Sentences have a structure of
subject - verb - object, where the subject (or actor) performs an action (the
verb) on an object.
Active verbs
Use active verbs when you want to
create interest and emphasize the action.
Use active verbs to give an order.
Passive verbs
Passive verbs describe
the action done by the subject of a sentence. Passive verbs use a linking verb
alongside the main verb. With passive verbs, it is often possible that the
subject is not named.
Use passive verbs when you want
to:
·
Downplay the actor, for example when:
o The
actor is not known
o The
actor is relatively unimportant
o The
actor has already been named.
·
Downplay the action, for example
o To
add focus to the object
o When
the action may seem hostile
Linking verbs
Linking verbs are
neither active nor passive and act like an 'equals' (or inequality) sign. By
far the most common linking verb is 'to be'.
Use linking verbs to describe a
'state of being'.
Example
Active: The man wrote the story.
Passive: The story was written by the man.
Passive: The story was written by the man.
Linking: The
story is good.
Active: The
secret-service man shot the dark stranger.
Passive: The dark
stranger was shot. [who did the shooting is not named]
Linking: The dark stranger is not dead.
Linking: The dark stranger is not dead.
Active
(imperative): Please help me succeed.
Passive
(downplay action): Errors will occur.
Passive
(downplay actor): The components were tested.
Passive (focus
on object): The president was bitten by the rat.
Discussion
Active and passive verbs may be
mixed within sentences and used as appropriate.
Active verbs
Active verbs are generally clearer
and add more interest than passive verbs.
Active verbs are common in speech
and commands.
Passive verbs
Because the subject need not be
named with the passive verbs, this can lead to a lack of clarity and ambiguity.
It also means that if the subject is not known,
Passive verbs are common in formal writing, such as
academic, technical and business papers.
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