Passive Voice
Introduction
The passive voice is a grammatical structure in English where the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. It is commonly used when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or when the speaker wants to emphasize the action itself.
Structure
The passive voice is formed by using a form of the verb "to be" followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Formula:
Subject + "to be" + Past Participle + (by + Agent)
Examples
- Active Voice: The chef cooked the meal.
- Passive Voice: The meal was cooked by the chef.
Usage
1. Emphasizing the Action
- Active: The janitor cleaned the floors.
- Passive: The floors were cleaned by the janitor.
2. When the Actor is Unknown
- Active: Someone stole my bike.
- Passive: My bike was stolen.
3. When the Actor is Irrelevant
- Active: People speak English in many countries.
- Passive: English is spoken in many countries.
4. Formal or Impersonal Tone
- Active: The company will announce the results tomorrow.
- Passive: The results will be announced tomorrow.
Passive Voice in Different Tenses
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present Simple | The book is read by many students. |
| Past Simple | The letter was written by Sarah. |
| Future Simple | The project will be completed by Friday. |
| Present Continuous | The house is being painted by Tom. |
| Past Continuous | The song was being sung by the choir. |
| Present Perfect | The report has been finished by John. |
| Past Perfect | The cake had been baked by Mary. |
| Future Perfect | The work will have been done by noon. |
Common Passive Verbs
Some verbs are frequently used in the passive voice, especially in formal writing, reports, and when the focus is on the action or result.
- be made: The decision was made yesterday.
- be given: The award was given to the best performer.
- be shown: The results were shown to the committee.
- be told: She was told about the changes.
- be known: The method is known by experts.
Active vs. Passive Voice
Key Differences
| Aspect | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | The subject performing the action. | The action or the recipient of the action. |
| Structure | Subject + Verb + Object | Subject + "to be" + Past Participle + (by Agent) |
| Example | The teacher assigned homework. | Homework was assigned by the teacher. |
Active vs. Passive Examples
- Active: The manager approved the proposal.
- Passive: The proposal was approved by the manager.
- Active: The scientist discovered a new element.
- Passive: A new element was discovered by the scientist.
- Active: They built the bridge in 2001.
- Passive: The bridge was built in 2001.
When to Use Passive Voice
- Emphasizing the Action or Result:
- When the Doer is Unknown:
- When the Doer is Irrelevant:
- Creating a Formal or Impersonal Tone:
- In Scientific or Technical Writing:
Conclusion
The passive voice is a valuable tool in English for shifting focus from the doer of an action to the action itself or its recipient. Whether used to emphasize the action, when the actor is unknown or irrelevant, or to create a formal tone, the passive voice helps convey information in a clear and effective way.