the Passive Voice
Description: In this first page, we’ll introduce the concept of the passive voice, its importance in English communication, and when it is typically used. We’ll also briefly touch upon the structure of passive sentences.
What is the Passive Voice?
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is the receiver of the action, rather than the doer of the action. It is often used to shift the focus from the doer of the action to the action itself or the receiver of the action.
Example 1 – Focus on the Action:
Active Voice: “John painted the masterpiece.”
Passive Voice: “The masterpiece was painted by John.”
In the active voice, the focus is on John, the doer of the action (painting). In the passive voice, the focus shifts to the action itself (painting) and the receiver of the action (the masterpiece). This illustrates how the passive voice can emphasize the action or the receiver rather than the doer.
Example 2 – Focus on the Receiver:
Active Voice: “The chef cooked a delicious meal.”
Passive Voice: “A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.”
In the active voice, the chef is the subject and the focus is on them. In the passive voice, the emphasis is on the delicious meal and the fact that it was prepared by the chef. This demonstrates how the passive voice can highlight the receiver of the action, which can be useful in certain contexts.
When is the Passive Voice Used?
The passive voice is commonly used in the following situations:
- When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant:
- “The book was found in the library.”
- “The wallet was stolen.”
- When the receiver of the action is more important or should be emphasized:
- “The cake was baked by my grandmother.”
- When we want to maintain a formal or objective tone:
- “The report will be discussed during the meeting.”
Basic Structure of Passive Sentences:
In passive sentences, we typically use the following structure:
Object Pronoun of the Action + Verb To Be + Past Participle Verb + By + Agent
For example:
- “The letter (object) was (auxiliary verb) written (past participle) by John (agent).”
Practice Exercises:
Let’s practice identifying passive and active voice sentences. In each of the following sentences, determine whether it is in the passive or active voice:
