Passive voice emphasizes receivers of actions from "summary" of Basic English Grammar For Dummies - UK by Geraldine Woods

Passive voice is a construction in which the receiver of an action is the grammatical subject of a sentence. This means that the focus is on the person or thing that is affected by the action rather than the person or thing that is performing the action. For example, in the sentence "The cake was eaten by John," the focus is on the cake (the receiver of the action) rather than John (the performer of the action). By using passive voice, writers can emphasize the receiver of the action and downplay the performer. This can be useful in situations where the performer is unknown, unimportant, or already known to the reader. For example, in a scientific paper, the focus may be on the results of an experiment rather than the person who conducted the experiment. In this case, passive voice allows the writer to emphasize the results without drawing attention to the experimenter. Passive voice can also be used to create a sense of formality or objectivity in writing. By focusing on the receiver of the action rather than the performer, passive voice can create a sense of detachment and impartiality. This can be useful in academic writing, legal documents, or other contexts where objectivity is valued. However, it is important to use passive voice judiciously. Overusing passive voice can make writing sound dull and bureaucratic. Active voice, in which the performer of the action is the subject of the sentence, is generally more direct and engaging. It is important to strike a balance between passive and active voice to ensure that writing is clear, engaging, and appropriate for the intended audience.

Basic English Grammar For Dummies - UK

Geraldine Woods

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