Passive Voice

Hello, grammar learners! In this chapter, we take a closer look at the mysteries of passive voice. Whether you’re a newcomer to English or an advanced learner refining your skills, this guide provides insights to enhance your grasp of the language. Join The Reliable Narrator in this informative lesson.

What Is Passive Voice?

In the passive voice, the subject of a sentence receives the action performed by the verb. Instead of directly doing the action, the subject is acted upon. The common structure is: Object + Verb + (by) + Agent/Doer.

Simply put: Passive voice shifts the spotlight from the doer to the receiver of the action.

Identifying Passive Voice

So what does the passive voice look like? Understanding this style of voice means recognizing when the subject receives the action, and not doing the action. Here are examples to help you get a better idea of what this means:

• “The mouse was chased by the cat.”
• “The questions were answered by the students.”
• “A beautiful portrait was painted by her.”
• “The championship was won by the team.”
• “Delicious meals are prepared by chefs.”

In these examples, the subjects (mouse, questions, portrait, championship, meals) receive the action in the sentence. The actual doers (cat, students, her, team, chefs) are secondary.

This is the opposite of active voice when the subject of a sentence is directly performing the action of the verb.

Passive Voice in Writing

Many writers employ the passive voice when focusing more on the action or its result, rather than on who performed it. Consider a few more examples to illustrate this passive concept:

• “A bestselling novel was written by the author.” (Instead of: “The author wrote a bestselling novel.”)
• “Experiments were conducted by the scientist.” (Instead of: “The scientist conducted experiments.”)
• “A math lesson was taught by the teacher.” (Instead of: “The teacher taught a math lesson.”)
• “Sandwiches were eaten by the child.” (Instead of: “The child ate sandwiches.”)

Passive sentence construction, while wordier, can be useful when emphasizing the action or its result. However, these clunkier sentences do not normally convey clear and concise messages.

Benefits of Passive Voice

Emphasis: It places emphasis on the action or the recipient rather than the doer.

Flexibility: Allows writers to craft sentences where the doer might be unknown or not important.

Variety: Introduces variation in sentence structure, which can be important for longer texts.

Formality: Often used in scientific, technical, or formal writing to present information objectively.

When to Use Passive Voice

Passive voice can shine in a handful of unique situations. They could be useful in scenarios where:

• The doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant.
• The focus is on the action or its result.
• A sense of objectivity or formality is desired.
• The writer wishes to vary sentence structures.

For example, in scientific writing, the passive voice is commonly employed:

• “The results were analyzed. Conclusions were then drawn based on the data.”

Reliable Thoughts

Passive voice, while sometimes deemed less direct than its active counterpart, holds a unique place in the English language. It’s like a magnifying glass, focusing on the recipient or the action itself.

For learners at all levels, mastering the passive voice allows you to convey information with depth and flexibility. It’s not just about turning sentences around; it’s about choosing the best way to communicate your message.

As you dive deeper into the interworkings of English, embrace the passive voice for its versatility. Recognize the potential it holds to enhance your writing and speech in certain scenarios.

Want to learn more? Or have your own insights to share? Dive into the comments section below and join the discussion. Together, let’s enrich our understanding of the English language one sentence at a time!