MODUL XIV

Passive Sentence
A passive sentence is a sentence in which the subject does not perform the action of
the verb. In fact, in a passive sentence, the action of the verb is done to the subject.
For example:

Use of Passive
Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or
not known, however, who or what is performing the action.
Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do
not know, however, who did it.
Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the
following example shows:
Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not
blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.)

Form of Passive
Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular
verbs)
Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

 the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive
sentence
 the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
 the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive
sentence (or is dropped)

Examples of Passive
Tense Subject Verb Object

writes a letter.
Simple Present Active: Rita

Passive: A letter is written by Rita.

Simple Past Active: Rita wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by Rita.

Present Perfect Active: Rita has written a letter.

Passive: A letter has been written by Rita.

Future I Active: Rita will write a letter.

Passive: A letter will be written by Rita.

Hilfsverben Active: Rita can write a letter.

 Passive: A letter can be written by Rita.

Passive Sentences with Two Objects

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that
one of the two objects becomes the subject, the other one remains an
object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want
to put the focus on.

Subject Verb Object 1 Object 2

wrote a letter to me.

Active: Rita

Passive: A letter was written to me by Rita.

Passive: I was written a letter by Rita.

As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s
why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence
becomes the subject of the passive sentence. So every verb that needs an
object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.
Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal

passive sentence (as there is no object that can become the subject of the
passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive voice,
you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is
called Impersonal Passive.
Example: he says – it is said
Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other
languages (e.g. German, Latin). In English, Impersonal Passive is only
possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that
women live longer than men.

Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more

common.
Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said
to live longer than men.

The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of

the sentence; the verb of perception is put into passive voice. The rest of
the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain
auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).
Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the
indirect object of an active sentence is to become the subject of the
passive sentence.

More Examples of Passive Sentences

Here are some more examples of passive sentences:
 Anita was driven to the theatre.
(In this example, Anita did not perform the action of
the verb "to drive." The action was done to her. She was the
recipient of the action.)
 Nowadays, black kites are protected.
(The action is being done to the subject "black kites.")
 The olives are stoned and crushed in this room.
(The actions are being done to the subject "the olives.")

With a Passive Sentence, Use "By" to Show the Actor

In a passive sentence, the person or thing doing the action (the actor) is
usually preceded by the word "by." For example:
 Anita was driven to the theatre by Carla.
 Nowadays, black kites are protected by law.
  The olives are stoned and crushed in this room by my son.
The opposite of a passive sentence is an active sentence, in which the
subject does perform the action of the verb.

Some Interactive Examples

Here are some interactive examples. In these examples, the actor (i.e., the
person carrying out the action) is in bold.

 My cousin tackled the shoplifter.

 Heidi smashed the vase.
 Carl sounded the alarm when David reported the smoke.
 Carl sounded the alarm when David reported the smoke.

What Does "Passive Voice" Mean?

The verb in a passive sentence is said to be in the passive voice. Likewise,
the verb in an active sentence is said to be in the active voice. For
example:
 The bed was made by Rachel.
 (In this passive sentence, "was made" is in the passive voice.)
 Rachel made the bed.
 (In this active sentence, "made" is in the active voice.)

Why Should I Care About Passive Sentences?

Active sentences come in the form "A did B." Passive sentences, however,
come in the form "B was done to A." As a result, active sentences are the
easier to read, and they are often more succinct and direct. Consequently,
lots of companies instruct their staff to avoid using passive sentences. This
practice is so common that many grammar checkers (be they computer
programs or real people) will suggest an active version of your passive
sentence. However, if you prefer your passive version, stick with it.

Here are five good reasons to use passive sentences.

(Reason 1) Passive sentences are useful to avoid blame.

Passive sentences are quite useful if you're trying not to apportion blame.
 The document had been released into the public domain.
 (This passive sentence hides the blame.)
Look at the active version:
 Jackie released the document into the public domain.
Here are some more example that do not reveal who was responsible:
 Bad advice was given.
 A serious failing in standing operating procedures had
occurred.

(Reason 2) Passive sentences can show a neutral or objective tone.

 It is anticipated that concessions will be offered by both
parties.
(This passive sentence expresses a neutral tone.)

(Reason 3) Passive sentences are appropriate when the doer of the

action is unimportant, unknown, or obvious.
 Pistachio nuts are grown in Iran.
(The doer of the action (called "the agent") is unimportant.)
 His parade uniform was stolen.
(The agent is unknown.)
 The thief was arrested.
(The agent is obvious. It's the police.)

(Reason 4) Passive sentences allow you to put something you want to

emphasize at the start of your sentence.
 An estimated 258,000 people were injured in alcohol-related
crashes.
(The number of people is the focus of this sentence.)

(Reason 5) A passive construction allows you to use the same subject

twice.
 Martin crashed into the barrier and was tossed in the crowd.
(In this sentence, the subject is "Martin." The verb "crashed" is
an active verb. It is followed by "was tossed," which is a
passive verb. This construction allows you to say two things
about "Martin" in a natural and efficient way.)
the passive voice can be a shifty operator—it can cover up its source, that
is, who’s doing the acting, as this example shows:

 Passive: The papers will be graded according to the criteria

stated in the syllabus.
o Graded by whom though?
 Active: The teacher will grade the papers according to the
criteria stated in the syllabus.

It’s this ability to cover the actor or agent of the sentence that makes the
passive voice a favorite of people in authority—policemen, city officials,
and, yes, teachers. At any rate, you can see how the passive voice can
cause wordiness, indirectness, and comprehension problems.

Passive Question Active

Your figures have been

reanalyzed in order to determine
the coefficient of error. The
results will be announced when
the situation is judged
appropriate.
We have reanalyzed your figures in
Who analyzes, and who will order to determine the range of
announce? error. We will announce the results
when the time is right.

With the price of housing at such With the price of housing at such
inflated levels, those inflated levels, homeowners cannot
Who can’t pay the loans off?
loans cannot be paid off in any pay off those loans in any shorter
shorter period of time. period of time.

After the arm of the hand-held After you push down on the arm of the
stapler is pushed down, the hand-held stapler, the top-leaf
Who pushes it down, and who
blade from the magazine is spring raises the blade from the
or what raises it?
raised by the top-leaf spring, and magazine, and the magazine and base
the magazine and base. move apart.

However, market share is being However, 5.25-inch diskettes are

Who or what is losing market
lost by 5.25-inch diskettes as is losing market share as the graph
share, who or what shows it?
shown in the graph in Figure 2. in Figure 2 shows.

For many years, federal
regulations concerning the use of
wire-tapping have been ignored.
Only recently have tighter
restrictions been imposed on the
circumstances that warrant it.
Who has ignored the
regulations, and who is now
imposing them?
For many years, government
officials have ignored federal
regulations concerning the use of wire-
tapping. Only recently has the federal
government imposed tighter
restrictions on the circumstances that
Passive Question Active

warrant it.

Don’t get the idea that the passive voice is always wrong and should never be used. It is
a good writing technique when we don’t want to be bothered with an obvious or too-
often-repeated subject and when we need to rearrange words in a sentence for
emphasis. Notice that the passive voice is really all right in some of the examples
above. The next page will focus more on how and why to use the passive voice.