Finally Understanding Active Voice vs Passive Voice

Overview: Active vs Passive Voice

We hear it all the time: “Don’t use passive voice. Write your sentences in active voice,” without knowing what it means ourselves. Initially, it took time for me to understand the definition of active voice and passive voice, and to grasp the difference between them. Now that I’ve done my homework, I can confidently say I recognize the difference and when to use them. In this article, I will help you to understand active voice and passive voice, and it’s uses in the easiest way possible. Then I will give examples to help you see the difference for yourself too. In no time, you will learn how to identify and utilize active voice and passive voice like a pro.

What’s Active Voice?

Active voice is when a sentence is structured so that the subject performs a verb. By using active voice, the main subject is taking a more proactive role in the storyline.

Sentences written in active voice follow this sequence: Subject ⟶ Verb ⟶ Object. Subject refers to the main focus of the sentence, verb is the action, and the object is what the subject is acting upon. Below is an example of a sentence written in active voice.

• Subject ⟶ Verb ⟶ Object
  • My dog ate my homework.
    • Dog = Subject
    • Ate = Verb
    • Homework = Object

In some cases, the main subject is not acting upon an object, but they are doing an action to another person. If we switch out an “object” for a “person,” here is the sequence of words in active voice:

• Subject ⟶ Verb ⟶ Person
  • Anna hugged Bella.
    • Anna = Subject
    • Hugged = Verb
    • Bella = Person

What’s Passive Voice?

Passive voice is when a sentence is structured so that the subject is acted upon. In cases where passive voice is consistently used, the main subject is taking a more passive role in the storyline. Typically, sentences structured in the passive voice use words like “was,” “were,” and “by.”

Let’s use the same examples as above and change them to passive voice.

• Object ⟶ Verb ⟶ Subject
  • My homework was eaten by my dog.
    • Dog = Subject
    • Ate = Verb
    • Homework = Object

• Subject ⟶ Verb ⟶ Person
  • Bella was hugged by Anna.
    • Anna = Subject
    • Hugged = Verb
    • Bella = Person

Which Voice Should You Use?

So, should stories use active voice or passive voice? Stories should almost always be in active voice because it makes your story clearer and more direct. It also helps make your story feel more action-packed. Readers and editors prefer work that is concise and lively.

The passive voice in comparison is long-winded and makes it so that everything is happening to your character instead of because of your character. Active voice helps a story to achieve the feeling that its characters are actively driving the plot.

When Should You Use Passive Voice?

If stories should use active voice, then is there ever a time when passive voice should be used? The simple answer is yes! Passive voice has it’s uses, although minimum. You should use passive voice when you want to shift the writers focus to the object/other person. Do this in instances where the object is important to the story.

Passive voice can also be used to make the main subject feel less active and powerful. Never use passive voice by mistake. Use it as a stylistic choice to make your character feel more…well…passive.

Active and Passive Voice Examples

So, you get it now. Active voice is used when the subject is actively carrying out an action, while passive voice is used when that subject is being acted upon. Now let’s see more examples of what sentences written in active voice and passive voice look like next to each other. Remember, the general sequence for Active Voice is Subject ⟶ Verb ⟶ Object. The sequence for Passive Voice is Object ⟶ Verb ⟶ Subject.

• Active Voice: Paul completed the exam.
• Passive Voice: The exam was completed by Paul.

• Active Voice: Zachary pushed Finn.
• Passive Voice: Finn was pushed by Zachary.

• Active Voice: The valet parked the car in a private lot.
• Passive Voice: The car was parked in a private lot by the valet.

Hope this helped you understand active voice vs passive voice! If you have any questions, let me know.