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What is the “passive voice”?: Difference between revisions
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== 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: | |||
* 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: | 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: | ||
* The novel was written by the professor. | |||
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”''' (was) verb that proceeds a past participle (written), followed by a prepositional phrase (by the professor). | ||
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. 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). | |||
==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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Example: Active | * Example: Active | ||
Scientists discovered a cure for cancer. | Scientists discovered a cure for cancer. | ||
Example: Passive | * Example: Passive | ||
The cure for cancer was discovered by scientists. | The cure for cancer was discovered by scientists. | ||
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* Constantly using active voice can cause a paper to sound choppy | * Constantly using active voice can cause a paper to sound choppy. Passive voice can be used as a transition between active voice sentences to make the sentence flow better (Active). | ||
Note: Be selective about when and how passive voice is used | |||
== Progressive Tense == | == Progressive Tense == | ||