Question

Which sentence is written in the active voice?
a. the door was held open by me.
b. the reporter interviewed the movie star.
c. the last score was missed by the scorekeeper.
d. our furniture was carried inside by the movers.

Answer 1

B. the reporter interviewed the movie star.

Answer 2

B. The reporter interviewed the movie star.

The difference between active and passive voice is within the order of the verb, actor, and target. With an active voice, the actor acts on a target. In a passive voice, the target acts on the actor. A sentence utilizing active voice would say, "The dog peed on the tree." A sentence employing the use of passive voice, however, would state, "The tree was peed on by the dog."

Based on the structure of the sentences, choices a(.), c(.), and d(.) are written in passive voice since they prioritize the target's action first. On the other hand, choice b(.) places the actor before the target. Therefore, the only one that uses the active voice (b. the reporter interviewed the movie star.) is the answer.

Labeling & Chronology:

• a. the door was held open by me.
   the door --> target
   was held open --> verb
   me --> actor
  a. target, verb, actor -- (passive voice)
• b. the reporter interviewed the movie star.
   the reporter --> actor
   interviewed --> verb
   the movie star --> target
  b. actor, verb, target -- (active voice)
• c. the last score was missed by the scorekeeper.
   the last score --> target
   was missed --> verb
   the scorekeeper --> actor
  c. target, verb, actor -- (passive voice)
• d. our furniture was carried inside by the movers.
   our furniture --> target(s)
   was carried --> verb
   the movers --> actor(s)
  d. target(s), verb, actor(s) -- (passive voice)