100 Examples of Active And Passive Voice

Active voice occurs when the subject of a sentence performs the action. Passive voice happens when the action is performed on the subject.

Using active voice often makes sentences clearer and more direct, while passive voice can be useful for emphasizing the action rather than the subject.

A

Active Voice

  • The accountant prepared the report.

  • The artist painted a beautiful landscape.

  • The author wrote a novel.

  • The athlete ran a marathon.

Passive Voice

  • The report was prepared by the accountant.

  • A beautiful landscape was painted by the artist.

  • A novel was written by the author.

  • A marathon was run by the athlete.

B

Active Voice

  • The baker made a delicious cake.

  • The boy kicked the ball.

  • The builder constructed the house.

  • The barber trimmed the beard.

Passive Voice

  • A delicious cake was made by the baker.

  • The ball was kicked by the boy.

  • The house was constructed by the builder.

  • The beard was trimmed by the barber.

C

Active Voice

  • The chef cooked a gourmet meal.

  • The children played a game.

  • The cleaner vacuumed the floor.

  • The carpenter built a table.

Passive Voice

  • A gourmet meal was cooked by the chef.

  • A game was played by the children.

  • The floor was vacuumed by the cleaner.

  • A table was built by the carpenter.

D

Active Voice

  • The designer created a new logo.

  • The doctor examined the patient.

  • The dog chased the cat.

  • The driver parked the car.

Passive Voice

  • A new logo was created by the designer.

  • The patient was examined by the doctor.

  • The cat was chased by the dog.

  • The car was parked by the driver.

E

Active Voice

  • The engineer designed a bridge.

  • The executive approved the proposal.

  • The explorer discovered a new island.

  • The editor revised the article.

Passive Voice

  • A bridge was designed by the engineer.

  • The proposal was approved by the executive.

  • A new island was discovered by the explorer.

  • The article was revised by the editor.

F

Active Voice

  • The farmer planted the seeds.

  • The filmmaker directed the movie.

  • The fisherman caught a big fish.

  • The florist arranged the flowers.

Passive Voice

  • The seeds were planted by the farmer.

  • The movie was directed by the filmmaker.

  • A big fish was caught by the fisherman.

  • The flowers were arranged by the florist.

G

Active Voice

  • The gardener trimmed the hedges.

  • The guide led the tour.

  • The guitarist played a solo.

  • The grocer stocked the shelves.

Passive Voice

  • The hedges were trimmed by the gardener.

  • The tour was led by the guide.

  • A solo was played by the guitarist.

  • The shelves were stocked by the grocer.

H

Active Voice

  • The hairdresser cut the hair.

  • The historian wrote the article.

  • The host welcomed the guests.

  • The hiker climbed the mountain.

Passive Voice

  • The hair was cut by the hairdresser.

  • The article was written by the historian.

  • The guests were welcomed by the host.

  • The mountain was climbed by the hiker.

I

Active Voice

  • The illustrator drew a cartoon.

  • The instructor taught the class.

  • The intern organized the files.

  • The inspector checked the building.

Passive Voice

  • A cartoon was drawn by the illustrator.

  • The class was taught by the instructor.

  • The files were organized by the intern.

  • The building was checked by the inspector.

J

Active Voice

  • The janitor cleaned the hallway.

  • The judge made a ruling.

  • The journalist interviewed the celebrity.

  • The jeweler polished the ring.

Passive Voice

  • The hallway was cleaned by the janitor.

  • A ruling was made by the judge.

  • The celebrity was interviewed by the journalist.

  • The ring was polished by the jeweler.

K

Active Voice

  • The keeper fed the animals.

  • The kid solved the puzzle.

  • The knight defended the castle.

  • The kayaker navigated the river.

Passive Voice

  • The animals were fed by the keeper.

  • The puzzle was solved by the kid.

  • The castle was defended by the knight.

  • The river was navigated by the kayaker.

L

Active Voice

  • The lawyer argued the case.

  • The librarian shelved the books.

  • The lifeguard saved the swimmer.

  • The landlord rented the apartment.

Passive Voice

  • The case was argued by the lawyer.

  • The books were shelved by the librarian.

  • The swimmer was saved by the lifeguard.

  • The apartment was rented by the landlord.

M

Active Voice

  • The manager reviewed the report.

  • The mechanic fixed the car.

  • The musician composed a song.

  • The marketer launched the campaign.

