Rewrite the sentence in active voice

  • Active voice: The subject of the sentence performs the action (e.g., “The teacher explains the lesson”).
  • Passive voice: The subject receives the action (e.g., “The lesson is explained by the teacher”).

  • Look for sentences where the subject is being acted upon, usually with a form of the verb “to be” (e.g., “was,” “is,” “are”) followed by a past participle (e.g., “explained,” “written”).
  • Passive sentences often include the word “by” to show the doer of the action.

  • Step 1: Identify the subject performing the action in the passive sentence.
  • Step 2: Rearrange the sentence so that the subject comes first and performs the action.
  • Step 3: Change the verb form to match the active construction.
  • Step 4: Eliminate unnecessary words like “by” unless essential for clarity.

  • Passive: “The book was read by Sarah.”
    • Active: “Sarah read the book.”
  • Passive: “The homework is completed by the students.”
    • Active: “The students complete the homework.”

  • Active sentences are generally clearer, more direct, and engaging.
  • They often result in shorter, more straightforward sentences.

  • Provide several passive voice sentences for students to convert into active voice.
  • Encourage students to rewrite sentences while maintaining the original meaning.

  • Forgetting to shift the verb tense properly when converting from passive to active.
  • Omitting or changing the subject of the action.

let’s practice!