Revising and polishing your writing/ENGA104/Finding the right voice/Matching

Active or passive?

Which is which?

In this section, you are going to test your understanding of what is an active or passive voice. Here is a list of sentences. Decide for each one if the sentence is active or passive.

• The mouse was caught by the cat.
  • Active.
    • Incorrect. The subject (the cat) is located at the end of the sentence.
  • Passive.
    • Correct. The object (the mouse) is at the beginning of the sentence.
• Researchers have concluded that smoking is the leading cause of lung disease.
  • Active.
    • Correct. The subject (the researchers) is at the beginning of the sentence, right before the active verb.
  • Passive.
    • Incorrect. In a passive sentence, the object (lung disease) would have been at the beginning of the sentence.
• The law was passed by the legislators.
  • Active.
    • Incorrect. The subject (the legislators) is located at the end of the sentence.
  • Passive.
    • Correct. The object (the law) is at the beginning of the sentence and the subject is preceded by "by the".
• The baby was delivered in the middle of the night.
  • Active.
    • Incorrect. The subject is absent.
  • Passive.
    • Correct. The object (the baby) is at the beginning of the sentence. The subject is absent.
• Dr. Malone delivered the baby in the middle of the night.
  • Active.
    • Correct. The subject (Dr. Malone) is at the beginning of the sentence and is performing the action.
  • Passive.
    • Incorrect. In a passive sentence, the object (the baby) would have been at the beginning of the sentence.
• The region was invaded by locusts.
  • Active.
    • Incorrect. The subject (the locust) is located at the end of the sentence.
  • Passive.
    • Correct. The object (the region) is at the beginning of the sentence.
• The dragon terrified the villagers with his fiery breath.
  • Active.
    • Correct. The subject (the dragon) is at the beginning of the sentence and is performing the action (terrifying).
  • Passive.
    • Incorrect. In a passive sentence, the object (the villagers) would have been at the beginning of the sentence.
• A new system of penalties was set up.
  • Active.
    • Incorrect. Although the subject is missing, it is still passive because the object leads the sentence. In fact, when you don't know who the subject is, you have to use the passive voice.
  • Passive.
    • Correct. The object (the new system of penalties) is at the beginning of the sentence.
• As an actor, John is adored by millions of fans around the world.
  • Active.
    • Incorrect. The subject (the fans) is located at the end of the sentence.
  • Passive.
    • Correct. John is the object of adoration (action).