• Subject is the actor
  • Man lifts weights
  • Joann wrote letters
  • Development officers made calls

• Verb acts on subject
  • Weights are lifted
  • Letters are written
  • Calls are made
  • The action in passive sentences is done by or for someone or something.
    • By and for are often unstated
    • Weights are lifted (by someone)
    • Letters are written (by someone)
    • Calls are made (by someone)

How do decide which to use

• Use active voice most of the time
  • It is easier to understand
  • It's the way we speak most of the time --someone did something to someone or something
• Use passive voice when what was done is more important than who did it.