Border Patrol Practice Exam

Which of the following is in the active voice: "She has taken" or "She is being taken"?

1. She has taken

2. She is being taken

3. Both are active

4. Neither are active

The correct answer is: She has taken

The phrase "She has taken" is in the active voice because the subject "She" performs the action of the verb "taken." In this construction, the subject is the doer of the action, highlighting her direct involvement in the act of taking. This clarity in agency is a key characteristic of the active voice, where the focus is on who is performing the action. In contrast, the phrase "She is being taken" employs the passive voice. Here, "She" is the recipient of the action rather than the doer, as it indicates that something is being done to her rather than her doing something herself. The passive voice is characterized by a shift in focus from the subject performing the action to the subject receiving it, which is what distinguishes it from the active voice. Understanding this difference is crucial when analyzing sentence structures, as it impacts the clarity and emphasis of the information conveyed.