[found on hamilton.edu]
- Passive voice produces a sentence in which the subject receives an action.
- In contrast, active voice produces a sentence in which the subject performs an action.
- Passive voice often produces unclear, wordy sentences,
- whereas active voice produces generally clearer, more concise sentences.
- To change a sentence from passive to active voice, determine who or what performs the action,
- and use that person or thing as the subject of the sentence.
- PASSIVE voice:
- “On April 19, 1775, arms were seized at Concord, precipitating the American Revolution.”
- ACTIVE voice:
- “On April 19, 1775, British soldiers seized arms at Concord, precipitating the American Revolution.”
