Definition
What is the passive voice?
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb.
Identify if this sentence is active or passive: "The teacher graded the exams."
"The teacher graded the exams" is in active voice.
Convert this active sentence to passive: "Cats chase mice."
"Mice are chased by cats."
In what context might you choose to use passive voice?
Passive voice is often used in academic writing, scientific reports, or when the doer is unknown, usually to put more emphasis or importance on the object or receiver of the action.
Provide an example of a sentence using passive voice in the context of mail or delivering something.
"The letter was delivered yesterday."
What is the difference between active and passive voice?
In active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g., "The dog bit the man"), while in passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g., "The man was bitten by the dog").
Identify the agent in the passive sentence: "The cake was eaten by the children."
"the children" is the agent in this sentence.
Convert this active sentence to passive: "The chef cooked a delicious meal."
"A delicious meal was cooked by the chef."
How can passive voice improve your writing in scientific contexts?
It allows for a focus on the experiment or results rather than the researcher, enhancing objectivity.
Provide an example of a passive sentence and revise in which not naming the agent makes it an incomplete idea.
Ineffective: "Mistakes were made." Revised: "We made mistakes."
What is a subject in a passive sentence?
The subject in a passive sentence is the recipient of the action, as in "The book was read by Sarah."
Identify the subject in the sentence: "The song was sung by the choir."
The subject is "The song."
Convert this active sentence to passive: "The students will complete the assignment."
"The assignment will be completed by the students."
What effect does passive voice have in formal writing?
It can create a more formal tone and shift focus from the actor to the action.
Provide a sentence that uses both active and passive voice.
"The teacher handed the students a test that was made by him."
What are the verbs that can be used in passive voice?
Any verb can be used in passive voice as long as it can form a past participle, e.g., "is eaten," "was seen," "will be completed."
Identify the passive verb: "The novel was written by the author."
"was written" is the passive structure.
Convert this active sentence to passive: "The committee has approved the plan."
"The plan had been approved by the committee."
When should you avoid using passive voice?
When clarity is compromised or when a direct and engaging style is preferred.
Provide a passive sentence using the past perfect tense.
"The project had been completed before the deadline."
What is the importance of using passive voice?
Passive voice can emphasize the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer, which can be useful in formal or scientific writing.
If the next sentence were active, which word would be the object: "The homework was completed by John."
The object would be "The homework."
Convert this active sentence to passive: "The artist had been painting a beautiful mural."
"A beautiful mural had been being painted by the artist."
How does passive voice affect clarity in writing?
It can obscure who is performing the action, making sentences less direct and harder to understand.
Provide a well-known sentence that uses passive voice. Name the author or publication. (You can research online).
"All men are created equal." (from the U.S. Declaration of Independence)