Passive Voice

Basic Formulation:

Passive voice is formed by using a form of the verb "to be" (such as "is," "am," "are," "was," "were," "has been," "have been," "had been") followed by the past participle form of the main verb.

For example:

• Active voice: The chef bakes the cake.
• Passive voice: The cake is baked by the chef.

Subject-Verb Agreement:

In passive voice, the subject of the sentence is the receiver of the action, while the doer (if mentioned) is usually introduced by the preposition "by" or omitted.

For example:

• Active voice: They build houses. (Subject: They; Verb: build)
• Passive voice: Houses are built. (Subject: Houses; Verb: are built)

Use of "By":

If the doer of the action is mentioned, it is usually introduced by the preposition "by." However, the doer can also be omitted if it is not necessary to specify who performed the action.

For example:

• Passive voice with "by": The book was written by Jane Austen.
• Passive voice without "by": The letter was received yesterday.

Tenses in Passive Voice:

Passive voice can be used in various tenses, including present, past, and future. The form of the verb "to be" changes accordingly to match the tense of the sentence.

For example:

• Present: The report is being prepared by the team.
• Past: The cake was baked by Mary.
• Future: The project will be completed by the end of the month.

Use in Formal Writing:

Passive voice is commonly used in formal writing, such as academic papers, reports, and official documents, to maintain a sense of objectivity and focus on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer.

Avoiding Passive Voice:

While passive voice has its uses, it's often recommended to use active voice for clarity and directness in writing, especially in everyday communication and informal contexts.

Constructing the passive voice involves transforming an active sentence where the subject performs the action into a passive sentence where the subject receives the action. In passive voice constructions, the emphasis is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. Here's how to construct the passive voice in English:

Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object:

In an active sentence, the subject performs the action described by the verb, and the object receives the action.

• (Active Voice): The chef (subject) prepares (verb) delicious meals (object).

Form the Passive Voice:

To construct the passive voice, move the object of the active sentence to the subject position and add a form of the verb "to be" (am, is, are, was, were, has been, have been, had been, will be, shall be, will have been, shall have been) followed by the past participle of the main verb.

• (Passive Voice): Delicious meals (subject) are prepared (passive verb) by the chef.

Change the Verb to Past Participle:

The main verb in the passive voice is always in its past participle form.

• (Active Voice): The artist paints beautiful pictures.
• (Passive Voice): Beautiful pictures are painted by the artist.

Adjust the Auxiliary Verb (Optional):

If the active voice sentence contains an auxiliary verb (e.g., "have," "will"), include it in the passive construction as appropriate.

• (Active Voice): The team has won the championship.
• (Passive Voice): The championship has been won by the team.

Include the Agent (Optional):

In some passive constructions, you may include the agent (the doer of the action) using the preposition "by" after the past participle.

• (Passive Voice with Agent): The book was written by the author.

Adjust Tense and Aspect:

Maintain the tense and aspect of the original active sentence in the passive construction.

• (Active Voice - Future Tense): The company will launch a new product.
• (Passive Voice - Future Tense): A new product will be launched by the company.

Remember that not all active sentences can be transformed into passive voice constructions, especially those without a direct object. Additionally, the passive voice is often used in formal writing, scientific reports, and when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant.

| Tense | "To be" alakjai | Passive Voice-ban |
|---------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Present Simple | am, is, are | is (are) + V3 |
| Present Continuous | am being, is being, are being| is (are) being + V3 |
| Present Perfect | have been, has been | has (have) been + V3 |
| Past Simple | was, were | was (were) + V3 |
| Past Continuous | was being, were being | was (were) being + V3 |
| Past Perfect | had been | had been + V3 |
| Future Simple | will be | will be + V3 |
| Future Perfect | will have been | will have been + V3 |
| Conditional I | would be | would be + V3 |
| Conditional II | would have been | would have been + V3 |

Understanding the passive voice is crucial as it allows them to express actions in a different way, often providing variety and nuance to their language skills. Here's why understanding and using the passive voice is important:

Expressing Emphasis: Passive voice allows learners to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. This can be particularly useful when the focus of the sentence is on the object or when the doer is unknown or irrelevant.

Formality and Style: In many cases, the passive voice is preferred in formal writing or situations where the emphasis should be on the action rather than the doer.

Avoiding Responsibility: Sometimes, passive voice is used to avoid assigning blame or responsibility. While this might not always be the most transparent way to communicate, it's important for learners to recognize this usage in both written and spoken language.

Reporting Information: In news articles, scientific papers, or other types of reporting, passive voice is commonly used to describe events or findings without focusing on the individuals involved.

Understanding Complex Sentences: Passive voice often occurs in complex sentences, especially in written texts. By understanding the structure and function of passive constructions, learners can comprehend more complex written materials.