The passive voice in English is a grammatical structure where the subject of a sentence receives the action rather than performing it. While the active voice is more common in everyday writing, understanding how to use the passive voice effectively can significantly enhance your writing style. In certain contexts, passive voice is not just acceptable, but preferred.
In this article, we will explore the concept of passive voice, when to use it, when to avoid it, and how to identify and convert sentences between active and passive voice. By the end, you will have a clear understanding of the passive voice and be able to use it appropriately in your writing.
What is Passive voice in English?
In a sentence written in passive voice, the focus is placed on the action or the recipient of the action, rather than the doer. The subject of the sentence, which is usually the doer in active voice, becomes the object in passive voice. The subject in passive voice receives the action instead of performing it.
Structure of Passive voice in English:
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Formula: Subject + Form of “to be” + Past participle of the verb + (optional “by” + doer)
For example:
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Active: “The chef cooks the meal.”
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Passive: “The meal is cooked by the chef.”
Notice that in the passive voice sentence, the object of the active sentence (“the meal”) becomes the subject. The performer of the action (“the chef”) is optional and can be added at the end with the word “by.”
Why Use Passive voice in English?
While the active voice is more direct, there are instances where passive voice in English can be more effective:
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Emphasizing the action: When the action is more important than the person performing it.
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When the doer is unknown: When you don’t know who is performing the action.
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When the doer is irrelevant: If the performer of the action is not important or should not be emphasized.
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Formal or scientific writing: In certain professional or academic contexts, passive voice is often preferred.
Examples of Passive voice in English:
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Active: “The teacher explains the lesson.” Passive: “The lesson is explained by the teacher.”
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Active: “The company launched the product.” Passive: “The product was launched by the company.”
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Active: “The dog chased the ball.” Passive: “The ball was chased by the dog.”
As you can see, the structure shifts to emphasize the action or the object of the action, rather than the subject performing it.
When to Use Passive voice in English
There are several scenarios where passive voice is appropriate and even necessary. Let’s look at the most common situations:
1. When the Actor is Unknown
In some cases, the person performing the action may be unknown, making passive voice the ideal choice.
Example:
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Active: “Someone stole my wallet.”
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Passive: “My wallet was stolen.”
In this case, the focus is on the wallet, and the unknown actor is not important.
2. When the Actor is Irrelevant
In many cases, the identity of the person performing the action is not important. For instance, in formal or scientific writing, the emphasis is often on the action itself, not who performed it.
Example:
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Active: “A scientist discovered the cure for cancer.”
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Passive: “The cure for cancer was discovered.”
Here, the cure is the focus, not who discovered it.
3. To Emphasize the Object or Action
Sometimes, you may want to shift the focus to the object of the sentence or the action, rather than the doer. Passive voice works well in this situation.
Example:
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Active: “The researchers developed a new treatment.”
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Passive: “A new treatment was developed by the researchers.”
In the passive voice sentence, the treatment becomes the focus of the sentence, which is often more appropriate when discussing research findings.
4. In Scientific Writing
Passive voice is often used in academic or scientific writing, particularly in the methods and findings sections. In this type of writing, the focus is often on the process or the results rather than the person performing the actions.
Example:
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Active: “We tested the hypothesis in the lab.”
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Passive: “The hypothesis was tested in the lab.”
By using passive voice, the focus is on the action (testing the hypothesis) rather than on the researchers themselves.
5. When the Doer is Not Necessary
In some situations, the identity of the doer is irrelevant or unnecessary to the point you are trying to make. Passive voice allows you to avoid mentioning the doer altogether.
Example:
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Active: “The company closed the store.”
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Passive: “The store was closed.”
The company is not important in this context; what matters is that the store is closed.
How to Convert Active Voice to passive voice in English
Converting a sentence from active voice to passive voice in English is a straightforward process. Here’s a simple guide to help you make the switch.
Steps to Convert Active to Passive:
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Identify the subject, verb, and object in the active voice sentence.
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Move the object of the active sentence to the subject position.
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Change the verb to the correct form of “to be” followed by the past participle of the verb.
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Add the doer (optional) using “by.”
Example:
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Active: “The committee approved the proposal.”
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Step 1: Identify the subject, verb, and object:
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Subject: “The committee”
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Verb: “approved”
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Object: “the proposal”
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Step 2: Move the object to the subject position.
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Passive: “The proposal”
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Step 3: Change the verb to the correct form of “to be” (was) + the past participle of the verb (approved).
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Passive: “The proposal was approved”
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Step 4: Add the doer using “by” (optional).
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Passive: “The proposal was approved by the committee.”
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Now that you understand how to convert between the voices, let’s move on to when to avoid using the passive voice and potential pitfalls.
When to Avoid passive voice in English
While passive voice has its uses, there are several situations where it’s best to avoid it. Overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound vague, wordy, and less engaging. Here are some key scenarios where you should consider using active voice instead.
