Grammar: Cont’D on Active and Passive voice - JSS2 English language Lesson Note

Definition:
Active Voice:
Active voice occurs when the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed by the verb. It emphasizes the doer of the action and makes the sentence direct and straightforward.
Example: "The cat chased the mouse."
Explanation: In active voice sentences, the subject is doing the action. It's like telling a story where the main character (the subject) is performing an action.
Example: "John (subject) ate (action) the apple (object)."
Meaning: This sentence tells us that John is the one who performed the action of eating the apple.

Passive Voice:
Passive voice occurs when the subject of the sentence receives the action expressed by the verb. It often involves rearranging the sentence structure and can sometimes make the sentence less direct.
Example: "The mouse was chased by the cat."
Explanation: In passive voice sentences, the subject is not doing the action; rather, it's receiving the action. It's like telling a story where something happens to the main character (the subject).
Example: "The apple (subject) was eaten (action) by John (agent)."
Meaning: This sentence tells us that the apple is the one receiving the action of being eaten, and John is the one who performed the action.

Examples:

Active Voice:

"The students completed the assignment."
"She baked a delicious cake."
"The company launched a new product."
Passive Voice:

"The assignment was completed by the students."
"A delicious cake was baked by her."
"A new product was launched by the company."

Active voice emphasizes the doer of the action, making the sentence clearer and more engaging.
Passive voice emphasizes the action itself or the recipient of the action, which can sometimes be appropriate for certain contexts

Understanding active and passive voice is essential for effective communication. By choosing the appropriate voice, we can convey our message clearly and ensure that our writing is concise and engaging.