Year 5 English: Choosing the active or passive for effect
Part of the Year 5 English active and passive voice, subject and object chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Choosing the active or passive for effect
Key pattern
Use the active when the doer matters or the sentence should be direct: The dog ate the sandwich.
Use the passive when the receiver matters more, or the doer is unknown: The sandwich was eaten.
A news report may use the passive to focus on the event, not the person.
Key ideas
- Active: the doer comes first and the action is direct.
- Passive: the receiver comes first, which can make the focus different.
- A writer chooses the voice to change the focus and the effect.
- Passive sentences can sound formal or can hide who is to blame.
Method. Look at which word comes first.
- Check the first word. The storm comes first, so the storm is the focus.storm
- Decide. The active sentence puts the storm first.active
- Write the answer. The storm knocked down the fence
Check. The storm knocked down the fence. ✓
Method. Think about the focus.
- Look at the subject. The vase is the subject.vase
- Explain the effect. The writer focuses on the vase and does not name who broke it.focus
- Write the answer. the writer does not say who broke it, or the vase matters more
Check. The vase is the focus. ✓
Method. Put the bridge first.
- Find the object. The bridge is the object.the bridge
- Make the passive. The bridge was repaired by the workers.was repaired
- Write the answer. The bridge was repaired by the workers.
Check. The bridge was repaired by the workers. ✓
Exercise 6E Practice: choosing the voice
Method. Look at which word comes first.
- Check the first word. The dog comes first.dog
- Decide. The active puts the dog first.active
- Write the answer. The dog chased the ball
Check. The dog chased the ball. ✓
Method. Look for a sentence with no doer named.
- Check each sentence. Sam broke the window names the doer.named
- Decide. The window was broken does not name the doer.hidden
- Write the answer. The window was broken
Check. The window was broken. ✓
Method. Put the window first.
- Find the object. The window is the object.the window
- Make the passive. The window was broken by Sam.was broken
- Write the answer. The window was broken by Sam.
Check. The window was broken by Sam. ✓
Method. Think about who is the focus.
- Think about the focus. The winner is the focus.winner
- Choose. Active puts the winner first.active
- Write the answer. active
Check. Active. ✓
Method. Put the road first.
- Find the object. The road is the object.the road
- Make the passive. The road was mended by the workers.was mended
- Write the answer. The road was mended by the workers.
Check. The road was mended by the workers. ✓
Method. Think about which version is less direct.
- Compare. The park was closed is passive and less direct.passive
- Decide. The passive sounds more formal here.The park was closed
- Write the answer. The park was closed
Check. The park was closed. ✓
Method. Make the seeds the subject.
- Find the object. The seeds is the object.the seeds
- Make the passive. The seeds were eaten by the bird.were eaten
- Write the answer. The seeds were eaten by the bird.
Check. The seeds were eaten by the bird. ✓
Method. Look for the sentence with no doer.
- Check each sentence. Mia made the cake names the doer.named
- Decide. The cake was made hides the doer.hidden
- Write the answer. The cake was made.
Check. The cake was made. ✓
Method. Compare the first word of each sentence.
- Write the active. The coach carried the bags.The coach carried the bags.
- Write the passive and compare. The bags were carried by the coach; the first sentence focuses on the coach.the coach
- Write the answer. The coach carried the bags. The bags were carried by the coach. The first puts the focus on the coach.
Check. The active sentence focuses on the coach. ✓
Method. Think about what the reader needs to know.
- Look at the focus. The building is the focus.the building
- Look at the doer. The doer may be unknown.unknown
- Write the answer. the focus is on the building, and the writer may not know who damaged it
Check. The focus is the building. ✓