Page 867 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Examples of Sentences Rewritten in Passive

Voice

Active: The cheering fans watched the game.

The actor (the subject of the verb) is cheering fans. The recipient of
the action (the object of the verb) is the game. To convert the

sentence to passive voice, switch the positions of the two. Then

change the verb to passive voice by adding a helping verb:

Passive: The game was watched by hundreds of cheering fans.

Here is a second example:

Active: The Committee for Park Beautification and the Citizens’

Council planted fifty new trees in Gregory Frasier Park.

Passive: Fifty new trees were planted in Gregory Frasier Park

by the Committee for Park Beautification and the Citizens’ Council.

Practice 21-6 Changing Active Voice to Passive

Voice

Each of the following sentences is in active voice. Rewrite each

sentence in passive voice.

1. Children’s drawings and magnets of various types covered the

refrigerator door.