Verbs have one other quality that does vary significantly in English: voice. Verbs or verb phrases can be active or passive. When writing formally, eliminate the passive voice from your writing.
Active Construction:
The boy hit the ball. (The subject does the action or is in a state of being, the object has something done to it)
Passive Construction:
The ball was hit by the boy. (The subject received the action. The boy is known as the agent)
*Often the passive voice is less clear because the agent is left out. e.g. The ball was hit.
Rewrite the following passive constructions using the active voice:
1. The students who were reading were disturbed by the ones who were talking.
The students who were talking disturbed the ones who were reading.
2. The new bylaw was voted down.
The city councilors voted down the new bylaw.
3. The principal was informed of an incredible opportunity by the mayor.
The mayor informed the principal of an incredible learning opportunity.
