Active vs Passive Voice Explained

The video tutorial from UBC emphasizes the importance of effective science communication through writing. It explains the differences between active and passive voice, highlighting the benefits of using active voice for clarity and conciseness. Examples are provided to help identify each voice, and situations where passive voice is preferred are discussed. The tutorial concludes with a recap and notes on modern trends in scientific writing, encouraging the use of active voice.

What is the main goal of the project mentioned at the beginning?

• To enhance writing skills in science

• To create a new scientific theory

• To develop videos for improving math skills

• To study the behavior of squirrels

What is the first step in identifying the voice of a sentence?

• Finding the verb

• Identifying the subject

• Looking for the object

• Determining the tense

Which voice involves the subject performing the action?

• Direct voice

• Indirect voice

• Passive voice

• Active voice

Why is the active voice generally preferred in writing?

• It is more ambiguous

• It uses more words

• It focuses on the action rather than the subject

• It is clearer and more succinct

What is a potential issue with using the passive voice in long reports?

• It can make the report more engaging

• It may result in shorter sentences

• It might make the report difficult to read

• It can lead to clarity and precision

In which sentence is the passive voice correctly identified?

• "The solutions observed the color change."

• "The instructor chooses the partner."

• "Two of our test tubes had already been broken."

• "Grammar Badger mixed the solutions."

Why might the passive voice be preferred in some cases?

• To make sentences longer

• To depersonalize the situation

• To make the writing more complex

• To emphasize the subject's action

Which example illustrates a preferred use of the passive voice?

• Grammar Squirrel did the experiment.

• The experiment was conducted by the team.

• A mess was left in the lab yesterday.

• The scientist wrote the report.

What is a benefit of revising early drafts to use more active voice?

• Focuses on the objects of actions

• Enhances clarity and conciseness

• Makes the text more verbose

• Increases the word count

How has the scientific community's view on voice in writing changed?

• From first person to third person

• From indirect to direct voice

• From active to passive voice

• From preferring passive to active voice