Active voice is that sentence construction where a SUBJECT is followed by a VERB and then the OBJECT of action.

SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT

Example: “Mary loves books.”

Passive voice is constructed by starting the sentence with the OBJECT of the ACTIVE voice sentence (which in passive construction is called the SUBJECT of the sentence); then following it with the appropriate form of the verb TO BE, then ending with the PAST PARTICIPLE of the main VERB. If the subject is known, you can add it to the end after “by.”

OBJECT (of ACTIVE voice) + TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE OF THE VERB

IMPORTANT: The OBJECT of an active voice sentence is called the SUBJECT when it is used in a passive-voice sentence.

For example:

ACTIVE VOICE: “Mary loves books.” “Mary” is the SUBJECT. “Books” is the OBJECT.

PASSIVE VOICE: “Books are loved (by Mary).” “Mary” is the (hidden) OBJECT.  “Books” is the SUBJECT.

Active voice is what you should be using in non-fiction to make your meaning clear. But in some journalistic, technical, or scientific contexts passive voice can be used as well, especially in situations when the AGENT of action is not important.

For example: “The thief was found guilty as charged.” Here the agent of the action is the “judge” needless to say since no one else is authorized in a democracy to decide whether a thief is guilty as charged or not.

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