Understanding When and How to Use the Passive Voice

When using the passive voice, the subject of a sentence is acted upon by the verb. In other words, the object of the sentence becomes the subject. For example, in the sentence "The ball was thrown by the boy," the subject of the sentence is "the ball," and the object of the sentence is "the boy." The verb "was thrown" is in the passive voice.

There are a few reasons why you might use the passive voice in your writing. One reason is to focus on the action or state of being rather than the person or thing that is performing the action. For example, you might use the passive voice to describe a natural disaster, such as a flood or an earthquake. In this case, the focus of the sentence is on the action (the flood or the earthquake) rather than on the person or thing that is causing the action (the natural forces).

Another reason you might use the passive voice is to avoid assigning blame or responsibility. For example, you might use the passive voice to describe a mistake that was made at work. In this case, you might not want to say who made the mistake, so you would use the passive voice to avoid assigning blame.

The passive voice can also be used to make your writing sound more objective and less opinionated. For example, you might use the passive voice to describe a scientific experiment or a historical event. In this case, you want to avoid injecting your own opinion into the sentence, so you would use the passive voice to make it sound more objective.

However, there are also some times when you should avoid using the passive voice. One reason is that the passive voice can make your writing sound weak and indirect. For example, if you use the passive voice too often, your writing might sound like you are avoiding taking responsibility for your own actions.

Another reason to avoid using the passive voice is that it can make your writing sound boring and repetitive. For example, if you use the passive voice to describe a series of events, your writing might sound like a list of events rather than a story.

Overall, the passive voice can be a useful tool in your writing, but it is important to use it sparingly and only when necessary. If you use the passive voice too often, your writing might sound weak, indirect, or boring.

Here are some tips for using the passive voice effectively:

• Use the passive voice sparingly.

• Use the passive voice when you want to focus on the action or state of being rather than the person or thing that is performing the action.

• Use the passive voice to avoid assigning blame or responsibility.

• Use the passive voice to make your writing sound more objective and less opinionated.

• Avoid using the passive voice too often, as it can make your writing sound weak, indirect, or boring.