How Do You Use Passive Voice in a Sentence?
To use passive voice in a sentence, you construct it to emphasize the action's recipient or the action itself, rather than the doer. This structure is formed by using an auxiliary verb "be" followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Understanding Passive Voice
Passive sentences are primarily about what happens to people or things. This contrasts with active sentences, which focus on what people or things do. In a passive construction, the subject of the sentence receives the action, rather than performing it.
Forming Passive Voice Sentences
The fundamental structure for creating a passive voice sentence involves two key components:
- A form of the auxiliary verb "be": This includes forms like be, am, is, are, was, were, being, and been. The specific form used depends on the tense of the sentence.
- The past participle of the main verb: This is the form of the verb typically ending in -ed or -en (e.g., loved, written, done, built).
Formula:
- Subject (recipient of action) + Form of "be" + Past Participle (of main verb)
Examples of Passive Voice Construction
Let's look at how active sentences can be transformed into passive ones, illustrating the "be" verb + past participle structure:
| Active Voice Sentence | Passive Voice Sentence | Breakdown of Passive Structure |
|---|---|---|
| He loves me. | I am loved. | I (recipient) + am (be) + loved (past participle) |
| The student wrote the essay. | The essay was written by the student. | The essay (recipient) + was (be) + written (past participle) |
| They are building a new house. | A new house is being built. | A new house (recipient) + is being (be) + built (past participle) |
| Someone had stolen my wallet. | My wallet had been stolen. | My wallet (recipient) + had been (be) + stolen (past participle) |
| The committee will approve the plan. | The plan will be approved. | The plan (recipient) + will be (be) + approved (past participle) |
Practical Applications of Passive Voice
While active voice is generally preferred for clear, direct communication, passive voice has specific and appropriate uses:
- When the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant:
- The window was broken. (We don't know or care who broke it.)
- When the focus should be on the action or the recipient, not the performer:
- Thousands of trees were planted last year. (Emphasis is on the trees and the planting, not who did it.)
- In scientific or technical writing:
- The experiment was conducted under sterile conditions. (Emphasis is on the procedure itself, maintaining objectivity.)
- To avoid assigning blame or for politeness:
- Mistakes were made. (Rather than "You made mistakes.")
Tips for Using Passive Voice Effectively
- Use it purposefully: Only employ passive voice when it truly serves your communication goal.
- Avoid overuse: Excessive passive voice can make writing seem wordy, vague, or indirect.
- Consider the "by" phrase: If the actor is important, you can include them in a "by [actor]" phrase (e.g., The ball was hit by the player), but often, if the actor is crucial, active voice is better.
For further insights into grammar and sentence structure, you can consult various online writing resources.
