Mastering the Passive Voice: Techniques for Emphasis and Perception

Image in which active voice to passive, with emphasis on different parts of the sentence
The passive voice shifts focus from the subject to the action or receiver, useful for emphasizing results, maintaining objectivity, or softening tone. Mastering it helps writers control flow, clarity, and perception in communication.

1. Causative Passive Voice:

Causative structures in English involve using have, get, or make to indicate that someone is causing another person to do something. This is often seen when talking about having work done by someone else (like fixing something or performing a service).

Examples:

  • Active (Causative): She had the plumber fix the sink.

    • Here, the subject (she) is not doing the work herself. She is arranging for someone else (the plumber) to do the work.

  • Passive (Causative): She had the sink fixed by the plumber.

    • In this passive version, the focus shifts to the action or object (the sink being fixed), and the emphasis is less on who did it.

How Causative Passive Works:

  • Have + object + past participle is the typical structure.
  • The action being done is the focus in the passive.
  • This is useful for formal or indirect speech, often when the person responsible for the action is either known or unimportant.

2. Verbs of Perception in Passive Voice:

Verbs of perception include see, hear, notice, feel, watch, etc. These are used to describe actions that are witnessed by someone. In passive constructions, the focus shifts to the action being perceived rather than who is doing the perceiving.

Examples:

  • Active (Perception): They saw her leave the building.

    • The subject (they) perceived the action (her leaving). This is direct and focuses on who did the perceiving.

  • Passive (Perception): She was seen leaving the building.

    • In this passive version, the emphasis is on the action of leaving, not on who saw her. The subject (she) becomes the focus.

How Verbs of Perception Work in Passive:

  • Passive constructions with perception verbs focus on the action that is being observed.
  • Common structure: was/were + seen/heard/watched + present participle (-ing).
  • This is useful when the focus is on the action, or when the observer is not important or needs to remain unnamed.

3. Emphasis in Passive Voice:

Passive constructions are often used to emphasize the action or result rather than the doer. In formal or academic writing, it’s common to use the passive to keep the tone objective, focusing on what happened rather than who did it.

Examples:

  • Active: The committee rejected the proposal.

    • Focus is on the doer (the committee).

  • Passive: The proposal was rejected by the committee.

    • Focus is on the action (the rejection), not who did it. In this way, the object (the proposal) takes center stage.

When to Use Passive for Emphasis:

  • In situations where the doer is not important or is obvious.
  • In scientific or academic writing, where the action/results are more important than who did the action.
  • Common structure: be + past participle + by (optional).

4. Mixed Conditionals in Passive Voice:

Mixed conditionals involve hypothetical situations where we combine tenses (usually past and present) to express what might have been or what could happen based on different conditions. In passive constructions, the focus is on the action or result, not on the doer.

Examples:

  • Active (Mixed Conditionals): If they had fixed the engine, we could have used the car.

    • This sentence deals with a hypothetical past event (fixing the engine) and an unreal outcome (using the car).

  • Passive (Mixed Conditionals): If the engine had been fixed, the car could have been used.

    • Here, the focus is on the result of the engine being fixed (passive construction) rather than on who would have fixed it.

How Mixed Conditional Passive Works:

  • Common structure: If + past perfect passive (had been done), would have been + past participle.
  • This structure is used to discuss hypothetical or unreal past situations where the result or action is more important than who performed it.
  • It’s useful for talking about missed opportunities or unreal past events.

5. Modal Verbs with Perfect Tenses in Passive:

Modal verbs like must, might, could, and should can combine with perfect tenses in the passive to express speculation, obligation, or possibility about something that has already happened.

Examples:

  • Active (Modal + Perfect Tense): They could have completed the task by now.

    • This expresses the possibility that the task was completed.

  • Passive (Modal + Perfect Tense): The task could have been completed by now.

    • This passive structure shifts the focus to the task itself and speculates about its completion.

How Modal Verbs + Perfect Passive Work:

  • Common structure: modal verb (could/might/should) + have been + past participle.
  • It’s used to speculate about actions or obligations that should have been done or could have been done by a certain time.
  • Useful for talking about things in the past without focusing on who did them.

6. "It is/was" Constructions for Emphasis:

In some sentences, we use "It is/was" to add emphasis to a particular part of the sentence. This is called cleft sentence construction, where we split the sentence into two parts to highlight a particular element. In passive constructions, this technique is used to emphasize the object or action.

Examples:

  • Active: They delivered the package on time.

    • Standard active sentence focusing on who did the delivering.

  • Passive (Cleft): It was the package that was delivered on time by them.

    • This cleft sentence emphasizes what was delivered (the package), not who delivered it.

