Emphasize the action rather than the person performing it

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 52 views

Introduction to Passive Voice

Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the recipient of the action, rather than the performer of the action, is the subject of the sentence. It is often used to emphasize the effect of an action rather than the person performing it. In this article, we will explore the use of passive voice and provide examples of how to convert sentences from active to passive voice.

Why Use Passive Voice?

Passive voice is often used in academic and technical writing to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner. It can also be used to:

Emphasize the action rather than the person performing it: For example, "The ball was thrown by John" emphasizes the action of throwing the ball rather than the person who threw it.
Convey a sense of objectivity: Passive voice can be used to report on events in a neutral or objective tone, without attributing the action to a specific person.
Highlight the effect of an action: Passive voice can be used to emphasize the effect of an action rather than the person performing it. For example, "The company was sued for negligence" emphasizes the effect of the action rather than the person who performed it.

Converting Sentences from Active to Passive Voice

To convert a sentence from active to passive voice, we need to follow these steps:

Identify the subject and the verb: Identify the subject of the sentence (the person or thing performing the action) and the verb (the action being performed).
Change the subject to the recipient of the action: The recipient of the action becomes the subject of the sentence.
Use a form of the verb "to be": Use a form of the verb "to be" (such as "was" or "were") to link the subject to the verb.
Add the preposition "by": Add the preposition "by" to indicate the person or thing performing the action.

Examples of Converting Sentences from Active to Passive Voice

Let's take the example sentence "Farmers visited school." To convert this sentence to passive voice, we need to follow the steps above:

Identify the subject and the verb: The subject of the sentence is "farmers" and the verb is "visited."
Change the subject to the recipient of the action: The recipient of the action is "school," so we change the subject to "school."
Use a form of the verb "to be": We use the form of the verb "to be" "was" to link the subject to the verb.
Add the preposition "by": We add the preposition "by" to indicate the person or thing performing the action.

The resulting sentence in passive voice is: "School was visited by farmers."

More Examples of Converting Sentences from Active to Passive Voice

Here are a few more examples of converting sentences from active to passive voice:

Active sentence: "The company was founded by John."
Passive sentence: "John founded the company."
Active sentence: "The book was written by the author."
Passive sentence: "The author wrote the book."
Active sentence: "The city was built by the ancient civilization."
Passive sentence: "The ancient civilization built the city."

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Passive Voice

While passive voice can be a useful tool in writing, there are some common mistakes to avoid when using it:

Overusing passive voice: Passive voice can make writing seem dull and unengaging. It's best to use it sparingly and only when necessary.
Using passive voice in the wrong context: Passive voice is not suitable for all types of writing. For example, it's not suitable for persuasive writing or writing that requires a strong emotional tone.
Not using the correct form of the verb "to be": Make sure to use the correct form of the verb "to be" (such as "was" or "were") to link the subject to the verb.

Conclusion

Passive voice is a powerful tool in writing that can be used to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner. By understanding how to convert sentences from active to passive voice, you can use this tool to enhance your writing and communicate more effectively. Remember to use passive voice sparingly and only when necessary, and to avoid common mistakes such as overusing passive voice or using it in the wrong context.

Introduction

Passive voice can be a complex and nuanced topic, and it's not uncommon for writers to have questions about how to use it effectively. In this article, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about passive voice, covering topics such as how to convert sentences from active to passive voice, when to use passive voice, and common mistakes to avoid.

Q: What is passive voice, and how is it different from active voice?

A: Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the recipient of the action, rather than the performer of the action, is the subject of the sentence. For example, "The ball was thrown by John" is a passive sentence, while "John threw the ball" is an active sentence.

Q: How do I convert a sentence from active to passive voice?

A: To convert a sentence from active to passive voice, follow these steps:

Identify the subject and the verb: Identify the subject of the sentence (the person or thing performing the action) and the verb (the action being performed).
Change the subject to the recipient of the action: The recipient of the action becomes the subject of the sentence.
Use a form of the verb "to be": Use a form of the verb "to be" (such as "was" or "were") to link the subject to the verb.
Add the preposition "by": Add the preposition "by" to indicate the person or thing performing the action.

Q: When should I use passive voice?

A: Passive voice is often used in academic and technical writing to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner. It can also be used to:

Emphasize the action rather than the person performing it: For example, "The ball was thrown by John" emphasizes the action of throwing the ball rather than the person who threw it.
Convey a sense of objectivity: Passive voice can be used to report on events in a neutral or objective tone, without attributing the action to a specific person.
Highlight the effect of an action: Passive voice can be used to emphasize the effect of an action rather than the person performing it. For example, "The company was sued for negligence" emphasizes the effect of the action rather than the person who performed it.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when using passive voice?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when using passive voice include:

Overusing passive voice: Passive voice can make writing seem dull and unengaging. It's best to use it sparingly and only when necessary.
Using passive voice in the wrong context: Passive voice is not suitable for all types of writing. For example, it's not suitable for persuasive writing or writing that requires a strong emotional tone.
Not using the correct form of the verb "to be": Make sure to use the correct form of the verb "to be" (such as "was" or "were") to link the subject to the verb.

Q: Can I use passive voice in fiction writing?

A: While passive voice can be useful in certain contexts, it's generally not recommended for fiction writing. Fiction writing often requires a strong emotional tone and a focus on character development, which can be difficult to achieve with passive voice.

Q: How can I practice using passive voice effectively?

A: To practice using passive voice effectively, try the following exercises:

Convert active sentences to passive voice: Take a list of active sentences and convert them to passive voice.
Write a paragraph using passive voice: Write a paragraph using passive voice to practice using it in context.
Read and analyze examples of passive voice: Read and analyze examples of passive voice in writing to see how it's used effectively.

Conclusion

Passive voice can be a powerful tool in writing, but it requires practice and skill to use it effectively. By understanding how to convert sentences from active to passive voice, when to use passive voice, and common mistakes to avoid, you can use this tool to enhance your writing and communicate more effectively.