Phil Druker/ Department of English/ UI

 

PASSIVE  SENTENCES
Phil Druker/  University of Idaho
                     

Avoid Passive Sentences when possible.

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Active sentences:

-- Bob broke the window.    << Active and personal
-- Bob will break, breaks....  << any tense/ time– 
-- Ron made mistakes.              focus on actor (Ron) + action (made)

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 Passive sentences:

        –The window was broken by Bob.    << Official/ impersonal
          be broken, is broken….                  << any tense/ time
        –Mistakes were made (by Ron, by someone).   << focus on the thing {the mistake}

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Is passive always bad? No. It often is useful and needed.
Passive sentence example Comment
The test will be completed by me. Why not write “I completed the test"<if you are so important"> or "The test was completed." <no emphasis on you but readers could wonder who completed the test>
On the line, the bolts are adjusted to the correct tightness.  Who cares who “tightens the bolts?" Does it matter?  No. So passive is ok here.
Cars will be made from plastic in the future. Focus is on cars not who makes them: this works here.

 
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How can you tell if a sentence is passive?

To have a passive sentence, you need 3 things:

 (1) BE (is/ are/ was/ were/ been/ be)  +  (2) VERB + (3) Past Form

•was                             shocked

•will be                         found <past/irregular

•has been                     determined

•is                                requested

 

Are these sentences passive?

1. He was electrocuted. Yes: 1+ 2+3
2. She had received the award.  No: No Be verb (1)
3. They are tabulating the results. No: no past form (3)
4. The results are being tabulated. Yes: 1+2+3
5. Ralph completed the test. No: Be verb (1)
6. The test has been completed.  Yes: 1+2+3

 

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