How “It is/was” Constructions Work:

  • Common structure: It is/was + object + that was done.
  • This is used to highlight specific parts of a sentence, drawing attention to the action or the object being acted upon.
  • Particularly useful in formal contexts when we want to emphasize what happened rather than who did it.

7. Passive Voice in Complex Sentences

When using complex sentences (sentences with more than one clause), passive constructions can occur in one or both clauses. This adds formality and emphasizes the actions rather than the agents (doers).

Examples:

  • Active (Complex): The teacher graded the exams, and the students received their results.

    • Two active clauses showing who did the actions.

  • Passive (Complex): The exams were graded by the teacher, and the results were received by the students.

    • Here, the focus is on what happened rather than who did the grading or receiving.

How Passive Voice Works in Complex Sentences:

  • Passive voice in both clauses focuses the reader’s attention on what was done rather than who did it.
  • This can create a more objective, detached tone, which is often useful in formal writing.

General Benefits of Using Passive Voice:

  1. Shift focus: Passive voice shifts the focus from who did the action to what happened. This is especially useful when:
    • The doer is unknown, irrelevant, or obvious.
    • The action or object is more important than the agent.
  2. Maintain formality: Passive constructions are often more formal, making them suitable for:
    • Academic or scientific writing.
    • Business reports and legal documents.
  3. Impersonal tone: Passive voice can help create an impersonal or neutral tone, which is particularly useful in:
    • Objective descriptions.
    • Instructions, guidelines, or policies.

Summary:

  • Causative passive: Focuses on something being done by someone else for you.
  • Verbs of perception: Shifts focus to the action observed, making the doer less important.
  • Emphasis in passive: Useful for drawing attention to the action/result, often in formal writing.
  • Mixed conditionals: Used for hypothetical situations, where actions and results are emphasized rather than who performed them.
  • Modal verbs in passive: Combines speculation or obligation with perfect tenses in the passive to describe what should/could have been done.
  • "It is/was" constructions: Used to highlight a specific element of the sentence.

 Advanced Causative Passive Voice Examples

In causative passive, the subject is not performing the action, but rather causing someone else to do it. This structure is used to emphasize the result or object of the action.

Examples:

  1. Active (Causative): I had the gardener water the plants.
    Passive: I had the plants watered by the gardener.

    • Explanation: Focus on the result of having the plants watered, not on the gardener.

  2. Active (Causative): The director got the actors to memorize their lines.
    Passive: The director got the lines memorized by the actors.

    • Explanation: The emphasis is on the lines being memorized, not on the actors.

  3. Active (Causative): She made the chef prepare a special dish.
    Passive: She had a special dish prepared by the chef.

    • Explanation: Focus on the dish, which is more important in this context than the chef's effort.

  4. Active (Causative): We had the mechanic fix the car.
    Passive: We got the car fixed by the mechanic.

    • Explanation: Focus shifts to the car being fixed as the main point.

  5. Active (Causative): The manager had the employees clean the office.
    Passive: The manager had the office cleaned by the employees.

    • Explanation: Focus on the clean office, which is the key result.

  6. Active (Causative): He got the company to design a new logo.
    Passive: He got a new logo designed by the company.

    • Explanation: The new logo becomes the center of attention in the passive version.

  7. Active (Causative): She made the assistant arrange the documents.
    Passive: She got the documents arranged by the assistant.

    • Explanation: Focus on the arranged documents rather than on the assistant’s action.

  8. Active (Causative): They had the electrician install the new lights.
    Passive: They had the new lights installed by the electrician.

    • Explanation: The installed lights are the key detail, with less emphasis on the electrician.

  9. Active (Causative): The professor got the students to submit their reports on time.
    Passive: The professor got the reports submitted by the students on time.

    • Explanation: Emphasizing that the reports were submitted, the doer (students) is less important.

  10. Active (Causative): The CEO had the IT team upgrade the system.
    Passive: The CEO had the system upgraded by the IT team.

    • Explanation: The focus is on the upgraded system, with less emphasis on the IT team.

Advanced Passive Voice with Verbs of Perception

When using verbs of perception in passive constructions, the emphasis is on the action being observed rather than on the person observing it.

Examples:

  1. Active: They saw the children play in the park.
    Passive: The children were seen playing in the park.

    • Explanation: Focus is shifted to the children playing, not who saw them.

  2. Active: I heard her sing at the concert.
    Passive: She was heard singing at the concert.

    • Explanation: The passive voice emphasizes her performance rather than the listener.

  3. Active: The police observed the suspect leave the scene.
    Passive: The suspect was observed leaving the scene.

    • Explanation: The suspect leaving is the important event, not who observed it.

