Passive voice is a grammatical structure where the subject of a sentence is acted upon by the verb. It is often used in formal writing or when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant. While active voice is generally preferred for clarity and directness, passive voice can be useful in certain situations.
Here are five examples of passive voice:
1. The cake was baked by Mary.
In this sentence, the focus is on the cake being baked, rather than on Mary doing the baking. The subject (the cake) is receiving the action of the verb (baked).
2. The report will be submitted by the end of the week.
Here, the emphasis is on the report being submitted, rather than on who will be submitting it. The subject (the report) is the one receiving the action of the verb (submitted).
3. The house was destroyed by the tornado.
In this example, the focus is on the house being destroyed, rather than on the tornado doing the destroying. The subject (the house) is the one receiving the action of the verb (destroyed).
4. The new rules were implemented last month.
Here, the emphasis is on the new rules being implemented, rather than on who implemented them. The subject (the new rules) is the one receiving the action of the verb (implemented).
5. The concert tickets were sold out in minutes.
In this sentence, the focus is on the concert tickets being sold out, rather than on who sold them. The subject (the concert tickets) is receiving the action of the verb (sold out).
While passive voice can be useful in certain contexts, it is important to be mindful of its overuse. In general, active voice is preferred for clear and direct communication. However, in cases where the focus should be on the receiver of the action rather than the doer, passive voice can be an effective tool.
By understanding how to recognize and use passive voice effectively, writers can enhance the clarity and impact of their writing.