Voice

Voice refers to the relationship between the action expressed by the verb and the participants (subject, object) identified by the sentence.

Types of Voice#

There are two primary voices in English:

• Active Voice
• Passive Voice

Active Voice#

In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed by the verb.

Structure:

Examples:

• The chef cooked the meal.
• The dog chased the cat.

Passive Voice#

In passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. The focus is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than who performs the action.

Structure:

Examples:

• The meal was cooked by the chef.
• The cat was chased by the dog.

Usage#

Active Voice:#

• Generally preferred in most writing for its clarity and directness.
• Used when the subject performing the action is important.

Example:

• The committee approved the new policy.

Passive Voice:#

• Often used when the action or the recipient of the action is more important than the performer.
• Common in scientific or technical writing to emphasize results rather than the doer.
• Used when the performer of the action is unknown or irrelevant.

Example:

• The new policy was approved.