Passive voice is a grammatical term that is often used in the English language. It is essential to understand the dynamics of passive voice as a writer because it can impact the reader’s interpretation of a sentence or phrase.
At its core, passive voice occurs when the subject of a sentence is acted upon by the object, which creates a sentence that is not as direct or concise as it could be. Passive voice is the opposite of active voice, where the subject is causing the action or doing the verb.
Definition of Passive Voice:
Passive voice is a grammatical structure in a sentence where the subject is being acted upon by the verb. In other words, in a passive voice sentence, the object of the verb has become the subject of the sentence.
Passive voice is used in cases where the focus of the sentence is on the action and not the person doing the action. It is often used to shift the attention away from the doer of the action and more on the action itself.
Active Voice Vs Passive Voice:
Active voice occurs when the subject is doing the action of the verb, and the object is receiving it. The subject is active, and the object is passive.
Here are examples of sentences in active and passive voice:
- Active Voice: The dog chased the cat.
- Passive Voice: The cat was chased by the dog.
Note that in the active voice sentence, the dog is the subject, whereas, in the passive voice sentence, the cat has become the subject.
When Should You Use Passive Voice?
It is common to use passive voice when you want to emphasize the action instead of the person doing the action. It can also be used to add variety and rhythm to sentences.
For example, a journalist might use passive voice when they want to keep the focus on events rather than the people who participated in them.
When Should You Avoid Passive Voice?
Using passive voice can sometimes make your writing less clear and concise. Writing in active voice can make the sentence more direct and easier to understand.
Here are some specific cases where it’s best to avoid passive voice:
- If the subject of the sentence is unknown. For example, “Mistakes were made.” It is better to say, “I made a mistake.”
- If the verb has two objects, and one is more important than the other. For example, “The teacher taught the student grammar.” It’s better to say, “The student learned grammar from the teacher.”
- If the action or event in the sentence is more important than the person or thing doing it. For example, “The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci,” is an appropriate use of passive voice because the emphasis is on the painting and not necessarily the artist.
- If you’re trying to create an impact, using active voice can make the sentence more powerful. For example, “I won the race” is more impactful than “The race was won by me.”
Examples of Passive Voice:
Here are some sentences that are in passive voice:
- The pie was eaten by John.
- The room was cleaned by the janitor.
- The car was stolen from the parking lot.
Examples of Active Voice:
Here are some sentences that are in active voice:
- John ate the pie.
- The janitor cleaned the room.
- Someone stole the car from the parking lot.
How to Identify Passive Voice:
Here are some ways to identify passive voice in a sentence:
- Look for a form of the verb “to be” plus the past participle of the main verb. For example, “The cake was baked by me.” “Was” is the form of the verb “to be,” and “baked” is the past participle of the main verb “bake.”
- Look for constructions where the subject of the sentence is being acted upon by the verb.
The Pros and Cons of Passive Voice:
Here are some pros and cons of using passive voice in your writing:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It can emphasize the action or event in the sentence. | It can make the sentence less concise. |
| It can create a more formal tone in writing. | It can make the sentence more difficult to understand. |
| It can be used to shift the focus away from the person doing the action. | It can make the writing appear weak or lacking in confidence. |
Conclusion
Understanding what passive voice is and how to use it can help you communicate more effectively through your writing. While passive voice can be useful in certain cases, it should be used with caution as it can make your writing less clear and concise.
FAQs on Passive Voice:
- What is passive voice? Passive voice is a grammatical term that is used when the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the object of the verb.
- When should you use passive voice? You should use passive voice when you want to emphasize the action instead of the person doing the action. It can also be used to add variety and rhythm to sentences.
- When should you avoid passive voice? You should avoid passive voice when you want to make the sentence more direct and easier to understand. You can also avoid it if the subject of the sentence is unknown or if the verb has two objects, and one is more important than the other.
- What are some examples of passive voice? Some examples of passive voice include “The pie was eaten by John,” and “The car was stolen from the parking lot.”
- How can you identify passive voice? You can identify passive voice by looking for a form of the verb “to be” plus the past participle of the main verb or by looking for constructions where the subject of the sentence is being acted upon by the verb.
References:
- The Chicago Manual of Style Online: Passive Voice
- The Purdue Online Writing Lab: Active and Passive Voice
- Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. New York: Macmillan, 2000.