How do you know if a verb is active?
Verbs are either ‘active’ or ‘passive’ according to whether the subject of the sentence is doing the action or whether they are having it done to them. An active verb is a word that basically shows an action within a sentence. In an active sentence, the subject of the sentence is the thing or the person carrying out the action (see the below examples). Whereas, in a passive sentence, the thing being acted upon is the subject of the sentence. So active verbs are those verbs, in sentences, which are being done by the subject of the sentence. All verbs are doing words and involve action, but examples of ‘active verbs’ depend on whether the thing being done, (cleaning, eating etcetera), is being done by the subject of the sentence or not.
Examples of Active Verbs
Charlotte talks for an incredibly long time. The active verb here would be talks; as talking is something that Charlotte can do. Remember, active verbs express something that a person, animal, or object can do. That’s why they are named Action verbs Jack cleaned the house. The verb To Clean is active here, (cleaned) because the subject of the sentence ‘Jack’ is doing the cleaning. The house was cleaned by Jack. In this sentence, the verb ‘To Clean’ is passive because the subject of the sentence, the house, is being cleaned. My parents bought a house. The verb is active, the subject (my parents) is doing the action of ‘buying'. “Sally brushed the dog” Here “brushed” is an active verb. Compare this with “The dog was brushed by Sally” – where “was brushed” is a passive verb.
When should you use the active and passive voice?
What is the difference between active and passive verbs?
There are 2 types of sentences - active and passive. All verbs have an active and passive voice. Where active verbs detail the action ie: The teacher taught the lesson. The passive sentence would read: The students are taught the lesson. The passive voice is used when we want to emphasize the action (the verb) and the object of a sentence rather than the subject. Basically it means when someone is not physically doing anything! For example, Active:
- I am building a house.
- You are driving the car.
- Bill is eating his dinner
- Mary is playing the game.
- Jill washed the dishes
- Katie carried her bag
Passive:
- The house was built by me.
- The car was driven by you.
- The dinner was eaten by Bill.
- The game was played by Mary.
- The dishes were washed by Jill
- The bag was carried by Katie
Do you have any other examples of active or passive verbs? Leave them in the comments and we will add them to the list!