Active/Passive Voice

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What is the Active Voice?

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The active voice is a grammatical structure where the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed by the verb. For example, 'The cat chased the mouse.'

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What is the Passive Voice?

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The passive voice is a grammatical structure where the subject of the sentence receives the action expressed by the verb. For example, 'The mouse was chased by the cat.'

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How can you identify an Active Voice sentence?

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An active voice sentence typically has a clear subject-verb-object structure, where the subject is doing the action. Look for sentences where the subject is performing the action.

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How can you identify a Passive Voice sentence?

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A passive voice sentence often includes a form of the verb 'to be' and the past participle of the main verb. The doer of the action may be omitted or introduced with 'by.'

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What is an example of a sentence in Active Voice?

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'The teacher explained the lesson.'

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What is an example of a sentence in Passive Voice?

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'The lesson was explained by the teacher.'

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What is the effect of using Active Voice in writing?

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Using active voice makes writing clearer and more direct, often making it more engaging for the reader.

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What is the effect of using Passive Voice in writing?

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Using passive voice can create a sense of formality or objectivity, but it may also make sentences less direct and harder to follow.

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When should you use Active Voice?

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Active voice is preferred in most writing situations, especially when clarity and directness are important.

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When might Passive Voice be appropriate?

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Passive voice may be appropriate when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or when the focus is on the action itself rather than the subject.