![]() By using passive voice, you remove the control from the characters (no one knows who made the Universe, and that unknown bothers them). This degree of separation is what makes passive voice a compelling choice. This has made a lot of people angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.Īdams’ use of passive creates a mysterious narrator that offers a degree of separation from the characters, but also a dry wit to the disembodied voice of the Guide. In the beginning the Universe was created. One glorious example is The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams. Paper is your object, now front and centerĭespite the hypercritical view of passive voice, there is almost an equal usage of it within books as active voice. Using the same example from earlier, let’s see how it shapes up in passive. A second type of passive voice is used when there is an unknown subject (i.e The note was left on the table). It has a lengthier structure than active voice, with object-form of to be-preposition-subject, wherein the subject is acted upon and features conjugations of the verb to be. It is not a weaker writing style, nor is it a bad one. Though teachers and mentors might advise you to only use active voice, passive voice has its place and purpose in the writing world. With passive voice your subject does not lead the actions it becomes acted upon instead. If I’m on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I’m going, I’m liable to say I’m going to the opera. “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. There is never a moment where Holden is not the focal point in any scene. ![]() One example of this is JD Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, where much of the story advances through either Holden’s inner thoughts or his conversations with the people he meets. It creates a hierarchy between your characters, placing your MC as the frontrunner of the show and everyone else as along for the ride, especially when you have alternating point of views. Your MC takes the lead and interacts with the scene in their own unique way. They are placed into a position of control. The biggest selling point is that an active voice gives your characters a sense of agency. Most genres benefit from the smooth progression of active voice that carries the dialogue and story along. The more beloved child of the two voices, you will primarily find an active voice in books you pick off a shelf. Keep an eye on the verb and make sure that it remains a regular verb. The most important thing to remember is who or what is taking the action. Everything is laid out simply with no muss, no fuss. It offers faster pacing than passive ever could. Following the pattern of subject-verb-object, it’s understandable why teachers prefer to teach it over passive voice. The sentence structure is very direct and clear. The trick is in knowing which one best suits the needs of your work.Īctive voice occurs when the subject of your sentence acts upon the verb, often interacting with an object or a person. Most teachers, writers, or blogs will explicitly tell you to use active over passive voice, but both are necessary in the toolbox of any fiction writer. Undoubtedly, it’s been some time since any of us deliberately considered the differences between the two, or even the naming convention of them. One of the most foundational blocks of grammar and writing is also one of the most often debated: Active vs.
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