passive voice or active voice. new concept English 2.31

Question

Frank smiled when he remembered his hard early years and the long road to success. He was still smiling when the door opened and his wife came in. She wanted him to repair their grandson's bicycle!

Why "the door opened" is used as passive voice rather than active voice like "the door was opened"?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

john liaoWhy "the door opened" is used as passive voice rather than active voice like "the door was opened"?

I wonder if you're confusing "transitive/intransitive" with "passive/active."

"The door opened." is not passive voice, but the verb is used intransitively.
"John opened the door." is active voice, and the verb is used transitively. (The action has a direct object.)
"The door was opened (by John)." is an example of passive voice.

Some verbs, like "to open," have both a transitive and an intransitive usage.

"to trip"
John tripped and fell. (intransitive/active)
John tripped the circuit breaker and the lights went out. (transitive/active)
John was tripped by the dog. (passive voice)

But I guess you question is, "Why did the author choose "the door opened" instead of "the door was opened" (or perhaps, "Someone opened the door.")

In my opinion, it's just a matter of style. "The door opened" is more mysterious. Sometimes we see a door open before we know how or why it opened. Maybe the wind blew it open.
Suddenly the door opened! This creates an element of suspense. It captures our interest. We're waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Cool Breeze · Answer

It is actually used in the active voice and you suggest that the passive was opened could be used instead. It could be the door was opened without any real change in meaning. Sometimes either voice is possible. I don't think there is another reason for it.

Your question made me think of other languages such as my native Finnish. In it, too, both structures are possible, but unlike English, the passive requires no auxiliary, just a different form of the verb.

CB

John liao · Answer

Yeah, sorry, I make a mistake.
My original question is "Why did the author choose "the door opened" instead of "the door was opened"?

passive voice or active voice. new concept English 2.31

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