Passive Voice

  • The report was reviewed by the manager.

  • The car was fixed by the mechanic.

  • A song was composed by the musician.

  • The campaign was launched by the marketer.

N

Active Voice

  • The nanny watched the children.

  • The nurse administered the medication.

  • The novelist wrote the story.

  • The negotiator closed the deal.

Passive Voice

  • The children were watched by the nanny.

  • The medication was administered by the nurse.

  • The story was written by the novelist.

  • The deal was closed by the negotiator.

O

Active Voice

  • The officer directed traffic.

  • The organizer planned the event.

  • The owner painted the house.

  • The operator managed the machine.

Passive Voice

  • Traffic was directed by the officer.

  • The event was planned by the organizer.

  • The house was painted by the owner.

  • The machine was managed by the operator.

P

Active Voice

  • The painter decorated the room.

  • The photographer took the picture.

  • The pilot flew the plane.

  • The programmer wrote the code.

Passive Voice

  • The room was decorated by the painter.

  • The picture was taken by the photographer.

  • The plane was flown by the pilot.

  • The code was written by the programmer.

Q

Active Voice

  • The quarterback threw the ball.

  • The queen ruled the kingdom.

  • The quizmaster asked the question.

  • The quilter made a blanket.

Passive Voice

  • The ball was thrown by the quarterback.

  • The kingdom was ruled by the queen.

  • The question was asked by the quizmaster.

  • The blanket was made by the quilter.

R

Active Voice

  • The referee called the foul.

  • The researcher conducted the study.

  • The reviewer evaluated the performance.

  • The roofer repaired the roof.

Passive Voice

  • The foul was called by the referee.

  • The study was conducted by the researcher.

  • The performance was evaluated by the reviewer.

  • The roof was repaired by the roofer.

S

Active Voice

  • The scientist discovered a new element.

  • The singer performed a song.

  • The student completed the assignment.

  • The secretary scheduled the meeting.

Passive Voice

  • A new element was discovered by the scientist.

  • A song was performed by the singer.

  • The assignment was completed by the student.

  • The meeting was scheduled by the secretary.

T

Active Voice

  • The teacher explained the lesson.

  • The technician repaired the computer.

  • The traveler visited a new country.

  • The tailor sewed the dress.

Passive Voice

  • The lesson was explained by the teacher.

  • The computer was repaired by the technician.

  • A new country was visited by the traveler.

  • The dress was sewed by the tailor.

U

Active Voice

  • The usher guided the guests.

  • The umpire called the strike.

  • The user logged into the system.

  • The usher handed out programs.

Passive Voice

  • The guests were guided by the usher.

  • The strike was called by the umpire.

  • The system was logged into by the user.

  • The programs were handed out by the usher.

V

Active Voice

  • The vendor sold the products.

  • The veterinarian treated the dog.

  • The volunteer helped the community.

  • The violinist played a melody.

Passive Voice

  • The products were sold by the vendor.

  • The dog was treated by the veterinarian.

  • The community was helped by the volunteer.

  • A melody was played by the violinist.

W

Active Voice

  • The waiter served the meal.

  • The writer published the book.

  • The worker assembled the parts.

  • The welder fixed the gate.

Passive Voice

  • The meal was served by the waiter.

  • The book was published by the writer.

  • The parts were assembled by the worker.

  • The gate was fixed by the welder.

X

Active Voice

  • The xerox machine copied the documents.

  • The xenobiologist studied alien life.

  • The xylophonist played the instrument.

  • The x-ray technician examined the patient.

Passive Voice

  • The documents were copied by the xerox machine.

  • Alien life was studied by the xenobiologist.

  • The instrument was played by the xylophonist.

  • The patient was examined by the x-ray technician.

Y

Active Voice

  • The yachtsman navigated the boat.

  • The yogi practiced the poses.

  • The youth leader organized the camp.

  • The yodeler sang a tune.

Passive Voice

  • The boat was navigated by the yachtsman.

  • The poses were practiced by the yogi.

  • The camp was organized by the youth leader.

  • A tune was sung by the yodeler.

Z

Active Voice

  • The zookeeper fed the animals.

  • The zoologist observed the behavior.

  • The zester grated the lemon.

  • The zany clown entertained the children.

Passive Voice

  • The animals were fed by the zookeeper.

  • The behavior was observed by the zoologist.

  • The lemon was grated by the zester.

  • The children were entertained by the zany clown.