- From: John M Slatin <john_slatin@austin.utexas.edu>
- Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 11:12:07 -0500
- To: "Lee Roberts" <leeroberts@roserockdesign.com>, <w3c-wai-gl@w3.org>
A somewhat eaiser way to think about the distinction between active and passive voice is to look at the grammatical subject of the verb. If something is being done *to* that subject, the sentence is in the passive voice. If the (grammatical) subject is *doing* something, then the sentence is in the active voice. Example: "John read his email all morning" is in the active voice. But "John's email was read to him" is in passive voice. "John" is the grammatical subject of both sentences, but in the first example John is the actor and in the second Hjohn is being acted upon. Many people believe that active voice is clearer and easier to understand. But it is believed by many people that passive voice is better used in certain contexts, such as bureaucratic documents for which responsibility is not wanted by anyone. Passive constructions are often longer and harder to control... John John Slatin, Ph.D. Director, Institute for Technology & Learning University of Texas at Austin FAC 248C 1 University Station G9600 Austin, TX 78712 ph 512-495-4288, f 512-495-4524 email jslatin@mail.utexas.edu web http://www.ital.utexas.edu -----Original Message----- From: Lee Roberts [mailto:leeroberts@roserockdesign.com] Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 7:30 pm To: w3c-wai-gl@w3.org Subject: RE: passive vs active voice in May 9 Proposed reorganization David, Great job pointing this out. You have a good concept there, however any connotation of the verb "to be" is passive. Therefore, the following verbs and connotations are passive: am is are was will be were have been has been had been can be could be be being been had have has do did does could should would Passive verbs are often preceded by helping verbs (is, am, are, were, was, been) or followed with by. Therefore, Active (this is passive because of the verb are) 1-C3 [1.3] All content and structure are [separate or separable from] available independently of presentation. Truly Active Voice Provided conventions separate the content and structure elements from the presentation elements. Active (this is passive because of the verb is) 2-C1 [2.1] Ensure that all of the functionality is operable at a minimum through a keyboard or a keyboard interface. Truly Active Voice All functionality operates from the keyboard or through a keyboard type interface. Active (this is passive because of the verb are) 4-C2 [5.2] Ensure that technologies relied upon by the content are declared and widely available. Truly Active Voice The content relies upon declared and widely available technologies. Each of the adaptations noted above rely upon the active voice of verbs without the use of "to be" verbs. "To be" verbs cause ambiguity and therefore cause passivity in the message relayed through the sentence. Either the subject acts upon the object in present time or in the past. Lee
Received on Friday, 30 May 2003 12:12:08 UTC