Passive voice is a sentence which change the subject to be the object and it focus on the action. It does not concern about what or who was doing the action. Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice.
Example: My bike was stolen.
In this example, I do not know who has stolen my bike.
Example: A mistake was made.
In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. you have made a mistake.).
Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verb)
Example: A letter was written.
When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:
- the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
- the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
- the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
Tense | Subject | Verb | Object | |
Simple Present | Active: | Rita | writes | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | is written | by Rita. | |
Simple Past | Active: | Rita | wrote | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | was written | by Rita. | |
Present Perfect | Active: | Rita | has written | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | has been written | by Rita. | |
Future I | Active: | Rita | will write | a letter. |
Passive: | A letter | will be written | by Rita. | |
Sometimes the passive voice is the best choice. Here are a few instances when the passive voice is quite useful:
1. To emphasize an object.Take a look at this example:
100 votes are required to pass the bill.
This passive sentence emphasizes the number of votes required. An active version of the sentence ("The bill requires 100 votes to pass") would put the emphasis on the bill, which may be less dramatic.
2. To do-emphasize an unknown subject/actor. Consider this example:
Over 120 different contaminants have been dumped into the river.
If you don't know who the actor is—in this case, if you don't actually know who dumped all of those contaminants in the river—then you may need to write in the passive. But remember, if you do know the actor, and if the clarity and meaning of your writing would benefit from indicating him/her/it/them, then use an active construction. Yet consider the third case.
3. If your readers don't need to know who's responsible for the action.
Here's where your choice can be difficult; some instances are less clear than others. Try to put yourself in your reader's position to anticipate how he/she will react to the way you have phrased your thoughts. Here are two examples:
Baby Sophia was delivered at 3:30 a.m. yesterday.(passive)
and
Dr. Susan Jones delivered baby Sophia at 3:30 a.m. yesterday.(active)
The first sentence might be more appropriate in a birth announcement sent to family and friends—they are not likely to know Dr. Jones and are much more interested in the "object"(the baby) than in the actor (the doctor). A hospital report of yesterday's events might be more likely to focus on Dr. Jones' role.
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