Active vs Passive Voice Explained

This video tutorial explains the differences between active and passive voice in English grammar. It provides examples using a scenario involving a broken piggy bank to illustrate how the subject and object roles change between the two voices. The tutorial highlights the clarity and conciseness of active voice, making it preferable for formal writing, while passive voice is useful in technical writing or when the actor is unknown. The video concludes with a summary of key points.

What is the main characteristic of a sentence in active voice?

• The subject receives the action.

• The subject performs the action.

• The object performs the action.

• The sentence does not contain a verb.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.II

TEKS.ELA.E1.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E1.9.D.II

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9.D.II

In a passive voice sentence, where is the actor typically mentioned?

• At the beginning of the sentence.

• At the end of the sentence, after 'by'.

• The actor is not mentioned.

• Before the verb.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.II

TEKS.ELA.E1.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E1.9.D.II

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9.D.II

What changes when converting a sentence from active to passive voice?

• The verb

• The subject and object positions

• The tense

• The meaning

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.II

TEKS.ELA.E1.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E1.9.D.II

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9.D.II

Which of the following is a correct example of passive voice?

• She was singing a song.

• A book reads.

• The mouse was chased by the cat.

• The cat chased the mouse.

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.II

TEKS.ELA.E1.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E1.9.D.II

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9.D.II

Which sentence structure is generally clearer and more concise?

• Depends on the context

• Both are equally clear

• Active voice

• Passive voice

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.II

TEKS.ELA.E1.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E1.9.D.II

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9.D.II

What is added to a sentence to form the passive voice?

• A helping verb and the preposition 'by'

• An object

• An active verb

• A preposition

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.II

TEKS.ELA.E1.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E1.9.D.II

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9.D.II

What is the effect of using passive voice on sentence length?

• Makes it more complex

• Makes it longer

• Makes it shorter

• No effect

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.II

TEKS.ELA.E1.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E1.9.D.II

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9.D.II

Why might one choose to use the passive voice?

• When the actor is unknown

• To make sentences shorter

• To emphasize the action over the actor

• Both A and C

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.II

TEKS.ELA.E1.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E1.9.D.II

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9.D.II

In which type of writing is passive voice preferred?

• Creative writing

• Emails

• Technical writing

• Formal writing

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.II

TEKS.ELA.E1.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E1.9.D.II

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9.D.II

Why might active voice be considered the best choice for formal writing?

• It is more complex

• It is clearer and more direct

• It is more ambiguous

• It hides the actor

Tags

TEKS.ELA.8.10D.II

TEKS.ELA.E1.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E1.9.D.II

TEKS.ELA.E2.9(D) (II)

TEKS.ELA.E2.9.D.II