Grammar › Passive Voice › Active vs Passive
Active vs Passive
Both describe the same event; they just change the focus:
- Active — the doer is the subject (The company hired her). Clear and direct; use it by default.
- Passive — the receiver is the subject (She was hired). Use when the doer is unknown or unimportant.
Prefer the active for clear writing. Reach for the passive to hide or downplay the doer, or to keep the topic in focus.
The difference in one table
| Active | Passive | |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | does the action | receives the action |
| Focus | the doer | the action / the receiver |
| Example | The chef cooked the meal. | The meal was cooked (by the chef). |
| Default? | yes — clear and direct | only with a reason |
Same event, different focus. Move the object to the front to make it passive; name the doer only if it matters.
When to use each
1. Active — your default
- The team finished the project early. (clear: who did what)
2. Passive — doer unknown or unimportant
- The shop was broken into last night. (we don’t know by whom)
- The road will be resurfaced next month. (who does it isn’t the point)
3. Passive — to keep the topic in focus
- Penicillin was discovered in 1928 and is still used today.
⚠️ Don’t overuse the passive: It was decided by the committee that the proposal would be rejected is clearer as The committee rejected the proposal.
Common mistakes
1. Passive with no reason. The ball was kicked by John (when John is the point) → John kicked the ball.
2. Losing the doer you actually need. The theory was proposed (by whom? it matters) → Einstein proposed the theory.
3. Wrong transformation. The cake ate by the boy → The cake was eaten by the boy. Pro tip: to go passive, make the object the subject and add be + past participle; to go active, name the doer and put it first.
✏️ Practice: Active vs Passive
1. Which sentence is PASSIVE?
2. Make it passive: 'The gardener waters the plants.'
3. Make it active: 'The email was sent by Maria.'
4. Which is the better choice: 'Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.'?
5. Best sentence when you DON'T know who did it:
6. Which sentence is ACTIVE?
7. Rewrite more clearly: 'It was decided by us to cancel the trip.'
8. Make it passive (doer unimportant): 'They serve breakfast until 10.'
9. Which sentence keeps the topic 'penicillin' in focus?
10. When is the ACTIVE voice usually the right default?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between active and passive?
In the active, the subject does the action (Dogs chase cats). In the passive, the subject receives it (Cats are chased by dogs). Same event, different focus.
Which should I use by default?
The active — it's shorter and clearer and names the doer. Use the passive only when you have a reason to.
Why do writers use the passive?
To focus on the action or receiver, or when the doer is unknown, obvious, or best left unsaid: Mistakes were made.
Is the passive weaker writing?
Not wrong, but overusing it makes writing vague. Use it deliberately, not by habit.
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “Active vs Passive”:
- Can identify active and passive sentences (CEFR B1).
- Can transform between active and passive in both directions.
- Can justify choosing the passive (unknown/obvious/unimportant doer or focus).
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