In grammar, “voice” refers to the form or format of a verb that indicates the relationship between the subject and the action expressed by the verb in a sentence. There are two primary voices in English: active voice and passive voice.
Key Points about Voice:
- Active Voice: In active voice, the sentence’s subject performs the action expressed by the verb.
Example: The cat (subject) chased (verb) the mouse.
- Passive Voice: In passive voice, the subject receives the action, and the agent (the one performing the action) is often placed at the end of the sentence or omitted.
Example: The mouse (subject) was chased (passive verb) by the cat.
- Construction: The construction of a sentence in active or passive voice depends on the arrangement of the subject, verb, and object.
Active Voice: Subject + Verb + Object
Passive Voice: Object + Verb (in past participle form) + by + Subject (optional)
- Clarity and Emphasis: Active voice is generally more direct and clearer, while passive voice can be used for emphasis, to shift focus, or when the actor is unknown or less important.
Active Example: The chef (subject) prepared (verb) a delicious meal (object).
Passive Example: A delicious meal (subject) was prepared (passive verb) by the chef.
- Verb Forms: Verbs are in their typical forms (present or past tense) in the active voice. In the passive voice, the main verb is often accompanied by a form of the auxiliary verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were) and the past participle of the main verb.
Active Example: She (subject) writes (verb) a letter.
Passive Example: A letter (subject) is written (passive verb) by her.
- Use in Writing: Writers choose between active and passive voice based on the context and the emphasis they want to convey. Active voice is generally preferred for straightforward and clear communication, while passive voice may be used for stylistic reasons or when focused on the action rather than the doer.
Conclusion
Understanding voice is essential for effective communication, as it allows writers and speakers to convey information in a way that suits the context and desired emphasis. Writers often make conscious choices between active and passive voice based on their communication goals.
