Time To Get Active...and Passive. The Active and Passive Voice.

Understanding Active and Passive Voice.

Today, we're diving into an essential aspect of English grammar: the Active and Passive Voice. Understanding the difference between these two voices can significantly enhance your writing and speaking skills.  

In addition, understanding the active and the passive voice is essential for comprehension and understanding fully what you hear and read. 

You will be expected to be able to use both the active and passive voice to score highly in your IELTS exams.  

We can start with a definition of both words.  ‘Active’ means ready for movement and engagement - making things happen.  ‘Passive’ means letting things happen to you.  This is basically what these words mean in the context of grammar too.

What are Active and Passive Voices?

The Active Voice is when the subject of the sentence performs the action. It follows a clear and straightforward structure: Subject + Verb + Object. For example, "Mr. Jack writes a blog post." Here, Mr. Jack (the subject) is actively doing the action (writing).

In contrast, the Passive Voice is when the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. Its structure is: Sentence Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb + Object/Verb subject/doer. For example, "A blog post is written by Mr. Jack." The focus here shifts from Mr. Jack to the blog post.  

Very often, the Passive Voice does not have a verb subject.  For example: ‘The cake was baked very quickly.’  The ‘doer’ of the verb is not included because it is not important/known.

Why and When to Use Them?

1. Active Voice: It's direct, lively, and often clearer. Use it when you want to emphasize the doer of the action or when you want your writing to be straightforward and robust. For instance:

• "Mr. Jack solved the puzzle" is more direct than "The puzzle was solved by Mr. Jack.”

2. Passive Voice: It's useful when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or you want to emphasize the action itself. For example:

• "The mystery was solved," where it doesn't matter who solved it.

• "A new book was written by Mr. Jack," focusing on the book, not Mr. Jack.

Creative Uses in Narrative

Active Voice infuses energy and dynamism into stories. It's great for fast-paced narratives or when you want to highlight characters' actions. For example:

• "Mr. Jack jumped over the fence" creates a vivid image of Mr. Jack's action.

Passive Voice is excellent for creating suspense or shifting focus from the subject to the action or object. For instance:

• “Mr. Jack was chased down the street” Or "The door was suddenly flung open" puts more emphasis on the action.  It also creates a sense of suspense - who was Mr. Jack chased by? Who flung open the door?

Active and Passive Voices in IELTS

In the IELTS exam, showcasing your ability to use both voices can demonstrate your grasp of English grammar.

1. Writing: In Task 2, where you write an essay, using a mix of active and passive structures can make your writing more sophisticated. Use active voice for clarity and passive voice for variety or to highlight specific points.

2. Speaking: During the speaking test, varying your sentence structures with active and passive voices can show off your language skills. For example, describe an event (active) and then discuss its impact (passive).

Tips for Success

• Practice converting sentences from active to passive and vice versa.

• Remember, in passive sentences, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject.

• Use passive voice to be diplomatic or formal, especially when discussing sensitive topics.

Conclusion

Understanding and effectively using active and passive voices can significantly enhance your English skills. Remember, the active voice brings energy, while the passive voice often adds formality or emphasis. Both have their place in your language toolkit, especially when preparing for exams like the IELTS.

Looking for more opportunities to practice your speaking and writing? Click here to get in touch, or click here to book a session with Mr. Jack.