Have you ever noticed how sometimes sentences sound…different? Not necessarily wrong, just… not as direct or punchy? Often, that’s because of something called the passive voice. It’s a common feature of English, and understanding it can dramatically improve your writing and your ability to analyze what you read. This guide will explore everything you need to know about the passive voice, from its basic definition to more nuanced applications and how to identify and use it effectively.
What is Passive Voice?
Simply put, the passive voice is a way of constructing a sentence where the subject receives the action, rather than performing it. This is different from the more common active voice, where the subject does something.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Active Voice | The dog chased the ball. |
| Passive Voice | The ball was chased by the dog. |
Notice how in the passive example, the ball (the receiver of the action) is now the subject of the sentence. The actor (the dog) is often, but not always, included after “by.”
Key Indicators of Passive Voice
The most common way to identify the passive voice is to look for a form of the verb “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been) followed by a past participle (usually ending in -ed, -en, or -t).
For example:
- The cake was eaten.
- The letter is being written.
- Mistakes were made.
Why Use Passive Voice?
While the active voice is generally preferred for its clarity and directness, the passive voice isn’t always bad. There are legitimate reasons to use it.
Emphasizing the Action, Not the Actor
Sometimes, who performed the action is less important than the action itself.
Example: The window was broken. (We might not know, or care, who broke it. The focus is on the fact that it is broken.)
De-emphasizing Responsibility
The passive voice can be used to avoid assigning blame or responsibility. This is common in political or bureaucratic writing.
Example: A mistake was made. (Instead of “I made a mistake,” which is direct and potentially uncomfortable.)
Maintaining Objectivity
In scientific writing, the passive voice is often used to maintain an objective tone. The focus is on the experiment and results, not the researcher.
Example: The data were analyzed using statistical software. (Rather than “We analyzed the data…”)
More In-Depth Examples & Nuances
Let’s look at how the passive voice works in a variety of sentences and situations.
Passive Voice with Different Tenses
The passive voice can be formed in almost any tense. Here are a few examples:
- Present Simple: The mail is delivered every day.
- Past Simple: The house was built in 1920.
- Present Continuous: The problem is being investigated.
- Past Continuous: The song was being sung beautifully.
- Present Perfect: The report has been finished.
- Past Perfect: The decision had been made before I arrived.
- Future Simple: The package will be shipped tomorrow.
Passive Voice Without Explicit Actors
As mentioned earlier, the “by + actor” part is often omitted. This happens when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.
- The city was destroyed by the earthquake. (Actor included)
- The city was destroyed. (Actor omitted – it’s understood the earthquake caused it.)
- The cookies were eaten. (We assume someone ate them, but it’s not important who.)
“Get” Passive
Besides using “to be,” the verb “get” can also be used to form the passive voice, especially in informal writing. This often implies something happening to the subject.
Example: I got fired from my job. (This emphasizes what happened to me.)
Transforming Active to Passive: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Identify the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence. (e.g., The chef prepared the meal. – Chef = Subject, prepared = Verb, meal = Object)
- Move the object to the subject position. (The meal…)
- Change the verb into a form of “to be” + past participle. (was prepared)
- Add “by + original subject” (optional). (The meal was prepared by the chef.)
When to Avoid Passive Voice
While not always incorrect, overuse of the passive voice can make your writing sound weak, vague, and indirect. Here are some situations where it’s best to stick with the active voice:
- When clarity is essential: Active voice is usually easier to understand.
- When you want to emphasize the actor: Active voice puts the focus on who is doing something.
- In most creative writing: Active voice creates a more dynamic and engaging style.
Compare:
Passive: The car was driven by John.
Active: John drove the car.
The active sentence is more concise and direct.
Identifying Passive Voice: A Quick Check
If you’re unsure whether a sentence is in the passive voice, ask yourself these questions:
- Does the sentence contain a form of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been)?
- Is that form of “to be” followed by a past participle (a verb ending in -ed, -en, or -t)?
- Is the subject receiving the action, rather than performing it?
If you answer “yes” to all three questions, the sentence is likely in the passive voice.
Understanding the passive voice empowers you to make conscious choices about your writing. It’s not about never using it, but about using it intentionally and effectively. By mastering this literary device, you can enhance the clarity, precision, and impact of your communication.