The Correct Use of Future Tenses in English: Understanding the Active and Passive Voice
Understanding the correct usage of the active and passive voice in future tense is crucial for effective communication and compliant writing. This article will elucidate the differences between active and passive voice and provide examples to guide your writing.
The Importance of Accurate Future Tense Usage
The correct usage of future tenses is essential in ensuring clarity and precision in written and spoken English. Whether conveying a direct future action or describing a passive process, choosing the right construction is vital.
Explanation of Active and Passive Voice
In English, the active voice emphasizes the subject performing an action, while the passive voice emphasizes the action being performed. Understanding which voice to use depends on the context and the message you wish to convey.
Correct Usage
The simple future tense is used to describe a direct future action. For example:
Correct usage: The class will start at 10 AM.
Avoid using the passive voice for direct future actions in conversational English unless you specifically want to emphasize the agent performing the action. For example:
Avoid using: The class will be started at 10 AM.
Incorrect Usage
The second version of the sentence is considered less common in conversational English, as classes are initiated by individuals rather than starting themselves:
Incorrect usage: The class will be started at 10 AM.
Although the second construction is grammatically correct, it is less natural and may be perceived as awkward in most contexts. Exceptionally, in more formal or literary contexts, the passive voice can be acceptable.
Summary
Use the active voice for a direct future action: The class will start at 10 AM.
Avoid the passive voice unless you specifically want to emphasize the agent performing the action: Do not use: The class will be started at 10 AM.
Guidelines for Future Tense Usage
While both passive and active voice constructions are valid, the choice depends on the context and the specific meaning you wish to convey. Here are some guidelines to follow:
Passive Voice Usage
Use the passive voice when the focus is on the action and not the agent performing the action:
Example: The class will be started at 10 AM (emphasizing the action of starting the class).
Note: In informal contexts, the active voice is often preferred for its simplicity and directness.
Active Voice Usage
Use the active voice when the focus is on the subject performing the action:
Example: The class will start at 10 AM (emphasizing the teacher or anyone starting the class).
Note: The active voice is generally preferred in conversational English for its clarity and simplicity.
Common Mistakes and Their Corrections
Some common mistakes occur when students try to use the passive voice in contexts where it is not appropriate. Here are some examples:
Example 1: Both versions are wrong
Both “The class will be started at 10 AM” and “The class will be starting at 10 AM” are incorrect. Instead:
Correct: The class will start at 10 AM.
Correct: The class will be starting at 10 AM.
Example 2: Both versions are correct
Both “The class will start at 10 AM” and “The class will be starting at 10 AM” are correct, with the first being in the active voice and the second in the passive voice:
Active voice: The class will start at 10 AM.
Passive voice: The class will be starting at 10 AM.
Example 3: The active voice is recommended
Say: The class will begin/start at 10 AM. This emphasizes the entire function rather than the initiation of the action by an individual.
Note: The subject class cannot initiate any action by itself as it is an inanimate non-living thing. Therefore, using the active voice is grammatically and formally correct.
Conclusion
Understanding the correct use of future tenses in English, particularly the active and passive voice, is crucial for effective communication. Choose the appropriate voice based on the context and the message you wish to convey. Always prioritize clarity, but do not hesitate to use the passive voice when it emphasizes the action and is appropriate for the context.
Remember, while both active and passive constructions are valid, the active voice is often preferred in conversational English for its simplicity and directness. It is your choice to tailor your writing to your specific audience and context.