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What is the “passive voice”?: Difference between revisions
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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: | ||
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). | ||
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Example: Active | |||
Scientists discovered a cure for cancer. | Scientists discovered a cure for cancer. | ||
Example: Passive | |||
The cure for cancer was discovered by scientists. | The cure for cancer was discovered by scientists. | ||