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What is the “passive voice”?: Difference between revisions
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== What is Passive Voice?== | '''== What is Passive Voice?==''' | ||
Passive voice is when the subject does not perform an action, like in an active sentence. In the active voice, the subject does something: | Passive voice is when the subject does not perform an action, like in an active sentence. In the active voice, the subject does something: | ||
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Diana Hacker states in her book, ''A Writer's Reference'', "forms of ''''be'''' (be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been) lack vigor because they convey no action" (128). | Diana Hacker states in her book, ''A Writer's Reference'', "forms of ''''be'''' '''(be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been)''', lack vigor because they convey no action" (128). | ||
Another problem with passive voice is it is often wordy and less concise than active voice. | Another problem with passive voice is it is often wordy and less concise than active voice. | ||
* Wordiness, can cause a reader to become confused and/or lose interest in the material (OWL). | * '''Wordiness''', can cause a reader to become confused and/or lose interest in the material (OWL). | ||
==When To Use Passive Voice== | '''==When To Use Passive Voice==''' | ||
* Passive voice can be used in technical or scientific writing. | * Passive voice can be used in technical or scientific writing. | ||
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(Note: Be selective about when and how passive voice is used) | (Note: Be selective about when and how passive voice is used) | ||
== Progressive Tense == | '''== Progressive Tense ==''' | ||
Progressive tense is another type of passive construction. It occurs when you use a be verb with an the -ing form of the verb to show that action continues and is not fixed to a certain point in time. For example: | Progressive tense is another type of passive construction. It occurs when you use a be verb with an the -ing form of the verb to show that action continues and is not fixed to a certain point in time. For example: | ||