Passive voice

Passive voice definition: The passive voice is a style of writing where what would be the object of a
sentence becomes the subject of the sentence.

Functions of the passive voice

The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or object that experiences an action
rather than the person or object that performs the action. In other words, the most important thing
or person becomes the subject of the sentence.

Examples

 The passive voice is used frequently. (= we are interested in the passive voice, not in who
uses it.)
 The house was built in 1654. (= we are interested in the house, not in who built it.)
 The road is being repaired. (= we are interested in the road, not in the people who are
doing the repairs.)
Voice into Active Voice
While changing Passive Voice into Active Voice, we must keep in mind all the rules of the Active Voice in
the reverse order. We come across sentences in the Passive Voice without subject or agent. In this case,
supply the appropriate subject.
To decide whether the given passive voice sentence is in passive voice, any one of the following
constructions should be present.

 1. is, was ,are, were, am + past participle

 2. be + past participle
 3. being + past participle
 4. been + past participle
 5. Let ...be + past participle

Changing Passive Voice to Active Voice.

Passive Voice Active Voice

The thief was finally arrested The police finally arrested the thief

We were taught grammar The teacher taught us grammar

My purse has been stolen Somebody has stolen my purse

The patients were looked after The doctor looked after the patients