28
edits
What is the “passive voice”?: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Passive voice is when the subject does not perform an action. It is often confused with the active voice, where the subject actually does something. | Passive voice is when the subject does not perform an action. It is often confused with the active voice, where the subject actually does something. | ||
The | '''(Example Active):''' The professor wrote a novel. | ||
The subject (professor) performs an action (wrote) which produces the object (novel). In the passive voice, the order of the sentence is reversed so that the sentence merely describes. | |||
'''(Example Passive):''' The novel was written by the professor. | |||
| Line 11: | Line 12: | ||
Recognize a passive construction by some form of the '''“be”''' (was) verb that proceeds a past participle (written), followed by a prepositional phrase (by the professor). | Recognize a passive construction by some form of the '''“be”'''(be, am, is, are, was, were, being,been) verb that proceeds a past participle (written), followed by a prepositional phrase (by the professor). | ||
== Avoiding the Passive Voice == | |||
Another problem with passive voice is it is often wordy and less concise than active voice. | *A problem with forms of '''be''' is they, as Diana Hacker states in her book ''A Writer's Reference'', "lack vigor because they convey no action" (Hacker 128). | ||
* '''Wordiness''', can cause a reader to become confused and/or lose interest in the material (OWL). | *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). | |||
== | == Using the Passive Voice == | ||
| Line 34: | Line 37: | ||
'''(Example | '''(Example Active):''' | ||
Scientists discovered a cure for cancer. | Scientists discovered a cure for cancer. | ||
'''(Example | '''(Example Passive):''' | ||
The cure for cancer was discovered by scientists. | The cure for cancer was discovered by scientists. | ||
| Line 48: | Line 51: | ||
''(Note: Be selective about when and how passive voice is used)'' | |||
== Progressive Tense == | == Progressive Tense == | ||
| Line 57: | Line 59: | ||
'''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. | '''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. | ||
''' | '''Example:''' | ||
She is talking with Henry. | *She is talking with Henry. | ||
They were eating pizza. | *They were eating pizza. | ||
She has been reading the latest Harry Potter novel. | *She has been reading the latest Harry Potter novel. | ||
The '''progressive''' tense is often used without thinking, but should only be used sparingly. More often than not the real verb should be used, eliminating the need for the be verb (passive) at all: | The '''progressive''' tense is often used without thinking, but should only be used sparingly. More often than not the real verb should be used, eliminating the need for the be verb (passive) at all: | ||
'''Example''' | '''Example:''' | ||
She talks with Henry daily. | *She talks with Henry daily. | ||
They ate pizza last night. | *They ate pizza last night. | ||
She reads the latest Harry Potter novel every night before bed. | *She reads the latest Harry Potter novel every night before bed. | ||
Notice that when you eliminate the '''progressive''' tense, you must supply a specific time for the sentence to make sense. | '''Notice''' that when you eliminate the '''progressive''' tense, you must supply a specific time for the sentence to make sense. | ||
Like the passive voice, use the '''progressive''' tense sparingly and strategically for specific rhetorical effect. Try to eliminate all unnecessary uses of the be verb. | ''(Note:Like the passive voice, use the '''progressive''' tense sparingly and strategically for specific rhetorical effect. Try to eliminate all unnecessary uses of the be verb.)'' | ||