Introduction to Passive Voice

Passive voice is a sentence structure in which the focus is placed on the action being performed
rather than the subject performing it. Unlike active voice, where the subject is the doer of the
action, passive voice shifts attention to the receiver of the action. This is done by using a form of
the verb “to be” followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Passive voice is commonly used in formal, academic, and scientific writing because it allows for
an objective tone by emphasizing the action rather than the doer. It is also useful when the
performer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or implied. Additionally, passive constructions
can help create a more polite or indirect tone in certain situations.
However, excessive use of passive voice can make writing less direct and more complex. In
everyday communication and creative writing, active voice is often preferred for its clarity and
engagement. While passive voice is an essential part of the English language, it should be used
thoughtfully to ensure that sentences remain clear, concise, and purposeful.

Active and passive voice refer to different ways of structuring a sentence based on whether the
subject performs or receives the action. Both voices can be further classified into different types
based on tense and structure.

1. Active Voice
In active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb. This structure is direct, clear, and
commonly used in everyday communication.
Types of Active Voice Based on Tense
Each verb tense can be expressed in the active voice:
Simple Tenses
Present: She writes a book.
Present Continuous: She is writing a book.
Past: She wrote a book.
Future: She will write a book.
Continuous (Progressive) Tenses:
Past Continuous: She was writing a book.
Future Continuous: She will be writing a book.
Perfect Tenses
Present Perfect: She has written a book.
Past Perfect: She had written a book.
Future Perfect: She will have written a book.
Perfect Continuous Tenses
Present Perfect Continuous: She has been writing a book.
Past Perfect Continuous: She had been writing a book.
Future Perfect Continuous: She will have been writing a book.
2. Passive Voice
In passive voice, the focus shifts to the object receiving the action rather than the subject
performing it. The verb is typically in a "to be" form + past participle. The doer of the action
(agent) is sometimes mentioned using "by."
Types of Passive Voice Based on Tense
Simple Tenses
Present: A book is written by her.
Past: A book was written by her.
Future: A book will be written by her.
Continuous (Progressive) Tenses
Present Continuous: A book is being written by her.
Past Continuous: A book was being written by her.
Future Continuous: (Not commonly used in passive voice)
Perfect Tenses
Present Perfect: A book has been written by her.
Past Perfect: A book had been written by her.
Future Perfect: A book will have been written by her.
Perfect Continuous Tenses: (Rarely used in passive voice)
Sentences like "A book has been being written by her" are grammatically correct but awkward
and usually avoided.
Other Types of Passive Voice
Impersonal Passive Voice: Used when the doer is unknown or irrelevant.
Example: It is said that she is writing a book. (Instead of "People say that she is writing a book.")
Agentless Passive Voice: The agent (doer) is omitted.
Example: The book was written. (Instead of "The book was written by her.")
Prepositional Passive Voice: Used when the verb has a preposition.
Example: The topic was talked about. (Instead of "They talked about the topic.")
Get-Passive: Uses "get" instead of "to be" for informal situations.
Example: He got promoted. (Instead of "He was promoted.")

Conclusion
Active voice is generally preferred for clarity and directness, while passive voice is useful when
emphasizing the receiver of the action or when the doer is unknown. Understanding the different
types helps in choosing the appropriate sentence structure for different contexts.

The Lost Puppy

One day, Emma walked to the park. She saw a small puppy sitting alone near a bench.
The puppy looked scared and hungry. Emma picked up the puppy and gently stroked its fur.
She asked the people around, but no one knew whose puppy it was. A collar was worn by
the puppy, but the name tag was missing. Emma decided to take the puppy home. She fed it
warm milk, and a cozy bed was made for it.
The next morning, posters were made by Emma and placed around the neighborhood. A
phone call was received in the afternoon. The puppy’s owner had been looking for it
everywhere!
The owner came to Emma’s house and thanked her. The puppy was hugged tightly by the
owner. Emma felt happy because she had helped reunite them. The puppy wagged its tail and
licked Emma’s hand before going home.
From that day, Emma decided to help lost animals whenever she could.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Passive Voice

✅ Advantages of Passive Voice

1. Focuses on the Action or Result
Useful when the action is more important than the person doing it.
Example: "A new policy was introduced." (Focus on the policy, not who introduced it.)

2. Creates a Formal and Professional Tone

Common in academic, legal, and business writing to sound neutral and objective.
Example: "The report was reviewed carefully."

3. Avoids Blame and Sounds More Polite

Helps in diplomatic or sensitive communication.
Example: "A mistake was made." (Instead of "You made a mistake.")

4. Useful When the Doer is Unknown or Irrelevant

Helpful in crime reports, news, or situations where the subject is unclear.
Example: "The documents were stolen." (No need to specify who stole them.)

5. Common in Scientific and Technical Writing

Keeps the focus on research and findings rather than the researcher.
Example: "The experiment was conducted under controlled conditions."

❌ Disadvantages of Passive Voice

1. Can Make Sentences Wordy and Less Clear
Passive voice often requires more words than active voice.
Example: "A decision was made by the committee." (Better: "The committee made a decision.")
2. May Sound Impersonal or Distant
Can make writing feel detached or robotic?
Example: "The issue was handled." (Who handled it?)

