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🧁english 12 review

key term - Passive voice

Citation:

Definition

Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence receives the action rather than performing it. In this structure, the focus shifts from the doer of the action to the recipient, often allowing for greater emphasis on the action itself or the person affected by it.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. In passive voice, sentences often begin with the recipient of the action, which can create a more formal tone.
  2. The agent can sometimes be omitted in passive constructions, making it unclear who performed the action.
  3. Passive voice can be useful in scientific writing where the focus is more on the process and results rather than who performed it.
  4. When using passive voice, be mindful that overusing it can lead to vague and less engaging writing.
  5. Transforming active sentences into passive voice typically involves changing the sentence structure significantly while keeping the meaning intact.

Review Questions

  • How does using passive voice change the emphasis within a sentence compared to active voice?
    • Using passive voice shifts the emphasis from who is performing the action to who is receiving it. This can highlight the impact of an action or event rather than focusing on the actor. For example, 'The ball was thrown by John' emphasizes 'the ball' and its experience rather than John's action, making it suitable for contexts where the recipient is more important than the doer.
  • In what situations might passive voice be preferred over active voice in writing?
    • Passive voice might be preferred in formal writing, such as scientific reports or academic papers, where the process or outcome is more significant than who performed it. This approach helps maintain an objective tone and allows writers to emphasize results rather than individuals. For instance, saying 'The experiment was conducted successfully' prioritizes the experiment itself over who conducted it.
  • Evaluate how excessive use of passive voice can affect a piece of writing and provide examples of improvement.
    • Excessive use of passive voice can make writing feel vague and less engaging, as it may obscure important information about who is responsible for actions. It can lead to dull prose that fails to captivate readers. To improve this, writers should balance their use of passive structures with active constructions. For instance, changing 'The report was written by Sarah' to 'Sarah wrote the report' enhances clarity and directness while maintaining engagement.