What is active and passive voice?

Active voice is a grammatical structure in which the subject of a sentence performs the action expressed by the verb. For example, "The dog chased the cat."

Passive voice is a grammatical structure in which the subject of a sentence is acted upon by the verb. For example, "The cat was chased by the dog."

Active Voice:

- The subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb.
- The sentence structure is: Subject + Verb + Object
- Example: The boy threw the ball.

Passive Voice:

- The subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb.
- The sentence structure is: Subject + Verb + By + Agent (the one performing the action)
- Example: The ball was thrown by the boy.

Key Differences:

| Feature | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Performs the action | Acted upon by the action |
| Verb | Transitive (requires an object) | Participial (past participle) |
| Agent | Not mentioned | Mentioned using "by" |
| Emphasis | On the actor | On the action and/or the recipient of the action |

When to Use Active or Passive Voice:

- Active Voice: Use when you want to emphasize the actor or make the sentence more concise.
- Passive Voice: Use when you want to emphasize the action, hide the actor, or give a sense of formality or objectivity.