Learning English

Active or passive?

So how do you choose whether to use the active or passive voice? In fact, it's not a grammatical choice, it's usually one of style and emphasis.

Look at these two sentences:

The passive is used to describe processes. (Passive)

We use the passive to describe processes. (Active)

They are both grammatically correct and they both mean the same. In this case the passive is more formal and the active is more direct and friendly. Which one you choose depends on what you're saying, and to whom.

In formal descriptive writing, for example when talking about manufacturing or scientific processes, using the passive is common:

The metal sheeting is heated and bent into shape before being cooled, polished and finally painted.

Another time we use it is when reporting meetings and discussions:

The decision was taken to reduce the size of the workforce in order to save money.

Barreeffama kana dubbisii shakala kana xumuri

Spoken English

Get is sometimes used in place of the verb to be in the passive. This is especially common in informal, spoken English.

I got fired for being late!
These letters get delivered first.
Your bike will get stolen if you don’t lock it up.

To do

Read the following paragraph. It contains a number of examples of active forms. In the activity you will need to rewrite the active phrases to make them passive.

Police found a seriously injured man early this morning on Sandy Beach. Someone informed the police at around 5am. Officers arrived on the scene shortly after. Paramedics took the man to the local hospital but doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. The police do not yet know the cause of death. They are questioning local residents for information.

Time now to head to the next page to listen to Catherine and Finn in 6 Minute Grammar. In this episode Finn really suffers... but all for your benefit!