Example of Active Voice and Passive Voice in English

In a sentence we express an action (verb) that is performed by a subject (subject) on an object (in this case object can be a person or thing, to whom the action is directed). Depending on the way we order these elements in the sentence, we will use an active voice sentence or a passive voice sentence.

Active voice. In this mode, the sentence expresses that a subject performs an action, and that action is received by the object.

Subject -> action -> object

It is the type of sentence that we use most frequently in all verb tenses. In the following sentences, the sweeping action is performed by Julia and falls on the street. And we can express it in different verb tenses:

• Present: Julia sweeps the street. (Julia sweeps the street).
• Past: Julia swept the street. (Julia swept the street)
• Future: Julia will sweep the street. (Julia will sweep the street)
• Future: Julia is going to sweep the street. (Julia goes to sweep the street)
• Present continuous: Julia is sweeping the street (Julia is sweeping the street)
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• Past continuous: Julia was sweeping the street (Julia was sweeping the street)
• Future Continuous: Julia will be sweeping the street (Julia will be sweeping the street)
• Present perfect: Julia she has swept the street. (Julia has swept the street)
• Past perfect: Julia had swept the street. (Julia had swept the street)
• Future Perfect: Julia Will have swept the street. (Julia will have swept the street)
• Present perfect continuous: Julia you've been sweeping the street. (Julia has been sweeping the street)
• Past perfect continuous: Julia had been sweeping the street. (Julia had been sweeping the street)
• Future Perfect Continuous: Julia will have been sweeping the street. (Julia will have been sweeping the street)

As we can see, in each sentence we have a subject that acts: Julia, and an object that receives its action: the street. The action carried out is expressed in the different verb tenses.

In the case of simple tenses (present, past and future), the simple conjugation corresponding to each of the tenses is used.

In the case of perfect tenses, the basic structure of each of them is used, always using have in the corresponding tense, plus the participle of the active verb (has swept, had swept, will have swept).

For the rest of the continuous tenses, with the active voice the gerund form is always used (verb ending in –ing.

We also use the active voice when we express an action performed by the subject, but without indicating its object:

• The car runs.
• The flower will blow.
• The dog barked.

We also use the active voice with modal verbs to indicate that someone can or should perform an action. In these cases the verb is also used in its simple conjugations of present, past or future:

• You must study
• Mary could won the race.
• We may achieve the goal.
• They can arrive on time.

Passive voice. When we express sentences with the passive voice, we have before the verb, the object on which the action falls, while the subject appears after the verb:

Object

Unlike the active voice, in the passive voice the use of auxiliary verbs and the participle predominates. It is also common to indicate that the action is performed by the subject, with the connective by (for):

• Present: The street is swept by Julia. (The street is swept by Julia).
• Past: The street was swept by Julia. (The street was swept by Julia)
• Future: The street will be swept by Julia. (The street will be swept by Julia)
• Future: The street is going to be swept by Julia. (The street will be swept by Julia)
• Present continuous: The street is been swept by Julia (The street is being swept by Julia)
• Past continuous: The street was been swept by Julia. (The street was being swept by Julia)
• Continuous future: the street will been swept by Julia. (The street will be being swept by Julia)
• Present perfect: The street have you been swept by Julia. (The street has been swept by Julia)
• Past perfect: the street had been swept by Julia. (The street had been swept by Julia)
• Future perfect: the street will have been swept by Julia. (Julia will have swept the street)
• Present Perfect Continuous: The Street have you been swept by Julia (The street has been swept by Julia)
• Past Perfect Continuous: The street had been swept by Julia. (The street had been swept by Julia)
• Future Perfect Continuous: The street will have been swept by Julia. (The street will have been swept by Julia)

We also use the passive voice when we talk about what has to happen to some object in the sentence, even if the subject that does it is not mentioned. In this case, the participle of the main verb is also always used:

• The field will be seeded in summer.
• Your shoes are been washed.
• My watch have you been serviced.

In writing, especially in newspapers, it is common to use the passive voice to talk about known facts or events, about which it is not said who or who does it or says it. They are phrases such as "it is well known", "it is said", "it is commonly known", among others:

• Sir, it is say that the man don´t arrive to the moon. Is it real?
• It is well known that gravity keeps everything to the ground.
• It is commonly known that water of the rain oxides iron.

 With modal verbs, we use the passive voice when we talk about what can or should happen to something, that is, when the subject will receive the action of the verb. In this case, we will also use the verb to be to indicate the passivity of the action:

• This work must be finished in Monday.
• The goal may be achieved with some effort.
• Mathematics can be studied easy with his book.
• Don’t worry, the homework is going to be done.

10 examples of active and passive voice sentences in English:

Active: My auntie will bake cookies for my birthday.

Passive: The cookies for my birthday will be baked by my auntie.

Active: I must write an essay for Monday.

Passive: The essay must be written on Sunday afternoon.

Active: Sandra is helping her cousin to find house.

Passive: Sandra’s cousin is been helped to find house.

Active: We must have learned this theme for the test.

Passive: This theme must have been learned for the test.

Active: Harry has been repairing his car.

Passive: The car has been repaired by Harry.

Active: I have seeing this program all the week.

Passive: This program has been seen all the week by me.

Active: You can do it!

Passive: This homework can't be done!

Active: I will think of you.

Passive: You will be tough by me.

Active: Madeleine has been traveling to Paris every week.

Passive: Her luggage has been traveled with her.

Active: They follow the ice cream car.

Passive: The ice cream car is followed by the children.