3. Can Hide Responsibility or Avoid Accountability

Sometimes used to obscure who is responsible for an action.
Example: "Errors were made." (By whom?)

4. Less Engaging for Storytelling or Persuasive Writing

Makes writing weaker or less dynamic compared to active voice.
Example: "The ball was kicked by John." (Better: "John kicked the ball.")

5. Not Ideal for Instructions or Direct Communication

Can confuse the reader when giving directions or commands.
Example: "The files should be submitted by employees before Friday." (Better: "Employees
should submit the files before Friday.")

Conclusion
✅ Use passive voice when the action is more important than the subject, when formality is
needed, or when the doer is unknown.
❌ Avoid overusing passive voice in casual, persuasive, or instructional writing, as it can make
sentences unclear or impersonal.
Overcomplication of Passive Voice
❄What is Overcomplication of Passive Voice?
Definition: Overcomplication occurs when passive constructions make sentences unnecessarily
long, confusing, or indirect.
Key Point: While the passive voice has its uses, overusing it can hinder clarity and
understanding.
❄Why is Overcomplication a Problem?
✅Reduces Clarity: Reader may not know who performed the action.
✅Adds Unnecessary Words: Passive sentences often become wordy.
✅Weakens Impact: Active sentences sound more direct and engaging.

❄Examples of Overcomplicated Passive Voice

Overcomplicated: "The report was completed by the team after discussions were held regarding
the requirements."
Simplified (Active): "The team completed the report after discussing the requirements."

❄When Passive Voice is Acceptable (Optional but useful for context)

When the doer is unknown:
"The documents were stolen."
When the doer is unimportant:
"The building was constructed in 1990."
When you want to emphasize the action or object:
"The vaccine was developed in record time."

❄Tips to Avoid Overcomplication

✅ Identify the subject (who is doing the action).
✅ Use active voice when clarity is more important.
✅ Reserve passive voice for appropriate contexts.
✅ Read sentences aloud to check for clarity.
1. Mixing Active and Passive Voice
Switching between passive and active voice in the same context can make writing feel messy or
confusing. It’s better to keep it consistent.
Example: "The report was written by Sarah. Then, she presented it to the team." (One sentence
is passive, the other is active.)
Better: "Sarah wrote the report and then presented it to the team." (Both are active, making it
more consistent.)

2. Unclear Responsibility
Passive voice sometimes makes it unclear who is responsible for an action. This can be a
problem in formal writing, such as reports or legal documents.
Example: "The rules were broken." (Who broke them?)
Better: "The players broke the rules." (Now we know who is responsible.)

3. Overuse or Underuse of Passive Voice

Passive voice is useful in some formal writing, like scientific reports, but in everyday speech or
storytelling, using too much of it can sound awkward. However, avoiding it completely isn’t
always the best choice either.
- Good use in formal writing: "The experiment was conducted in a controlled environment."
(This sounds fine in a scientific report.)
- Awkward in casual speech: "A joke was told by my friend at the party."
- Better: "My friend told a joke at the party." (This sounds more natural.)

Conclusion
Passive voice isn’t always wrong, but using it too much can make writing unclear, boring, or
inconsistent. In most cases, active voice is better because it is clearer, shorter, and more
engaging.
Recommendations for Using Passive Voice Effectively

1. Use Passive Voice When the Action Matters More Than the Doer
Example: "A new policy was introduced." (Focuses on the policy, not who introduced it.)

2. Use It for Formal, Academic, or Scientific Writing

Passive voice sounds more objective and professional.
Example: "The experiment was conducted successfully."

3. Use It to Avoid Blame or Sound More Polite

Example: "A mistake was made." (Instead of "You made a mistake.")

4. Use It When the Doer is Unknown or Irrelevant

Example: "The package was delivered." (No need to specify who delivered it.)

5. Avoid Overusing It in Everyday Writing

Too much passive voice can make writing unclear or impersonal.
Example: "The decision was made by the manager." (Better in active: "The manager made the
decision.")

Feedback on Using Passive Voice

✔ Good Use:
When writing scientific, legal, or formal documents.
When the focus should be on the result rather than the subject.
When trying to maintain a neutral or professional tone.
✖ Needs Improvement:
Avoid using it when clarity and directness are important.
Overuse can make writing sound vague or impersonal.
In storytelling or persuasive writing, active voice is often better.
1. Present Simple:
Active: Aye Aye writes a letter.
Passive: A letter is written by Aye Aye.
2. Past Simple:
Active: Nyein Thu completed the project.
Passive: The project was completed by Nyein Thu.
3. Future Simple:
Active: He will deliver the package.
Passive: The package will be delivered by him.
4. Present Continuous:
Active: They are watching a movie.
Passive: A movie is being watched by them.
5. Past Continuous:
Active: Hnin Wai was baking a cake.
Passive: A cake was being baked by Hnin Wai
6. Present Perfect:
Active: Mg Mg has finished the assignment.
Passive: The assignment has been finished by Mg Mg.
7. Past Perfect:
Active: They had cleaned the house.
Passive: The house had been cleaned by them.
8. Future Perfect:
Active: Our leader will have prepared the report.
Passive: The report will have been prepared by our leader.