Active and Passive tense

1. Active and Passive Tense
Dylan, Sam, Sarren

2. Active
Examples:
● Ashley drove the car.
● Thousands of people donated to the Red
Cross Blood drive.
● Matthew and Bob used the computer.

3. Ashley drove the car.
Subject Verb Object

4. Rules
● Active voice is more commonly used than
passive.
● Active voice is subject, verb, object.

5. Passive
Examples:
● The car was driven by Ashley.
● The Red Cross Blood Drive was donated to
by thousands of people.
● The computer was used by Matthew and
Bob.

6. The car was driven by Ashley.
Object Verb Subject

7. Rules
● Passive voice is object, verb, subject.
● It is used when:
o The subject is unknown.
 My wallet was stolen.
o The subject wishes to remain hidden.
 Mistakes were made.
o The action is more important than the subject.
 The baby was born yesterday.

8. When not to use Passive
● When it’s awkward
o Active: Tom fished at the lake.
o Passive: The lake was fished by Tom.

9. Now it’s your turn.
Active or Passive?
● Ken slapped Barbie.

10. Answer
Active because it follows the format of subject,
verb, object.

11. Now change it to passive.
Ken slapped Barbie.

12. Answer
Barbie was slapped by Ken.
● This now follows Passive form. (Object,
verb, subject)

13. One more
Active or Passive?
The old shabby trailer, full of cats, was owned
by Adel.

14. Answer
It is Passive because it follows the form of
object, verb, subject.

15. Now change it to active.
The old shabby trailer, full of cats, was owned
by Adel.

16. Answer
Adel owned the old shabby trailer full of cats.

17. Now you’re an expert, go and use it!