Passive Structures
FUNCTIONS OF THE PASSIVE VOICE
The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or object that experiences an action rather than the person or object that performs the action. In other words, the most important thing or person becomes the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLES
- The passive voice is used frequently. (= we are interested in the passive voice, not in who uses it.)
- The house was built in 1654. (= we are interested in the house, not in who built it.)
- The road is being repaired. (= we are interested in the road, not in the people who are doing the repairs.)
Sometimes we use the passive voice because we don't know or do not want to express who performed the action.
EXAMPLES
- I noticed that a window had been left open.
- Every year thousands of people are killed on our roads.
- All the cookies have been eaten.
- My car has been stolen!
The passive voice is often used in formal texts. Switching to the active voice will make your writing clearer and easier to read.