Police reports avoid passive voice because it does not answer an important question: Who performed the action?

If you’re testifying in court, trying to remember what happened six months ago, a passive-voice sentence in your report can be confusing:

A blood-stained t-shirt was found under a rosebush in the back yard. PASSIVE VOICE

Who found the t-shirt?

Here’s an active-voice version of this sentence that clearly states the facts:

I found a blood-stained t-shirt under a rosebush in the back yard. ACTIVE VOICE

(To learn how to identify passive voice, click here.)

Here’s a short quiz to see if you can identify passive-voice sentences. The answers are stated below.

1. The roof was replaced two years ago.
2. John and Mike replaced the roof.
3. We were wondering if you’d like to spend a weekend at our beach house.
4. The key can be found under a rock to the left of the front door.
5. Taxis will be waiting at the bus station.

Here are the answers:

1. The roof was replaced two years ago.  PASSIVE  [Who replaced it?]
2. John and Mike replaced the roof.  ACTIVE
3. We were wondering if you’d like to spend a weekend at our beach house.  ACTIVE
4. The key can be found under a rock to the left of the front door.  PASSIVE  [Who will find it?]
5. Taxis will be waiting at the bus station.  ACTIVE