Voice acts as an important modifier of the verbs in English grammar. The voice is usually classified into two categories- active voice and passive voice. These are two grammatical voices helping the individuals frame grammatically correct sentences. Voice is defined as a form of the verb that represents the subject performing an action or the subject as the receiver of an action. The subject performing an action is referred to as active voice, and when the subject receives an action in the sentence, it is referred to as passive voice. 

Active Voice Vs. Passive Voice: Explaining the Difference:

Here discussed is the difference between active and passive voice:

Active Voice

When the subject of the English sentence performs the verb’s action, it can be said that the particular sentence is in the active voice. Sentences framed in the active voice always have a strong, direct, and clear tone. When it comes to the construction structure of the active voice, it is- subject + verb + object.

Examples of active voice:

  1. The cat chased the rat. (Here, the subject cat performs an action described by chased.)
  2. The account prepared the accounts. (Here, the subject cat performs an action described by prepared.)
  3. She loves singing. (Here, the subject cat performs an action described by loves.)

Passive Voice 

When the subject of the English sentence is acted by the verb, it can e said that the particular sentence is in the passive voice. Talking about framing the sentences in passive voice, they are always constructed using a conjugated form of ‘to be’ along with the past participle of the verb. Doing this also generates a preposition. The construction structure of the passive voice goes like this: object + verb + subject.

Examples of passive voice:

  1. The rat was chased by the cat. [The passive sentence consists of rat (object) + was chased (a form of ‘to be’ along with verb’s past participle) + by (preposition) + cat (subject).]
  2. The accounts were prepared by the accountant. [The passive sentence consists of accounts (object) + were prepared (a form of ‘to be’ along with verb’s past participle) + by (preposition) + accountant (subject).]
  3. Singing is loved by her. [The passive sentence consists of singing (object) + is loved (a form of ‘to be’ along with verb’s past participle) + by (preposition) + her (subject).]

The worksheet to fill the right voice in the blanks:

In the below-mentioned worksheet, an individual is required to fill in the blanks with the right voice: 

  1. Mansi ____ a stylish suit for her son.
  1. a) bought
  2. b) was bought
  3. c) have bought

The answer to this question is ‘bought’. 

  1. The winners ____ by the coach.
  2. a) praised
  3. b) have praised
  4. c) were praised

The answer to this question is ‘were praised’.

  1. Jia ____ a blueberry cake for her husband’s birthday.
  1. a) baked
  2. b) was baked
  3. c) will be baked

The answer to this question is ‘baked’.

  1. Who ____ this biography on Mahatma Gandhi?
  1. a) wrote
  2. b) has wrote
  3. c) was written

The answer to this question is ‘wrote’.

  1. The salesperson ____ all questions seamlessly.
  2. a) answered
  3. b) was answered
  4. c) Has to answer

The answer to this question is ‘answered’.

  1. The teacher ____ the students to be careful.
  1. a) has to advise
  2. b) advised
  3. c) was advised

The answer to this question is ‘advised’.

  1. He ____ in 2021.
  1. a) has graduated
  2. b) graduated
  3. c) was graduated

The answer to this question is ‘graduated’.

  1. They ____ their kids Australia for higher studies.
  1. a) sent
  2. b) were sent
  3. c) was sending

The answer to this question is ‘sent’.

  1. Harry needs to be ____ care of.
  1. a) taking
  2. b) taken
  3. c) take

The answer to this question is ‘taken’.

  1. She ____ by Ria wanting to tell everyone what and how to do.
  2. a) have annoyed
  3. b) annoyed
  4. c) was annoyed

The answer to this question is was ‘annoyed’.

  1. His attitude ____ her.
  2. a) was shocking
  3. b) was shocked
  4. c) shocked

The answer to this question is ‘shocked’.

  1. She ____ for three hours.
  2. a) has been playing
  3. b) have been playing
  4. c) was playing

The answer to this question is ‘have been playing’.

  1. The students ____ to give a presentation by this Monday.
  1. a) have asked
  2. b) has asked
  3. c) are asked

The answer to this question is ‘are asked’.

Conclusion

It is the voice that represents the subject of the sentence, either the element performing an action or the element on which the action is being performed. The voice of the sentence is classified into two types- active and passive voice. Individuals need to be aware of their usage to construct grammatically correct sentences. The above-mentioned article will let you know about the concept of the difference between active and passive voice. Also, you can practice the same concept through the enlisted worksheet.