My teacher is teaching three courses. These three courses are taught by the

same professor. The Economist is read by many students

and professionals. I enjoy reading The Economist. The issue of electoral reform was

discussed by the students.

My teacher is teaching three courses. These three courses are taught by the

same teacher. The Economist is read by many students

and professionals. I enjoy reading The Economist. The issue of electoral reform was

discussed by the students.

Active: Active sentences (subject) focus (action, done by the subject) on the person doing the action.

Passive: The recipient of the action (subject) is focused (action, not done by the subject), on in a passive sentence.

Active: The explorers climbed the tallest mountain in the range.

Passive: The tallest mountain in the range was climbed by the explorers.

Active: This great scholar compiled the largest collection of Shakespeare’s sources.

Passive: The largest collection of Shakespeare’s sources was compiled by this scholar.

Active Voice More emphatic More concise Used as the general

rule

Passive Voice Used when you want

to stress the importance of the action or its recipient.

Used when the actor is unknown or irrelevant.

Used when one wants to avoid mentioning the actor: Ex. Mistakes were made.

Although both constructions are grammatically correct, the active voice is usually more effective in academic and business writing because it is simpler and more direct. The passive construction is effective only when the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant.

Examples• The cruise liner was hijacked.• The ball was hit.• The town was quarantined

i. The contentious issue was contemplated as the debaters prepared to present their arguments.

ii. Once the books were finished, the writers talked to the publisher.

iii. The pipes in the kitchen were fixed, then the plumber started repairing the showers.

Incorrect: Once the books were finished, the writers talked to the publisher.

Correct: Once the writers finished their books, they talked to the publisher.

Incorrect: The pipes in the kitchen were fixed, then the plumber started repairing the showers.

Correct: The plumber fixed the pipes in the kitchen then started repairing

the showers.

i. The horses will groomed.ii. The great fir tree had cut down.iii. The hungry bear would shot by the

hunter. iv. Shoes is made in the factory.v. Bicycles should not be leaving in the

driveway.vi. This skyscraper will finish in 2009.

Incorrect: The horses will groomed.

Correct: The horses will be groomed.

Incorrect: The great fir tree had cut down.

Correct: The great fir tree had been cut down.

Incorrect: The hungry bear would shot by the hunter.

Correct: The hungry bear would be shot by the hunter.

Correct the following sentences if there is an inconsistency in voice.

- The new product design will finish very soon.

- They was cooking dinner when I arrived.

- The preparations had all be finished when the guests arrived.

- The refreshments are going to be provide by Karen.

Visit the Writing Centre:

LIB 272 B

Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 7192

Website: http://www.ryerson.ca/writing-centre

Email address: writingcentre@ryerson.ca

Example: -Before I began my research, only German fascism was studied by me.

Passive construction-Before I began my research, I only studied German fascism.

Professor Warren assigned each group a research project; however, the documentary sources were not located.

Incorrect Active-Passive Shift

Professor Warren assigned each group a research project; however, he could not locate the documentary sources.

For the opening flag ceremony, a dance was choreographed by Kema Jones to Bill Withers’ song “Lean on Me.”

Passive Construction

For the opening flag ceremony, Kema Jones choreographed a dance to Bill Withers’ song “Lean on Me.”

When the tickets are ready, the travel agent notifies the client. Each ticket is then listed on a daily register form, and a copy of the itinerary is filed.

Incorrect Active-Passive Shift

When the tickets are ready, the travel agent notifies the client. The agent then lists the ticket on a daily register form and files a copy of the itinerary.

Seismologists have examined data concerning the recent earthquake, and reports will be filed.

Incorrect Active-Passive Shift

Seismologists have examined data concerning the recent earthquake, and they will file reports.

Problems of famine, pollution, dwindling resources, and arms control were discussed by the senator.

- Passive construction

The senator discussed problems of famine, pollution, dwindling resources, and arms control.

Whenever an error was found by Mrs. Clark, the entire paper had to be rewritten by the student.

Passive Construction

Whenever an error was found by Mrs. Clark, the student had to rewrite the entire paper.