Summary
Most every sentence has a "voice." This term refers to how a subject, object, and verb interact within a sentence. Their order will determine if a sentence is in active or passive voice. The tone and focus of your writing can change completely depending on which construction you use. Active voice is usually preferred for its sense of clarity or authority. But there are instances where passive voice can come in handy, shifting attention from the person performing a verb to what’s receiving the action. Understanding the difference between and value of active and passive is essential to effective writing. So check out this movie and make your voice heard!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Active and Passive Voice:
- What is one new thing you learned about active and passive voice?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining active and passive voice.
- Draw or give one example of your own.