From Passive to Active Voice: How to Revise a Passage

By August Isley

Here are three strategies a writer can use to revise a passage written in passive voice to active voice:

1. Identify the Subject Performing the Action

Passive Voice: The book was read by Sarah.

Active Voice: Sarah read the book.

Explanation: Look for the "doer" of the action in the sentence and move them to the subject position. This shifts the focus from the object receiving the action to the subject performing it.

2. Change the Verb Form

Passive Voice: The cake was baked by James.

 Active Voice: James baked the cake.

Explanation: Convert the verb from its passive form (usually a form of "to be" + past participle) to an active verb. This often involves rephrasing the sentence so that the subject directly performs the action.

3. Reconstruct the Sentence

Passive Voice: The decision was made by the committee after a long discussion.

Active Voice: The committee made the decision after a long discussion.

Explanation: Rewrite the sentence entirely, if necessary, to place the subject at the beginning. This helps clarify who is responsible for the action and makes the sentence more direct and engaging.

Additional Tip: Look for Clues

Passive voice often includes forms of the verb "to be" (e.g., is, are, was, were) followed by a past participle (e.g., written, done, seen). Identifying these clues can help you quickly spot passive constructions and transform them into active sentences.

By focusing on these strategies, you can make your writing more dynamic, clearer, and more engaging for the reader.