English Language Arts

Passive & Active Voice

Concept sheet | English Language Arts

Grade

5-6

| Secondary

1-5

Top of page
Passive Voice—Uses
Main Uses
Other Common Uses
Passive Voice Forms—Reminder
Passive Voice—Affirmative Form
Passive Voice—Negative Form
Passive Voice—Question Form
Passive & Active Voice Exercise
Passive Voice Using Different Verb Tenses
Passive Voice with Continuous Tenses
Passive Voice with Perfect Tenses
Passive Voice with Conditionals
Passive Voice with Modals
See Also

Definition

Passive voice sentences are sentences where the subject is not performing the action described by the verb.

Active voice sentences are sentences where the subject is performing the action described by the verb.

Here are some examples of sentences written in their active and passive form:

Active	Passive
This weird restaurant serves questionable meals.	Questionable meals are served at this weird restaurant.
Grandmothers cook marvelous pancakes.	Marvelous pancakes are cooked by grandmothers.

Using active sentences usually makes your writing more straightforward.

However, using passive sentences can be useful in specific situations.

Passive Voice—Uses
Passive Voice Forms—Reminder
Passive Voice Using Different Verb Tenses

Passive Voice—Uses

Main Uses

There are many reasons to use passive voice sentences.

To emphasize the action or the object rather than the person doing it
To lessen the importance of the role of the person doing it
To avoid directly blaming a person
To sound more formal

Examples

To emphasize the action or the object rather than the person doing it

We focus on the action the pie was baked rather than on the chef who baked it.

To lessen the importance of the role of the person doing it

We focus on the fact that flour was spread on the counter rather than on who spread the flour.

To avoid directly blaming a person

Man sending a meal back at the restaurant.

We focus on the action the meal was sent back rather than blaming who cooked the meal.

To sound more formal

The passive voice makes things sound more official. At the same time, it also focuses on the award more than on the person receiving it.

Other Common Uses

There are other situations where using passive voice sentences is useful.

To report crimes or incidents with an unknown perpetrator
In science reports

Examples

To report crimes or incidents with an unknown perpetrator

The identity of the thief in this situation is unknown. The focus is on the ingredients that were stolen.

In science reports

Knowing who placed the young chef in the competition isn’t important. The focus is on the experiment of being placed in the competition.

Passive Voice Forms—Reminder

Passive Voice—Affirmative Form

Passive Voice—Negative Form

*Object is not always necessary.

Passive Voice—Question Form

*Object is not always necessary.

Passive & Active Voice Exercise

Passive Voice Using Different Verb Tenses

Passive Voice with Continuous Tenses

The passive voice can be used in continuous tenses (also called progressive tenses).

Continuous Tenses	Affirmative Form	Negative Form	Question Form
Past continuous	The pie was being cooked yesterday at 9 p.m.	The pie was not being cooked yesterday at 9 p.m.	What was being cooked yesterday at 9 p.m.?
Present continuous	The chef is being evaluated by a critic today.	The chef is not being evaluated by a critic today.	Who is the chef being evaluated by?
Future continuous	The students will be being tested on their knowledge tomorrow.	The students will not be being tested on their knowledge tomorrow.	When will the students be being tested on their knowledge?

Passive Voice with Perfect Tenses

The passive voice can be used in perfect tenses.

Perfect Tenses	Affirmative Form	Negative Form	Question Form
Past perfect	The kitchen had been cleaned before the next team arrived.	The kitchen had not been cleaned before the next team arrived.	Had the kitchen been cleaned before the next team arrived?
Present perfect	A new recipe has been tried with excellent results!	A new recipe has not been tried with excellent results!	What has been tried with excellent results?
Future perfect	The fridge will have been filled for the next cooking session.	The fridge will not have been filled for the next cooking session.	Why will the fridge have been filled?

Passive Voice with Conditionals

The passive voice can be used with conditionals.

Conditionals	Affirmative Form	Negative Form	Question Form
Present	The table would be set if they had guests.	The table would not be set if they had guests.	What would be set if they had guests?
Past	The cake would have been baked if the children had arrived.	The cake would not have been baked if the children had arrived.	Would the cake have been baked if the children had arrived?
Future	The fridge will have been emptied by the time the adults get home.	The fridge will not have been emptied by the time the adults get home.	Will the fridge have been emptied by the time the adults get home?

Passive Voice with Modals

The passive voice can be used with modals.

Modals	Affirmative Form	Negative Form	Question Form
have to	The reservation had to be booked on time.	The reservation didn’t have to be booked on time.	Did the reservation have to be booked on time?
might	The fish might have been stuck in the delivery van for too long.	The fish might not have been stuck in the delivery van for too long.	What might have been stuck in the delivery van for too long?
may	A meal may be planned in advance.	A meal may not be planned in advance.	What may be planned in advance?
should	The chef should be warned of any delays in the kitchen.	The chef should not be warned of any delays in the kitchen.	Should the chef be warned of any delays in the kitchen?