Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence is the receiver of the action rather than the doer of the action. In passive voice sentences, the focus is on the object of the action rather than the agent (the one performing the action). Passive voice is often used when the agent is unknown, unimportant, or when the writer wants to shift the focus to the recipient of the action.
The structure of a passive voice sentence generally follows this pattern:
Passive Voice Structure:
[Receiver of the action] + [To be verb (conjugated)] + [Past Participle of the main verb] + [Optional: by + agent/doer (if known or relevant)]
Example: Active Voice: The chef (agent) prepares (verb) the meal (receiver of the action). Passive Voice: The meal (receiver of the action) is prepared (to be verb + past participle) by the chef (optional agent/doer).
Usage of Passive Voice:
- When the doer (agent) is unknown or unimportant: Example: The diamond was stolen yesterday.
- To focus on the receiver of the action: Example: The cake was eaten by the children.
- In formal or scientific writing, when the agent is unnecessary or already known: Example: The research was conducted on a large sample.
- To create a more formal tone in writing: Example: The letter has been sent to the recipient.
- To avoid assigning blame or responsibility: Example: Mistakes were made.
- When describing processes or instructions: Example: The dough is rolled into a flat sheet.