What is the importance of active and passive voice?

What is the importance of active and passive voice?

by Rham Ferrer
(Philippines)

I've just read about active and passive voice, but what is the importance of knowing it? Are there some rules that are affected by it, etc?

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Feb 12, 2011
Answer
by: Ola Zur

Hi,

That is actually an excellent question.

Basically, it is useful to know that you have two types of sentences: ACTIVE and PASSIVE.

That way you can use them in your speech and writing, and understand them when you hear them.

We usually use active sentences, but sometimes it is better to use passive sentence.

For example, when you want to tell about an action, but you don't want to mention who does it:

"Silvia ruined the party."
(It is clear who did it.)

"The party was ruined."
(Here you only describe what happened, without mentioning who actually did it.)

Another use of the passive voice is when you want to emphasize the object instead of the subject:

"Bob closed the store."
(Here the emphasis is on Bob doing the action.)

"The store is closed."
(Here the emphasis is on the fact that the store is closed.)

Now, there are actually quite a few rules on the subject. I haven't prepared a page for them yet :)

In the meantime, you can find it here:
Passive Voice

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