Which statement about active voice is true?

• A. The subject performs the action.
• B. The subject receives the action.
• C. The sentence is always in passive form.
• D. Active voice is used only in descriptive writing.

Answer: (A)

Active voice centers on who does the action. When a sentence is in active voice, the subject is the one performing the verb, followed by the object that receives the action. For example, “The officer filed the report” shows the officer as the doer and the report as what’s acted upon. That clarity about who is responsible is why this statement is true.

In contrast, the subject in a passive construction is the recipient of the action, not the doer—“The report was filed by the officer” shifts emphasis to the report and can obscure who performed the action. Also, a sentence isn’t compelled to be in passive form; many sentences naturally use the active voice. And active voice isn’t limited to descriptive writing; it’s widely used across different styles to convey actions quickly and clearly. In corrections writing, it helps with accountability and straightforward communication.