Active and Passive Voice
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Summary:
This handout will explain the difference between active and passive voice in writing. It gives examples of both, and shows how to turn a passive sentence into an active one. Also, it explains how to decide when to choose passive voice instead of active.
Using Active Versus Passive Voice
In a sentence using active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb.
Each example above includes a sentence subject performing the action expressed by the verb.
View examples of active verb tenses.