Passive (Noun)
Meaning
The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb; "`The ball was thrown by the boy' uses the passive voice"; "`The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive".
Classification
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas.
Examples
- The sentence "The play was written by Shakespeare" is an example of the passive voice in English grammar.
- The passive is often used in scientific writing to emphasize the action rather than the person performing it.
- The teacher explained the difference between the active and passive voice to her students.
- The passive is commonly used in news headlines to focus on the event rather than the person responsible.
- The use of the passive can make sentences seem less direct or less forceful than their active counterparts.