The agent performing the action is obvious, unimportant, or unknownĪ writer wishes to postpone mentioning the agent until the last part of the sentenceĪ writer wishes to avoid mentioning the agent at all Writers in the sciences conventionally use passive voice more often than writers in other discourses. Sometimes writers find using an indirect expression is rhetorically effective in a given situation, so they choose passive voice. To avoid mistaking active voice for passive voice, watch for the past participle used in the passive voice or use the questions above to determine who is performing the action. The "to be" verb, especially have or has, could be acting as a modal. (present progressive tense)Įxample: When I arrived home, he had already called. The sentence may be using a progressive or a perfect tense.Įxample: They are going to the store. The "to be" verb may describe a state of being, not action. The presence of a be-verb, however, does not necessarily mean that the sentence is in passive voice. Form of "To Be" + Past Participle = Passive VoiceĪ passive verb phrase will always include a form of be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been plus a past participle.Įxample: The Roman empire was invaded by barbarian tribes.Įxample: Caleb's house will be foreclosed because he is behind on his mortgage.
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