Grammar
Passive Voice
Passive voice is when the subject of a sentence receives the action rather than performing it. The actor may be omitted or placed after the verb.
Structure
Active: Subject + Verb + Object Passive: Object + "to be" + Past Participle (+ by Subject)
Examples
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| The scientist discovered the cure. | The cure was discovered by the scientist. |
| Someone stole the car. | The car was stolen. |
| We will complete the project. | The project will be completed. |
When to Use Passive Voice
- Unknown actor: "The window was broken."
- Emphasizing the action: "The experiment was conducted three times."
- Scientific writing: "The samples were analyzed."
- Diplomatic language: "Mistakes were made."
When to Avoid It
- When it obscures responsibility
- When it makes sentences wordy
- When active voice would be clearer
Use passive voice intentionally, not by default. Most sentences are stronger in active voice.
Quick Test
If you can add "by zombies" after the verb and it makes sense, it's passive voice.
- "The report was written [by zombies]." ✓ Passive