THE PASSIVE VOICE
Voice is a category of the verb. A verb can either be in the active voice or the passive voice. Only transitive verbs can be in the passive voice. Transitive verbs are followed by at least one object.
She is sleeping. Intransitive verb, cannot be put into passive form
She made dinner. Dinner was made. Transitive verb with one object
He bought his wife flowers. Flowers were bought for his wife. His wife was bought flowers. Transitive verb with two objects
A typical sentence with a transitive verb includes a subject, a verb as the predicator, and an object.
The hunter shot the deer. active voice
If the verb is in active form, then the subject is usually a living being actively doing something, i.e. the action expressed by the verb that follows. The subject is the doer of the action.
The object is the receiver of the action and is passively receiving the impact of the action expressed by the verb.
In the passive voice, however, the roles of the subject and the object are switched.
The deer was shot by the hunter. passive voice
Now, the subject is the receiver of the action and the doer of the action is placed after the verb in a by-phrase. It can also be completely omitted.
The deer was shot.
The passive voice places emphasis on what is happening to someone or something, while the active voice on who is making it happen.
The verb changes form when put into the passive. It consist of the auxiliary verb BE, which has to be in the same tense as the tense of the active verb, and the past participle form of the active verb.
She is writing letters. active verb in the Present Continuous tense
Letters are being written. auxiliary verb BE in the Present Continuous tense
He has washed the dishes. active verb in the Present Perfect tense
The dishes have been washed. auxiliary verb BE in the Present Perfect tense
Reasons for using the passive voice:
-doer of the action is not important
His first book was published in 1987.
-doer of the action is unknown
My wallet was stolen.
-doer of the action must remain a secret or must avoid exposure
300 workers were laid off from the factory yesterday.
-doer of the action is hard to determine or too general
English is spoken all over the world.
-doer of the action is placed at the end of the sentence for greater emphasis
And first prize was won by ... John Baker!
Voice is a category of the verb. A verb can either be in the active voice or the passive voice. Only transitive verbs can be in the passive voice. Transitive verbs are followed by at least one object.
She is sleeping. Intransitive verb, cannot be put into passive form
She made dinner. Dinner was made. Transitive verb with one object
He bought his wife flowers. Flowers were bought for his wife. His wife was bought flowers. Transitive verb with two objects
A typical sentence with a transitive verb includes a subject, a verb as the predicator, and an object.
The hunter shot the deer. active voice
If the verb is in active form, then the subject is usually a living being actively doing something, i.e. the action expressed by the verb that follows. The subject is the doer of the action.
The object is the receiver of the action and is passively receiving the impact of the action expressed by the verb.
In the passive voice, however, the roles of the subject and the object are switched.
The deer was shot by the hunter. passive voice
Now, the subject is the receiver of the action and the doer of the action is placed after the verb in a by-phrase. It can also be completely omitted.
The deer was shot.
The passive voice places emphasis on what is happening to someone or something, while the active voice on who is making it happen.
The verb changes form when put into the passive. It consist of the auxiliary verb BE, which has to be in the same tense as the tense of the active verb, and the past participle form of the active verb.
She is writing letters. active verb in the Present Continuous tense
Letters are being written. auxiliary verb BE in the Present Continuous tense
He has washed the dishes. active verb in the Present Perfect tense
The dishes have been washed. auxiliary verb BE in the Present Perfect tense
Reasons for using the passive voice:
-doer of the action is not important
His first book was published in 1987.
-doer of the action is unknown
My wallet was stolen.
-doer of the action must remain a secret or must avoid exposure
300 workers were laid off from the factory yesterday.
-doer of the action is hard to determine or too general
English is spoken all over the world.
-doer of the action is placed at the end of the sentence for greater emphasis
And first prize was won by ... John Baker!