5. Active - Passive

add transitivity with doer and done to; Actor and Goal

5.1. Participant Shifts in Active and Passive Voice

The following examples show how a Participant can function as the Subject in an active clause, than Object of the Process in the passive voice.

Biology

Active: The enzymes **break down** the starch molecules.

Passive: The starch molecules **are broken down** by the enzymes.

Chemistry

Active: The student **mixed** the reactants in the test tube.

Passive: The reactants **were mixed** in the test tube by the student.

Physics

Active: The magnet **pulls** the metal pins toward it.

Passive: The metal pins **are pulled** toward the magnet.

Earth Science

Active: The river **deposited** sediment along the banks.

Passive: The sediment **was deposited** along the banks by the river.

5.2. Transforming Scientific Writing

In science, different β€œvoices” are utilized depending on the communicative purpose. A Procedure employs the active voice to provide clear, direct instructions. A Report shifts to the passive voice to describe events objectively, focusing on the experiment rather than the operator.

In a Passive Voice Report:

  • The Participant moves to the start of the clause.

  • The Process uses a β€œto be” verb + past participle (were placed, was poured).

In an Active Voice Procedure:

  • The Process moves to the start of the clause.

  • The Process uses the base form of the verb, such as place or pour.

  • The Participant follows the process as the direct object of the command.

5.3. Examples of Active and Passive Voice

Biology

Procedure (Active): **Place** the leaf discs into the beaker of bicarbonate solution.

Report (Passive): The leaf discs **were placed** into the beaker of bicarbonate solution.

Chemistry

Procedure (Active): **Heat** the copper sulfate crystals until they turn white.

Report (Passive): The copper sulfate crystals **were heated** until they turned white.

Physics

Procedure (Active): **Measure** the length of the spring after adding each mass.

Report (Passive): The length of the spring **was measured** after each mass was added.

Earth Science

Procedure (Active): **Record** the temperature of the soil sample every five minutes.

Report (Passive): The temperature of the soil sample **was recorded** every five minutes.