The English language, known for its richness and versatility, uses various grammatical constructs to convey meaning. One such construct is the use of active and passive voice. Both forms serve distinct purposes in communication and have unique structures and applications as explained by Hello-Hello Language on Go a leading English language learning app developer for iOS and Android devices.

Active Voice

In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action denoted by the verb. This structure is straightforward and often used for its clarity and directness. For example, in the sentence “The chef cooks the meal,” the subject (the chef) performs the action (cooks) on the object (the meal).

Active voice is favoured for its simplicity and strength. It makes sentences clear and dynamic, allowing the reader or listener to understand quickly who is doing what. This voice is predominant in most forms of writing, including journalism, fiction, and everyday conversation. For example:

• “The scientist conducted the experiment.”
• “The teacher explains the lesson.”

Passive Voice

In passive voice, the object of an action becomes the subject of the sentence. The focus shifts from who is performing the action to who is receiving the action. For instance, “The meal is cooked by the chef.” Here, the meal (the object) is given prominence, while the chef (the original subject) appears after the verb, often introduced by the preposition “by.”

Passive voice is particularly useful when the doer of the action is unknown, irrelevant, or less important than the action itself or its recipient. It is commonly found in scientific writing, formal reports, and situations where the speaker intends to be vague or diplomatic. For example:

• “The experiment was conducted.”
• “The lesson is explained to the students.”

Choosing Between Active and Passive Voice

The choice between active and passive voice depends on the context and purpose of the communication. Active voice is typically preferred for its directness and energy. It makes writing more engaging and easier to follow. However, passive voice has its place, especially when the action’s recipient is more important than the performer, or when the performer is unknown or unimportant.

For example, in scientific papers, passive voice can provide objectivity and focus on the process or results rather than the researcher: “The solution was heated to 100 degrees Celsius.” Similarly, in news reports, the passive voice can tactfully avoid assigning blame: “Mistakes were made.”

Understanding when to use active or passive voice enhances clarity and effectiveness in communication. Active voice energizes and clarifies, making sentences vivid and direct. Passive voice, on the other hand, serves to emphasize the action or its recipient, offering a more formal tone when necessary. Mastery of both voices allows for nuanced and precise expression, adapting to various contexts and audiences in English writing.

Learn English (Hello-Hello)

Learn English (Hello-Hello) is a full-fledged language course with 30 LESSONS developed in collaboration with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), so you can be assured that these lessons follow an effective research-based methodology.

1. Animated videos and comic strips
2. New games to practice reading and listening skills
3. Cleaner and more friendly user interface
4. Follow your course progress
5. Take notes
6. Receive notifications with lesson reminders. The more you practice, the more you learn!
7. Receive notifications with new words to build your vocabulary