Active Voice: In an active voice sentence, the subject performs the action expressed by the verb. (e.g., "The chef baked a delicious cake.") Passive Voice: In a passive voice sentence, the subject receives the action expressed by the verb. (e.g., "A delicious cake was baked by the chef.")

What are Active and Passive Voice?

Identifying Passive Voice

– Look for the "by" prepositional phrase. (e.g., "The report was written by me.") – Auxiliary verbs like "was," "is," "were," "be," and "been" often indicate passive voice. – Does the sentence feel roundabout or impersonal? That's a passive voice red flag!

Benefits of Active Voice

Stronger sentence flow: Active voice creates a more dynamic and engaging reading experience. Clearer focus: Readers easily understand who or what is doing the action. Conciseness: Active voice sentences tend to be shorter and punchier, avoiding unnecessary words.

When to Use Passive Voice (Sparingly!)

– Emphasis on the object or receiver of the action: "The house was built in 1850." – Maintaining anonymity or secrecy: "The crime was committed by someone in this room." – Formal or legal contexts: "The defendant was found guilty."

Transforming Passive to Active

– Identify the passive verb and its object. – Make the object the subject of the sentence. – Rewrite the verb to show the subject performing the action.

Master the Voice, Master Your Writing

– By understanding and using active voice effectively, you become a conductor of your writing, orchestrating impactful and engaging sentences. – Remember, active voice is the default, while passive voice serves specific purposes. – Practice, experiment, and find your own voice to weave powerful and captivating stories!

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