Active Voice in English

Content

• Examples of active voice in simple tenses
• Examples of active voice in perfect tenses
• Examples of active voice in continuous tenses

A sentence can express a Action carried out by a Subject, and may also include the Object on which the Action.

The active voice is characterized by a specific order of those elements of the sentence:

Subject + Action + Object.

This structure affects the meaning of the sentence: the same focuses on the Subject of the Action. The active voice is the most common type of construction (as opposed to the passive voice). It can be used in any tense, and also with modal verbs, that is, those that indicate the ability or possibility of making a Action.

It is also considered an active voice if the Object of the Action. In this case the elements of the sentence would be:

Subject + Action

See also: Passive Voice Examples in English

Examples of active voice in simple tenses

1. Mary enjoys the view. (Mary enjoys the view.)

Subject: Mary Action: enjoy / enjoy Object: the view / the view

1. The boys play basketball. (The boys play basketball.)

Subject: The boys / children Action: play / playObject: Basketball / basketball

1. She’ll wear the pink dress. (She will wear the pink dress.)

Subject: She / Ella Action: wear / use Object: the pink dress / el vestido rosa

1. Thomas told a lie. (Thomas told a lie.)

Subject: Thomas Action: tell / say Object: a lie / a lie

1. Dad will arrive soon. (Dad will be here soon.)

Subject: Dad / Dad Action: arrive Object: –

1. The mailman brought two letters. (The postman brought two letters.)

Subject: The mailman / the postman Action: bring / bring Object: two letter / two letters

1. I don't know the answer. (I do not know the answer.)

Subject: I / I Action: (not) know / (not) know Object: the answer / the answer

1. You might win the race. (You may win the race.)

Subject: You / you Action: win / win Object: the race / the race

1. He could play the piano very well. (He knew how to play the piano very well.)

Subject: He / he Action: can play / know how to play Object: the piano / the piano

1. I’ll call you tomorrow. (I will call you tomorrow.)

Subject: I / I Action: call / call Object: you / you

Examples of active voice in perfect tenses

1. I have finished my meal. (I finished my food.)

Subject: I / I Action: finish / finish Object: my meal / my food

1. He’s done his homework. (He did his homework.)

Subject: He / he Action: do / do Object: his homework / his homework

1. She had known the secret for a long time. (She had known the secret for a long time.)

Subject: She / she Action: know / know Object: the secret

1. John has washed the dishes. (John has washed the dishes.)

Subject: John Action: wash / wash Object: the dishes

1. He has turned off the light. (He has turned off the lights.)

Subject: He / he Action: turn off Object: the lights / the lights

Examples of active voice in continuous tenses

1. I wasn’t paying attention. (I was not paying attention.)

Subject: I / I Action: (not) pay / (no) lend Object: attention / attention

1. The kids are enjoying the game. (The boys are enjoying the game.)

Subject: the kids / the boys Action: enjoy / enjoyObject: the game / the party

1. John and Lucy were watching television. (John and Lucy were watching television.)

Subject: John + Lucy Action: watch / look Object: television / television

1. We will be waiting for you. (We will be waiting for you.)

Subject: We / us Action: wait / wait Object: you / you

1. He’s driving his car. (He is driving his car.)

Subject: He / he Action: drive Object: his car / su car

Andrea is a language teacher, and on her Instagram account she offers private lessons by video call so that you can learn to speak English.