1


Verbs and Voice 
? Voice is the form a verb takes to 
indicate whether the subject of 
the verb performs or receives 
the action. 
? There are two types of voice:  
active voice and passive voice. 
Page 2


Verbs and Voice 
? Voice is the form a verb takes to 
indicate whether the subject of 
the verb performs or receives 
the action. 
? There are two types of voice:  
active voice and passive voice. 
Active Voice 
? Active Voice – indicates that the 
subject of the verb is acting 
 
? Because the subject does or 
"acts upon" the verb in such 
sentences, the sentences are 
said to be in the active voice. 
Page 3


Verbs and Voice 
? Voice is the form a verb takes to 
indicate whether the subject of 
the verb performs or receives 
the action. 
? There are two types of voice:  
active voice and passive voice. 
Active Voice 
? Active Voice – indicates that the 
subject of the verb is acting 
 
? Because the subject does or 
"acts upon" the verb in such 
sentences, the sentences are 
said to be in the active voice. 
Active Voice 
? These examples show that the subject 
is  doing the verb's action. 
? The dog jumped onto the boy. 
? The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb). 
 
? Kristy will give a book report to the class. 
? Kristy (subject) is doing the giving (verb). 
 
? The computer ate my paper. 
? The computer (subject) is doing the eating (verb). 
 
Page 4


Verbs and Voice 
? Voice is the form a verb takes to 
indicate whether the subject of 
the verb performs or receives 
the action. 
? There are two types of voice:  
active voice and passive voice. 
Active Voice 
? Active Voice – indicates that the 
subject of the verb is acting 
 
? Because the subject does or 
"acts upon" the verb in such 
sentences, the sentences are 
said to be in the active voice. 
Active Voice 
? These examples show that the subject 
is  doing the verb's action. 
? The dog jumped onto the boy. 
? The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb). 
 
? Kristy will give a book report to the class. 
? Kristy (subject) is doing the giving (verb). 
 
? The computer ate my paper. 
? The computer (subject) is doing the eating (verb). 
 
Passive Voice 
? In a passive voice sentence, the subject and 
object flip-flop. The subject becomes the 
passive recipient of the action. 
 
? Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or 
is passive), such sentences are said to be in 
the passive voice. 
 
 
Page 5


Verbs and Voice 
? Voice is the form a verb takes to 
indicate whether the subject of 
the verb performs or receives 
the action. 
? There are two types of voice:  
active voice and passive voice. 
Active Voice 
? Active Voice – indicates that the 
subject of the verb is acting 
 
? Because the subject does or 
"acts upon" the verb in such 
sentences, the sentences are 
said to be in the active voice. 
Active Voice 
? These examples show that the subject 
is  doing the verb's action. 
? The dog jumped onto the boy. 
? The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb). 
 
? Kristy will give a book report to the class. 
? Kristy (subject) is doing the giving (verb). 
 
? The computer ate my paper. 
? The computer (subject) is doing the eating (verb). 
 
Passive Voice 
? In a passive voice sentence, the subject and 
object flip-flop. The subject becomes the 
passive recipient of the action. 
 
? Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or 
is passive), such sentences are said to be in 
the passive voice. 
 
 
Passive Voice 
? These examples show the subject being 
acted upon by the verb.   
? The boy was jumped on by the dog.  
? Boy (subject)  was being jumped on (verb) 
? A book report will be given by Kristy to the 
class. 
? Report (subject) will be given (verb). 
? My paper was eaten by the computer.  
? Paper (subject) was being eaten (verb).