  4. Active: The audience watched the performer dance.
    Passive: The performer was watched dancing by the audience.

    • Explanation: Focus on the performer’s dancing, minimizing the audience's role.

  5. Active: I noticed him read the letter.
    Passive: He was noticed reading the letter.

    • Explanation: The action of reading the letter becomes central in the passive form.

  6. Active: They saw the storm approach from the horizon.
    Passive: The storm was seen approaching from the horizon.

    • Explanation: The focus is on the approaching storm.

  7. Active: We heard the dog bark loudly.
    Passive: The dog was heard barking loudly.

    • Explanation: Focus on the barking of the dog rather than who heard it.

  8. Active: He felt the earth shake during the earthquake.
    Passive: The earth was felt shaking during the earthquake.

    • Explanation: Emphasis is on the shaking earth, not on the person feeling it.

  9. Active: She saw the artist paint the mural.
    Passive: The artist was seen painting the mural.

    • Explanation: Focus on the artist’s action of painting.

  10. Active: The teacher watched the students take the exam.
    Passive: The students were watched taking the exam.

    • Explanation: Focus is on the students taking the exam, not the teacher's observation.

Advanced Emphasis Using Passive Voice

In passive voice, we can emphasize either the action or the object to create formality or highlight the importance of what was done, not who did it.

Examples:

  1. Active: The artist completed the painting.
    Passive: The painting was completed by the artist.

    • Explanation: Emphasis is placed on the completion of the painting.

  2. Active: The government passed the law last year.
    Passive: The law was passed last year by the government.

    • Explanation: Focuses on the passing of the law rather than the government’s role.

  3. Active: The scientist discovered a new species of bird.
    Passive: A new species of bird was discovered by the scientist.

    • Explanation: Highlights the discovery, not the scientist.

  4. Active: The manager approved the project.
    Passive: The project was approved by the manager.

    • Explanation: Focus on the approved project, not who approved it.

  5. Active: The company released a new product last week.
    Passive: A new product was released last week by the company.

    • Explanation: The focus shifts to the new product release.

  6. Active: They built the house in just six months.
    Passive: The house was built in just six months.

    • Explanation: Focuses on the completion of the house rather than the builders.

  7. Active: The chef prepared a delicious meal for the guests.
    Passive: A delicious meal was prepared for the guests by the chef.

    • Explanation: The emphasis is on the meal, not the chef's role.

  8. Active: The students solved the math problem quickly.
    Passive: The math problem was solved quickly by the students.

    • Explanation: Focus on the solved problem.

  9. Active: They delivered the package on time.
    Passive: The package was delivered on time by them.

    • Explanation: Emphasizes the timely delivery.

  10. Active: The committee reviewed the application thoroughly.
    Passive: The application was thoroughly reviewed by the committee.

    • Explanation: Focuses on the thorough review.

Passive Voice in Mixed Conditional Sentences

Mixed conditionals involve both past and present scenarios in passive constructions, showing how past events influence hypothetical outcomes.

Examples:

  1. Active (Mixed): If they had fixed the engine, we wouldn’t be stranded now.
    Passive (Mixed): If the engine had been fixed, we wouldn’t be stranded now.

    • Explanation: The focus is on the fixed engine (or lack thereof) and its effect on the present.

  2. Active (Mixed): If she had studied harder, she wouldn’t be struggling in class now.
    Passive (Mixed): If more effort had been made by her, she wouldn’t be struggling in class now.

    • Explanation: The focus is on effort that wasn’t made, resulting in her struggle now.

  3. Active (Mixed): If they had taken the correct route, they would have arrived by now.
    Passive (Mixed): If the correct route had been taken, they would have arrived by now.

    • Explanation: Focus on the incorrect route, which is why they’re late.

  4. Active (Mixed): If the hotel had provided better service, the guests wouldn’t be complaining.
    Passive (Mixed): If better service had been provided, the guests wouldn’t be complaining.

    • Explanation: The focus is on service quality.

  5. Active (Mixed): If she had saved more money, she could afford the car now.
    Passive (Mixed): If more money had been saved by her, the car could be afforded now.

    • Explanation: Focus on the money saved, affecting her current situation.

Passive Voice with Modal Verbs and Perfect Tenses

Modal verbs combined with passive perfect tenses express obligation, speculation, or possibility about actions that should or could have been done in the past.

Examples:

  1. Active: They should have completed the project by now.
    Passive: The project should have been completed by now.

    • Explanation: Focus on the completion of the project.

  2. Active: The company could have announced the results earlier.
    Passive: The results could have been announced earlier by the company.

