Articles and formal texts have traditionally incorporated many sentences written in passive voice. However, a text with consecutive passive sentences creates discomfort for the reader and sometimes makes the text difficult to understand. The most effective solution is to use active and passive sentences alternately in the text and to write a sentence in active voice if reading the passive sentence will cause confusion. Below are ways to turn passive sentences into active ones. With the opposite method, you can turn your active sentences into passive sentences.

How to turn a passive sentence into an active sentence?

You can use three simple methods to turn a passive sentence into an active sentence:

1. Use an adjective instead of a passive verb.

Example sentences:

Passive: Low blood pressure and rapid heartbeat were observed in all patients.

Active: Low blood pressure and rapid heartbeat were evident in all patients.

2. Replace passive verbs with active verbs.

Example sentences:

Passive: Twenty-four patients with esophageal cancer were given radiotherapy before surgery.

Active: Twenty-four patients with esophageal cancer received radiotherapy before surgery.

3. Use the verb forms of words that have both nouns and verb forms. If the word can be used both as a noun and a verb, prefer verbs.

Example sentences:

Passive: A comparison was made between the control and the test group.

Active: We compared the control and the test group.

Passive: Substance A was significantly decreased after the addition of Substance B.

Active: The addition of Substance B significantly decreased Substance A.