Which one are you? The active or the passive type? It’s an important question because each personality has its own advantages and disadvantages. Knowing which one you are will help you understand yourself better and take full advantage of your strengths. Let’s explore the difference between the two.
What is Active?
Active voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence performs the verb’s action. For example, “The cashier counted the money” is in active voice, while “The money was counted by the cashier” is in passive voice. Active voice is generally more direct and concise than passive voice, making it a preferred choice in most writing situations. However, there are times when passive voice can be used to achieve the desired effect, such as when you want to emphasize the object of the sentence over the subject. Ultimately, whether you use active or passive voice depends on your specific needs and preferences as a writer.
What is Passive?
Passive voice occurs when the subject of a sentence is acted upon by the verb. In other words, the subject is not doing the action. For example, “The lamp was knocked over by a gust of wind.” In this sentence, the lamp is the subject, and was knocked over is the passive verb. The subject of a sentence in passive voice can be omitted altogether, as in “A gust of wind knocked over the lamp.” Passive voice is often used in scientific writing to avoid bias or to make complex processes easier to understand. However, it can also make sentences needlessly complicated and difficult to read. When using passive voice, be careful to choose the right verb tense and to use active voice when it makes more sense.
Difference between Active and Passive
Active voice is used when the subject of a sentence is performing the action. For example, “The cat caught the mouse.” In this sentence, the subject (cat) is performing the verb (caught), so it is in the active voice. Passive voice, on the other hand, is used when the subject of a sentence is being acted upon. For example, “The mouse was caught by the cat.” In this sentence, the subject (mouse) is being acted upon by the verb (caught), so it is in the passive voice. Active voice is generally preferred because it is simpler and more direct. However, there are times when the passive voice may be more appropriate, such as when you want to emphasize the recipient of action or downplay the importance of the subject.
Conclusion
We’ve looked at the two primary ways people interact with information – actively and passively. Active learners are those who take an active role in their learning process, while passive learners are more hands-off. We’ve also seen that there is a time and place for both approaches, depending on the learner’s needs and the task at hand.
