Passive Voice in English Grammar: Structure and Differences

It seems like you’re interested in learning about passive voice in English grammar. Passive voice is one of the two main voices in English grammar, with the other being an active voice. Here’s an explanation of what passive voice is and how it works:

Definition: Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence is the receiver of an action rather than the doer of the action. In passive voice, the emphasis is on what is done to the subject rather than who is performing the action.

Structure: A sentence in passive voice typically follows this structure:

1. The object of the active voice sentence becomes the subject in the passive voice.
2. The verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, etc.) is used as the auxiliary verb.
3. The past participle form of the main verb is used.
4. If necessary, a prepositional phrase starting with “by” may indicate the agent (the person or thing performing the action).

Example: Let’s take an example to illustrate passive voice:

Active Voice: “The chef (subject) prepared (verb) a delicious meal (object).” Passive Voice: “A delicious meal (subject) was prepared (verb) by the chef (agent).”

In the active voice, the chef is the doer of the action (preparing the meal), while in the passive voice, the emphasis is on the meal being prepared by someone (the chef). The passive voice can be useful when the focus of your sentence needs to be shifted from the doer of the action to the action itself or the object being acted upon.

Here are some examples of sentences in both active and passive voice to illustrate the difference:

Difference Between Active Voice & Passive Voice

Active Voice

1. The chef (subject) prepared (verb) a delicious meal (object).
2. She (subject) is teaching (verb) the class (object).
3. They (subject) will announce (verb) the winners (object).
4. The company (subject) awarded (verb) John (object) a promotion.

Passive Voice:

1. A delicious meal (subject) was prepared (verb) by the chef (agent).
2. The class (subject) is being taught (verb) by her (agent).
3. The winners (subject) will be announced (verb) by them (agent).
4. John (subject) was awarded (verb) a promotion (object) by the company (agent).

In the active voice examples, the subject (the doer of the action) is the focal point of the sentence. In the passive voice examples, the subject becomes the receiver of the action, and the agent (the doer of the action) is often introduced with “by.” The emphasis shifts from the doer of the action to the action itself or the object being acted upon. This can be particularly useful in different writing contexts.

When to Use Passive Voice:

1. When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant: “The bank was robbed.”
2. When the doer of the action is obvious and doesn’t need to be mentioned: “The cake has been eaten.”
3. When you want to emphasize the action or the result: “The contract was signed yesterday.”

When to Avoid Passive Voice:

1. When the doer of the action is essential or important: “She wrote the book” (active voice is more appropriate if you want to highlight the author).
2. When you want to make your writing more direct and concise: Active voice is often clearer and more straightforward.

Common Pitfalls

1. Overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound wordy and impersonal.
2. In academic and scientific writing, passive voice is more common because it can create a sense of objectivity. However, it should be used judiciously.

Summing Up

In summary, passive voice in English grammar is a grammatical structure that changes the focus of a sentence from the doer of the action to the recipient of the action. It’s a useful tool in writing, but it should be used appropriately to maintain clarity and readability in your communication.