Active vs. Passive voice
Verbs also show voice, the form of the verb that shows whether the subject performs the action or received the action. English verbs have two voices: active and passive.
1. A verb is active when the subject performs the action, as in these examples:
- We made an error. (We are taking blame.)
- I played a blank tape on full volume. The man next door complained. (I am doing the action in the first sentence; the man is doing the action in the second sentence.)
2. A verb is passive when its action is performed upon the subject, as in these examples:
- An error has been made. (No one is taking credit for the mistake.)
- A tape was played by me at full volume. A complaint was made by the man next door. (The action is performed upon the subjects.)
| active voice | passive voice |
|---|---|
| The subject (e.g. a person) performs an action. | An action is performed upon the subject (e.g. a person). |
| The active voice is used if the person performing an action is known. It is not only said “what“ is being done, but also “who” is doing it. | The passive voice is rather used if the person performing an action is not known. It is not important “who” is performing an action; the sentence focuses on the action itself. |
| If you want to add information about a person in a passive structure use "by + object". | |
| Mum called Mr. Stevens. | The truck was overtaken by a sportscar. |
How to built the passive voice
The following table should give you an overview regarding the distinctive possibilities of how to build the passive voice in the English grammar:
| "to be" + 3rd form (past participle) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tense | subject | "to be" | 3rd form | |
| infinitive + modal verb | The train | can be | seen | on platform 8. |
| present tense | Tom | is | feared | by everyone. |
| My "Mini" | was | made | in England. | |
| BMW´s | are | produced | in Germany. | |
| past tense | I | was | given | a present. |
| They | were | sent | to the army. | |
| future with will | The playground | will be | closed | next month. |
| present tense | They | have been | told | to stay. |
| Nobody | has been | seen | ||
| past perfect tense | The restaurant | had been | closed | when we arrived. |
| conditional present | The family | would be | informed | if it were possible. |
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