Passive Voice

The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the focus is on the action and the subject is either less important or unknown. It's often used in formal, academic, or professional settings to shift emphasis or when the agent performing the action is irrelevant or implicit.

Understanding Passive Voice

Definition

The passive voice is formed using the appropriate form of the verb "to be" followed by the past participle of the main verb. The agent (the doer of the action) can be omitted or included after the preposition "by."

When to Use Passive Voice

1. When the doer is unknown:

   • Example: "The window was broken."

2. When the doer is irrelevant:

   • Example: "A new shopping mall will be built here."

3. To emphasize the action over the doer:

   • Example: "Over two hundred applications have been received."

4. To sound more formal or objective:

   • Example: "It has been decided that the meeting will be postponed."

Forming the Passive Voice

• Simple Present: "The letters are delivered."
• Simple Past: "The letters were delivered."
• Present Continuous: "The letters are being delivered."
• Present Perfect: "The letters have been delivered."

Common Uses in Different Contexts

• Academic Writing: Often used to maintain an objective tone.

  • Example: "The experiment was conducted at room temperature."

• News Reporting: Used to focus on the event or result.

  • Example: "The president was elected last week."

• Formal or Corporate Communication: Used to deliver information where the focus is on the process or outcome rather than the person.

  • Example: "Your request has been processed."

Key Points to Remember

1. Not all sentences should be converted to passive: Use the passive voice judiciously, as overuse can lead to vague and wordy constructions.

2. Agent Inclusion: Include the agent when it is necessary for clarity or emphasis.

• Example: "The song was written by Lennon and McCartney."

3. Verb Tense Consistency: Ensure the correct form of "to be" is used to match the tense of your sentence.

Exercises

• Rewrite the following active sentences in passive voice:

  1. "The chef prepares the meal."
  2. "The company is launching a new product."

• Identify sentences using passive voice in a newspaper article and discuss why passive voice was used.

Conclusion

The passive voice is a powerful tool in English that can help vary sentence structure and shift focus in writing. Understanding how and when to use the passive voice can greatly enhance your writing style, particularly in formal contexts.