Active vs Passive Voice: the rule, with examples
In the active voice the subject does the action (“John threw the ball”). In the passive, the action is done to the subject (“The ball was thrown by John”). Active is usually clearer and shorter; passive has its uses. Paste your own sentence into the free checker below to fix it in one click.
In the active voice the subject does the action (“John threw the ball”). In the passive, the action is done to the subject (“The ball was thrown by John”). Active is usually clearer and shorter; passive has its uses.
How it works
- 1Spot the pattern. Look for a “to be” verb (is, was, were, been) followed by a past participle, often with “by…”. If the real doer is missing or stuck at the end, it’s passive.
- 2Apply the rule. Name the doer and make it the subject: “Mistakes were made” becomes “We made mistakes.” Keep passive only when the doer is unknown or unimportant.
- 3Check your sentence. Paste your text into the grammar checker below — it flags the issue and shows the correction.
- 4Re-read it. Read the corrected version aloud to confirm it says exactly what you meant.
The rule
Active voice puts the doer first: subject → verb → object. Passive voice flips it: the receiver becomes the subject, the verb takes a form of “to be” + past participle, and the doer moves to a “by…” phrase (or vanishes).
How to spot it
Look for a “to be” verb (is, was, were, been) followed by a past participle, often with “by…”. If the real doer is missing or stuck at the end, it’s passive.
How to fix it
Name the doer and make it the subject: “Mistakes were made” becomes “We made mistakes.” Keep passive only when the doer is unknown or unimportant.
The most common mistake
Defaulting to passive to sound formal. It usually adds words and hides who acted — most academic and professional guides prefer active voice. If you’re not sure whether your sentence has the problem, paste it into the checker above — it catches this and explains the fix in plain language.
| ❌ Incorrect | ✓ Corrected | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The ball was thrown by John. | John threw the ball. | Doer (John) becomes the subject |
| Mistakes were made. | We made mistakes. | Names who acted |
| The report was written by the team. | The team wrote the report. | Shorter and clearer |
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell active from passive voice?
Find the verb and ask who is doing the action. If the subject does it, it’s active. If the subject receives it — and you see “to be” + a past participle — it’s passive.
Is passive voice wrong?
No. It’s a tool, not an error. Use it when the doer is unknown or beside the point (“The samples were refrigerated”). For most sentences, active reads clearer.
How do I check my own writing for this?
Paste your text into the free grammar checker on this page. It flags the issue, suggests a correction, and explains why — so you learn the rule, not just the fix.
Is it free?
Yes — 3 free runs every day with up to 500 words per run, no credit card to start. Upgrade for a larger word pool, or use the free iOS app.