1. When You Need Clarity and Precision
passive voice in English can often create confusion because it de-emphasizes the subject (the performer of the action). In academic or everyday writing, it’s usually clearer and more direct to state who is performing the action. Active voice helps to ensure that the reader knows exactly who is responsible for the action.
Example:
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Passive: “The decision was made by the board.”
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Active: “The board made the decision.”
In the active sentence, it’s clear who is responsible for making the decision, while in the passive sentence, the focus shifts to the decision itself.
2. To Avoid Wordiness
passive voice in English often results in longer, more complex sentences. In writing, especially in professional or academic contexts, conciseness is key. Using the active voice tends to be more concise and helps eliminate unnecessary words.
Example:
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Passive: “A new policy was introduced by the management team last week.”
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Active: “The management team introduced a new policy last week.”
The active version of the sentence is shorter and more direct without losing meaning.
3. When You Want to Assign Responsibility
In many cases, it’s important to show who is responsible for an action, especially in situations where accountability matters. passive voice in English can obscure responsibility, making it difficult to understand who is at fault or who should take credit.
Example:
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Passive: “The report was submitted late.”
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Active: “John submitted the report late.”
In the active version, it’s clear who is responsible for the late submission.
4. When Writing Persuasively or Engagingly
Active voice tends to be more dynamic and engaging. It adds energy to your writing, which can be especially helpful in persuasive writing, advertisements, and other forms of content where you want to capture and maintain the reader’s attention.
Example:
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Passive: “A decision was made by the committee to approve the project.”
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Active: “The committee decided to approve the project.”
The active voice gives the sentence a stronger, more authoritative tone, making it more engaging for the reader.
Common Pitfalls with Passive Voice
Even though passive voice in English can be useful, it’s important to be aware of its pitfalls. Misusing passive voice can lead to awkward or unclear sentences. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for:
1. Overusing Passive Voice
When you use passive voice in English too often, your writing can become dull, distant, and harder to follow. A sentence that is too passive can make the writing feel disconnected, as if the writer is avoiding responsibility for the action.
Example:
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Overused Passive: “The homework was completed by the students, and the tests were graded by the teacher.”
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Improved Active: “The students completed the homework, and the teacher graded the tests.”
By using a mix of active and passive sentences, you can keep your writing dynamic and engaging.
2. Using Passive Voice When the Actor is Obvious
If the actor is clear or obvious from the context, there’s no need to use passive voice. Avoiding passive voice here makes your writing more direct and efficient.
Example:
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Passive: “The email was sent by me yesterday.”
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Active: “I sent the email yesterday.”
Since it’s clear that the email was sent by you, there’s no need for the passive voice.
3. Confusing the passive voice in English with Other Structures
Sometimes, sentences that appear to be in passive voice in English are actually not. This happens when the verb is a linking verb (like “is” or “are”) or when the subject is a prepositional phrase. Always check the structure to avoid confusion.
Example:
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Not Passive: “The cake is delicious.”
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Passive: “The cake was baked by the chef.”
The first sentence uses a linking verb (“is”) and doesn’t express an action, so it’s not in passive voice. The second sentence, however, follows the structure of passive voice with a form of “to be” (“was”) and a past participle (“baked”).
How to Improve Your Writing with Passive and Active Voice
The key to using passive and active voice effectively is to understand when and why to use each one. Here are some tips for improving your writing:
1. Be Purposeful in Your Use of Passive Voice
Use passive voice when the action or the object is more important than the actor, or when the actor is unknown or irrelevant. In scientific writing, passive voice helps focus on processes or results rather than on who performed the action. However, in most cases, active voice will be clearer and more engaging.
2. Vary Your Sentence Structures
Using a mixture of active and passive voice in your writing adds variety and keeps the reader engaged. If everything is in active voice, the writing may feel too choppy. Conversely, excessive use of passive voice can make the writing feel distant. By strategically using both voices, you can make your writing more dynamic.
3. Use Active Voice for Clarity and Engagement
In most writing contexts, especially when writing for a general audience, active voice is preferred. It makes sentences shorter, clearer, and more direct, which is ideal for engaging readers and conveying information effectively.
Conclusion On Passive voice in English
Understanding the passive voice in English is crucial for refining your writing skills. While passive voice has its place in certain contexts, such as when the actor is unknown, irrelevant, or when you want to emphasize the action, overusing it can make your writing unclear, wordy, or detached. By learning when to use passive voice and when to prefer the active voice, you can craft more precise, engaging, and clear sentences.
The key to effective writing lies in balance. Both active and passive voices have their respective uses, and being purposeful in your choice will help you communicate more effectively with your audience. Active voice is typically preferred for its clarity and directness, but passive voice can be a valuable tool in scientific, formal, or academic writing.
As you continue to refine your writing, practice switching between active and passive voice, and always consider the focus of your sentence—whether it’s the doer of the action or the action itself. By mastering both voices, you can elevate your writing to be more nuanced, engaging, and powerful.
