When using the active voice in a sentence the subject will perform the action. When using the passive voice in a sentence the action will be performed on the subject. In almost every sentence the subject will come before the action, because actions are verbs and the subject comes before the verb.
Speaking in an active voice will engage the audience more than speaking in the passive voice. Therefore you will want to speak in the active voice on points you want to emphasize, and speak in the passive voice on points you want to de-emphasize.
EXAMPLES
- Active: Mark wrote down the directions.
Passive: The directions were written down by Mark. - Active: The army destroyed the wall.
Passive: The wall was destroyed by the army. - Active: Lincoln won the election.
Passive: The election was won by Lincoln.
