Page 863 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
P. 863
The subject of the verb is .
The verbs that show the action done by the subject are .
Passive: After the park closes, leaves are raked, sidewalks are swept,
and restrooms are cleaned in preparation for the next day.
The subjects of the verbs are .
The actions done to the subjects are .
Uses of Active Voice and Passive
Voice
Active voice, with its directness and vitality, is stronger than passive
voice and is preferred in most situations. There are times, however,
when you may want to emphasize the recipient of the action rather
than the actor. At those times, use passive voice. If you were
composing a paragraph about an old mansion, you would probably
say “The Wetherby mansion was built in 1897 by Augustus L.
Wetherby,” not “Augustus L. Wetherby built the Wetherby mansion in
1897.” If your paragraph were about Augustus Wetherby, however,
the second sentence would be a better choice. While active voice is
ordinarily preferred, decisions about active and passive voice depend
on the focus and purpose of each sentence.
Shifts between active and passive voice are avoided unless they are
necessary, as in the following sentence:
