>Five people were shot in a police-related incident is a passive voice. The people receive the action. >A policeman shot five people today is active voice. T

>Five people were shot in a police-related incident is a passive voice. The people receive the action. >A policeman shot five people today is active voice. The policeman shoots people. I use this particular example because it's a prime example of voice for the deflection of responsibility, see https://www.nber.org/papers/w30209 https://www.nber.org/papers/w30209