active voice
1
3.7
- noun
- /ˈæktɪv vɔɪs/
- Specialized
:
voz activa
- Each draft was returned with extensive notations and encouragement to write in the active voice.
- Use the active voice
Examples
-
Use the active voice.
Academic text (1993) -
Good writers use the active voice.
Academic text (1995) -
With the active voice, the subject of the sentence is the doer of the action.
Academic text (1993) -
But besides being a little stuffy, sentences in the passive voice tend to be a bit longer than those in the active voice.
Academic text (1995) -
Half the class could compose their reports using standard conventions, while the other half could use adapted conventions that allow for more active voice.
Academic text (2013) -
Use short sentences, strong verbs and nouns, and active voice.
Academic text (2003) -
Active voice sentences tend to be lively and direct; passive voice sentences tend to be dry and impersonal.
Academic text (1993) -
A well-written story often uses the active voice to engage readers and make the action clear.
-
In the sentence 'The cat chased the mouse,' the active voice highlights that the cat is the one performing the action.
-
When teaching grammar, many teachers explain that using the active voice makes sentences stronger and more direct.
Synonyms
1
5.9
The sentence form where the subject does the action
Antonyms
- Specialized
3
4.8
A sentence form where the subject receives the action, usually formed with 'be' plus a past verb form like 'eaten'
How Active
- Specialized
1
3.7
- Specialized
3
4.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'active' (doing) plus 'voice' (grammatical category) yields a construction where the subject performs the action. This concept and the active/passive contrast exist across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Active voice comes from the idea of 'voice' as a way of speaking and active meaning 'doing'. Imagine the sentence 'She wrote the letter' where the person at the start does the action; that clear picture is why active voice means a sentence where the subject does the action.