Understanding Active and Passive Voice

This video tutorial from The Learning Depot covers the properties of verbs, focusing on the active and passive voices. It explains how the voice of a verb determines whether the subject performs or receives the action. The tutorial provides examples of when to use active or passive voice, discusses transitive and intransitive verbs, and offers practice exercises for changing sentences from passive to active voice. The video emphasizes that while the active voice is generally preferred for its strength and directness, the passive voice is sometimes necessary or preferred.

Which of the following is NOT a property of verbs?

• Voice

• Adjective

• Number

• Person

What does the voice of a verb determine?

• The tense of the verb

• Whether the subject performs or receives the action

• The number of the subject

• The mood of the sentence

In the sentence 'The cat chased the bird', which voice is used?

• Imperative

• Subjunctive

• Active

• Passive

Why is the active voice generally preferred in formal writing?

• It is stronger and more direct

• It is more polite

• It is easier to understand

• It is more concise

Which auxiliary verb is used to form the passive voice?

• Will

• Be

• Do

• Have

In the sentence 'The large fish was caught by Richard', what role does 'Richard' play?

• Adverbial phrase

• Predicate

• Subject

• Object

Which type of verbs are ordinarily used in the active voice only?

• Intransitive verbs

• Modal verbs

• Auxiliary verbs

• Transitive verbs

What should you do if you do not want to call attention to the actor in a sentence?

• Use a different verb

• Use the passive voice

• Use the active voice

• Use a question

What is the main benefit of using the active voice in writing?

• It is less formal

• It is more complex

• It makes writing sound strong and direct

• It makes writing sound weak