Structure: Active and Passive structure - SS2 English Lesson Note

Active and Passive Voice

In the English language, there are two main ways to express the relationship between the subject and the verb in a sentence: active voice and passive voice.

Active Voice

In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb. For example, in the sentence "The dog chased the cat," the subject of the sentence ("the dog") performs the action of the verb ("chased").

Passive Voice

In passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb. For example, in the sentence "The cat was chased by the dog," the subject of the sentence ("the cat") receives the action of the verb ("chased").

Differences between Active and Passive Voice

The main difference between active and passive voice is the focus of the sentence. In active voice, the focus is on the subject and what it does. In passive voice, the focus is on the object and what happens to it.

When to Use Active and Passive Voice

There are no hard and fast rules about when to use active and passive voice. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you decide which voice to use in a particular situation.

 

• Use active voice when you want to emphasize the subject and what it does. For example, if you want to emphasize the dog's actions in the sentence "The dog chased the cat," you would use active voice.
• Use passive voice when you want to emphasize the object and what happens to it. For example, if you want to emphasize the cat's experience in the sentence "The dog chased the cat," you would use passive voice.
• Use passive voice when you do not know or do not want to reveal the identity of the subject. For example, if you want to report a crime without revealing the identity of the victim, you would use passive voice.