209. The active voice is that form of a verb which represents the
subject as acting; or

The active voice is that form of a transitive verb which makes the
_subject_ and the _agent_ the same word.


[Sidenote: _A question._]

210. Intransitive verbs are _always active voice_. Let the student
explain why.


[Sidenote: _Meaning of passive voice._]

211. In the assertion of an action, it would be natural to suppose,
that, instead of always representing the subject as acting upon some
person or thing, it must often happen that the subject is spoken of as
_acted upon_; and the person or thing acting may or may not be
expressed in the sentence: for example,--

All infractions of love and equity in our social relations are
speedily punished. They are punished by fear.--EMERSON.

Here the subject _infractions_ does nothing: it represents the object
toward which the action of _are punished_ is directed, yet it is the
subject of the same verb. In the first sentence the agent is not
expressed; in the second, _fear_ is the agent of the same action.