The Passive Voice Good writers are told to prefer the active voice, so what use is the passive voice? When do we use it?

The Passive Voice -- Formation Verb to be + past participle An Invisible Man is written by Ralph Ellison. An Invisible Man has been written by Ralph Ellison. An Invisible Man was written by Ralph Ellison. An Invisible Man will be written by Ralph Ellison. An Invisible Man should have been written by Ralph Ellison.

The Active Voice Ralph Ellison wrote An Invisible Man. Ralph Ellison is writing An Invisible Man. Ralph Ellison has written An Invisible Man. Ralph Ellison had written An Invisible Man. Ralph Ellison will have written An Invisible Man. Ralph Ellison should have written An Invisible Man.

Good writers are told to prefer the active voice. What’s the subject of the sentence? Good writers What’s the verb? are told But who is really doing the action? We don’t know. Who is receiving the action? Good writers.

Differentiating between subjects, verbs, and actors (or agents) and receivers is the key to understanding the passive vs. the active voice.

Good writers are told to prefer the active voice. What voice is used in this sentence? The passive Why? Good question! Take a look at the reasons for using the passive and you decide why the passive was used in the sentence.

Good reasons to use the passive 1. To focus attention on the receiver of the action rather than the performer (actor, agent) of the action. Their Eyes Were Watching God was written by Zora Neale Hurston. The next sentences will probably give more details about the book rather than the author. Often you’ll notice a by-phrase after the verb to show the agent.

2. When the agent is less important than the recipient of the action (e.g., research) Numerous experiments have been conducted to test the serial position effect.

3. When the agent is obvious from the context Small bits of information are often remembered by grouping the information into larger units, known as chunks. We know it is people who are remembering.

4. When the agent is unknown All of the cookies have been eaten! It appears that the rats’ brain cells are being altered.

5. When we want to avoid mentioning the agent Several major errors have been made in analyzing the data. Who did it? I won’t tell! Great for covering up wrongdoings or mistakes. Similar to #4.

Why the passive here? Focus on the recipient Agent not important Good writers are told to prefer the active voice. Focus on the recipient Agent not important

BTW (by the way) It’s usually less wordy and clearer. Why are good writers told to prefer the active voice? It’s usually less wordy and clearer. Action translates into dynamism.

Which is better? In 1936, a racehorse was beaten by American track start Jesse Owens over a 100 yard course, and a head start was given to the horse. In 1936 American track star Jesse Owens beat a racehorse over a 100-yard course, and the horse had a head start.

Which is better? I asked the subject of the experiment to look at the word list for one minute. The subject was asked to look at the word list for one minute.

Which is better? The researchers who did this study have made several major errors. Several major errors were made in this study.

Which is better? Workers wore out about four hundred drills a day to carve out the granite mountain of Mount Rushmore. Four hundred drills a day were worn out carving out the granite mountain of Mount Rushmore.

Which is better? People built Ankor Thom in Cambodia in the 12th century. Ankor Thom was built in Cambodia in the 12th century.

Which is better? Authorization for the use of chemical weapons was given by the leader. The leader authorized use of chemical weapons.

Which is better? My new assistant is negligent in the details of his work. My new assistant neglects the details of his work.

Which is better? Good writers are told to prefer the active voice.

Learn more on the Guide to Grammar and Writing http://grammar.ccc. commnet.edu/grammar/ Index: Passive Voice (in verbs) Quiz #51: Recognizing and Changing Passive Constructions