VIP Class Notes (Li)

Passive voice continued + article

Passive voice

Grammar

subject verb object – active voice 

The man robbed the bank.

object verb subject – passive voice 

The bank was robbed.

to be (in different tenses) + past participle 

was stolen 

were eaten 

Passive voice – articles/formal/academic writing/impersonal situations 

– emphasis on the object in the active voice

-subject/noun is usually missing

-objective/formal -> impersonal

-if used in newspaper headlines then it can change the focus to the subject

– A stronger tone – “Smoking is banned”, “Littering is forbidden”

Active voice – spoken/informal/expressing opinion/personal

-clear, concise

-has a more informal tone

-used in spoken language 90% of the time

-if it’s used in the news then the reporters are reporting more facts than speculation