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Passive - Theory

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2 views2 pages

Passive - Theory

Uploaded by

kkinga348
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PASSIVE VOICE

The reasons for using passive:

1. Emphasis is on what happened, not who did it.


Obama was voted the first black president.

2. You don’t know who did the action or the person is unimportant
Fire was invented a very long time ago – even before I was born.

3. To stay/appear objective, scientific, technical or logical.


Her clothes were soaked and her suitcase was broken.

4. To appear diplomatic – especially when a mistake has been made.


An error has been made and we plan to right that wrong.

5. To make rules and instructions seem less personally direct.


Bicycles may not be parked against these railings. Rather than: You may not park bicycles against these railings.

6. To go on talking about the same person or thing.


He waited for two hours; then he was seen by a doctor; then he was sent back to the waiting room.

7. To avoid beginning sentences with long or heavy subjects.


I was annoyed by John trying to tell everybody what he thought. Rather than: John trying to tell everybody what he
thought annoyed me.

COMPARE:
I like photographing / I like being photographed
I want to pay / I want to be paid
I must pay / I must be paid

Note how see, hear, make and let form passive voice:
Active – Passive
I saw her coming/come out of her house at two o’clock- She was seen to come out of her house at two o’clock
I have never heard her say a kind word.- She has never been heard to say a kind word.
They made us lie on the floor.-We were made to lie on the floor.
She let the dog go outside.-The dog was allowed to go outside.
WATCH OUT

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