Passive voice is a grammatical construction used in English to emphasize the receiver of an action rather than the doer. In passive voice sentences, the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. This differs from active voice sentences where the subject performs the action. Understanding and correctly using the passive voice is an essential skill for effective communication in English. In this explanation, we will explore the structure and usage of passive voice sentences, provide example sentences, and discuss some common misconceptions.
I. Structure of Passive Voice Sentences
A passive voice sentence generally consists of the following elements:
The subject (receiver of the action): The subject in passive voice sentences receives the action of the verb. It often appears after the verb and is preceded by the preposition “by” or is completely omitted.
The auxiliary verb “be”: The verb “be” (e.g., is, am, are, was, were) is used to indicate the passive voice construction.
The past participle of the main verb: The past participle of the main verb follows the auxiliary verb “be” and completes the passive voice structure.
Example:
Active Voice: John waters the plants.
Passive Voice: The plants are watered by John.
In the example above, the subject “the plants” receives the action of the verb “watered.” The auxiliary verb “are” (from “be”) and the past participle “watered” complete the passive voice structure.
II. Usage of Passive Voice Sentences
Passive voice sentences are used in various situations and have specific functions:
When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant: Passive voice allows us to focus on the action or the receiver of the action instead of the doer. This is especially useful when the doer is unknown or when it is unnecessary to mention them.
Example:
Active Voice: Someone stole my wallet.
Passive Voice: My wallet was stolen.
In this case, the focus is on the fact that the wallet was stolen, rather than who stole it.
When the receiver of the action is more important than the doer: Sometimes, the emphasis is on the receiver of the action rather than the person or thing performing the action. Passive voice allows us to highlight the receiver.
Example:
Active Voice: Picasso painted the masterpiece.
Passive Voice: The masterpiece was painted by Picasso.
Here, the emphasis is on the masterpiece rather than Picasso.
When discussing general truths or concepts: Passive voice can be used to express general truths or describe general processes.
Example:
Active Voice: Bees produce honey.
Passive Voice: Honey is produced by bees.
In this case, the focus is on the general process of honey production rather than emphasizing the doer (bees).
III. Common Misconceptions about Passive Voice
Passive voice is always incorrect: While it is true that active voice is generally preferred for its clarity and directness, there are situations where passive voice is appropriate and grammatically correct. Understanding when to use passive voice is crucial for effective communication.
Passive voice eliminates the need to mention the doer: Although the doer is often omitted in passive voice sentences, it can still be included if necessary or if the information is relevant.
Example:
Passive Voice: The cake was baked.
Passive Voice with Doer Mentioned: The cake was baked by Mary.
Including the doer provides additional information or specifies who performed the action.
IV. Tips for Using Passive Voice Effectively
Consider the context and purpose: Determine if the passive voice is suitable for your specific context or purpose. Assess whether emphasizing the receiver of the action or making the action more general is beneficial to your message.
Use active voice when it enhances clarity: Active voice is generally preferred when the doer is important, when you want to emphasize agency, or when the sentence structure is less complex.
Avoid overusing passive voice: While passive voice has its uses, overusing it can make writing sound dull or evasive. Strive for a balance between active and passive voice constructions.
Revise for clarity and readability: When using passive voice, ensure that your sentence is clear and understandable. Consider revising or rephrasing if it hinders comprehension.
In conclusion, understanding the structure and usage of passive voice sentences is essential for effective communication in English. By using passive voice appropriately, you can shift the focus to the receiver of the action or emphasize general truths or concepts. Remember that active voice is generally preferred for clarity, but passive voice has its place in certain contexts. Use passive voice judiciously, and strive for a balance between active and passive voice constructions to ensure clear and engaging writing.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1:
Identify the sentence as active or passive voice.
Example: The dishes were washed by Maria.
Choices:
a) Active voice
b) Passive voice
Answer: b) Passive voice
Explanation: The sentence is in passive voice because the subject (“the dishes”) is receiving the action of the verb (“were washed”).
Exercise 2:
Rewrite the following active voice sentence into passive voice.
Example: John built the house.
Choices:
a) The house was built by John.
b) The house was building by John.
Answer: a) The house was built by John.
Explanation: In passive voice, the subject (“the house”) receives the action of the verb (“was built”), and the doer (“John”) is mentioned with the preposition “by.”
Exercise 3:
Identify the main verb in the following passive voice sentence.
Example: The book was written by a famous author.
Choices:
a) book
b) was
c) written
d) famous
Answer: c) written
Explanation: In the passive voice sentence, “written” is the main verb as it expresses the action being performed on the subject (“the book”).
Exercise 4:
Choose the correct passive voice sentence for the given active voice sentence.
Example: Active Voice: He will complete the project.
Choices:
a) The project will be completed by him.
b) The project will be completing by him.
Answer: a) The project will be completed by him.
Explanation: In the passive voice, the auxiliary verb “will be” is used, followed by the past participle of the main verb (“completed”).
Exercise 5:
Identify the reason for using passive voice in the following sentence.
Example: The car was stolen last night.
Choices:
a) To emphasize the receiver of the action
b) To highlight the doer of the action
c) To simplify the sentence structure
d) To express a general truth
Answer: a) To emphasize the receiver of the action
Explanation: Passive voice is used here to draw attention to the fact that the car was stolen, rather than focusing on who stole it.
Exercise 6:
Choose the active voice sentence that corresponds to the given passive voice sentence.
Example: Passive Voice: The letter was written by Sarah.
Choices:
a) Sarah has written the letter.
b) The letter is written by Sarah.
Answer: a) Sarah has written the letter.
Explanation: In active voice, the subject (“Sarah”) performs the action of writing the letter.
Exercise 7:
Identify the incorrect passive voice sentence.
Example:
Choices:
a) The cake was baked by my mother.
b) The dog was walked by the little girl.
c) The movie was watched by us last night.
d) The letter was written by me.
Answer: c) The movie was watched by us last night.
Explanation: The sentence is in passive voice, and the structure is correct. There is no incorrect passive voice sentence among the given choices.
Exercise 8:
Rewrite the following active voice sentence into passive voice.
Example: They have opened the package.
Choices:
a) The package has been opened by them.
b) The package has been opening by them.
Answer: a) The package has been opened by them.
Explanation: In passive voice, the auxiliary verb “has been” is used, followed by the past participle of the main verb (“opened”).
Exercise 9:
Identify the active voice equivalent of the following passive voice sentence.
Example: Passive Voice: The message was sent by email.
Choices:
a) The email was sent the message.
b) Email sent the message.
c) They sent the message by email.
d) The message sent by email.
Answer: c) They sent the message by email.
Explanation: In active voice, the subject (“They”) performs the action of sending the message.
Exercise 10:
Choose the correct explanation for using passive voice in the following sentence.
Example: The cake was eaten by the children.
Choices:
a) To emphasize the doer of the action
b) To simplify the sentence structure
c) To express a general truth
d) To highlight the receiver of the action
Answer: d) To highlight the receiver of the action
Explanation: Passive voice is used here to draw attention to the fact that the children ate the cake. The focus is on the receiver of the action rather than the doer.
Originally posted 2023-07-18 22:15:00.