Active Sentences
An active sentence is the opposite of a passive
sentence. In an active sentence,
the subject performs the action of the verb.
Examples:
The dog ate all the biscuits.
(In this example, "the dog" is the subject of the sentence - subject of the verb "to
eat", i.e., "The dog" is the thing that did the eating.
Therefore, this is an active sentence. Compare this to its passive
version: "The biscuits were eaten by the dog." In this example, the
biscuits did not perform the action of the verb. In fact, it was done to
them. Therefore, it is a passive sentence.)
Tony is trimming the hedges all week.
("Tony" - active subject, i.e., doing the action (trimming))
Hammerhead sharks will pester you as you approach the reef.
("Hammerhead sharks" - active subject, i.e., doing the action (pester))
Interactive example:
| Local yobs have defaced the wall already.
[convert to
a passive sentence] |
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Many companies do not like their staff to write using passive sentences.
Therefore, a number of grammar checkers will often suggest an active version of
your passive sentence. However, if you prefer the passive version, stick with
it.
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See also:
Glossary of grammatical terms
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