    • Explanation: Emphasizes the announcement rather than the company.

  3. Active: She might have prepared the report by this afternoon.
    Passive: The report might have been prepared by this afternoon.

    • Explanation: The preparation of the report is key, not who did it.

  4. Active: He must have forgotten to lock the door.
    Passive: The door must have been forgotten to be locked.

    • Explanation: Focuses on the unlocked door as a result of being forgotten.

  5. Active: They ought to have hired more employees.
    Passive: More employees ought to have been hired by them.

    • Explanation: Focus on the hiring process and what didn’t happen.

Passive Voice in Relative Clauses

A relative clause (also called an adjective clause) provides more information about a noun. When the relative clause contains a passive structure, it often emphasizes the action done to the noun.

Examples:

  1. Active: The book that they wrote was a bestseller.
    Passive: The book that was written by them was a bestseller.

    • Explanation: The passive construction emphasizes the book and the fact that it was written.

  2. Active: The car which the mechanic repaired is running smoothly.
    Passive: The car which was repaired by the mechanic is running smoothly.

    • Explanation: Focus on the repaired car, not on the mechanic.

  3. Active: The house that they built last year is now for sale.
    Passive: The house that was built last year is now for sale.

    • Explanation: The passive construction shifts the focus to the completed house.

  4. Active: The results that the team submitted were impressive.
    Passive: The results that were submitted by the team were impressive.

    • Explanation: Focus is on the submitted results, not the team's submission.

  5. Active: The documents which the lawyer prepared were essential to the case.
    Passive: The documents which were prepared by the lawyer were essential to the case.

    • Explanation: The prepared documents take the spotlight.

  6. Active: The painting that the artist created won several awards.
    Passive: The painting that was created by the artist won several awards.

    • Explanation: The painting is emphasized, not who created it.

  7. Active: The bridge which the engineers constructed can withstand heavy traffic.
    Passive: The bridge which was constructed by the engineers can withstand heavy traffic.

    • Explanation: Focus is on the constructed bridge.

  8. Active: The cake that the baker made was delicious.
    Passive: The cake that was made by the baker was delicious.

    • Explanation: The emphasis is on the cake, with less attention on the baker.

  9. Active: The letter that he wrote last week arrived yesterday.
    Passive: The letter that was written by him last week arrived yesterday.

    • Explanation: The focus is on the written letter, not on who wrote it.

  10. Active: The proposal which the committee rejected was revised.
    Passive: The proposal which was rejected by the committee was revised.

    • Explanation: Focus is on the rejection of the proposal, minimizing the role of the committee.

Passive Voice in Academic Writing

In academic writing, the passive voice is frequently used to make the writing more objective and impersonal. It allows the writer to focus on the action or result, rather than the doer.

Examples:

  1. Active: We conducted an experiment to test the hypothesis.
    Passive: An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis.

    • Explanation: Focus on the experiment and its purpose, not on the researchers.

  2. Active: Researchers have discovered a new treatment for the disease.
    Passive: A new treatment for the disease has been discovered.

    • Explanation: The emphasis is on the discovery, rather than the researchers.

  3. Active: The professor assigned the reading material for the next lecture.
    Passive: The reading material for the next lecture was assigned by the professor.

    • Explanation: Focus on the assigned material, not the professor’s role.

  4. Active: Scientists are analyzing the data from the latest tests.
    Passive: The data from the latest tests is being analyzed.

    • Explanation: The focus is on data analysis, rather than the scientists conducting it.

  5. Active: The company published the findings in a peer-reviewed journal.
    Passive: The findings were published in a peer-reviewed journal.

    • Explanation: The emphasis is on the published findings.

  6. Active: The committee has approved the new policy guidelines.
    Passive: The new policy guidelines have been approved by the committee.

    • Explanation: The focus is on the approved guidelines rather than the committee's decision.

  7. Active: The students presented their research at the conference.
    Passive: The research was presented at the conference by the students.

    • Explanation: Focus is on the presentation of the research.

  8. Active: The analysis will demonstrate the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
    Passive: The impact of climate change on biodiversity will be demonstrated by the analysis.

    • Explanation: Emphasis is on the results and findings.

  9. Active: The researchers collected samples from five different locations.
    Passive: Samples were collected from five different locations by the researchers.

    • Explanation: Focus on the samples collected, not who collected them.

  10. Active: The study has identified several factors contributing to the decline.
    Passive: Several factors contributing to the decline have been identified by the study.

    • Explanation: The study's results are emphasized.

Modal Verbs with Emphasis in Passive

Modal verbs such as must, might, could, and should can be used in passive structures to express obligation, necessity, or possibility, with emphasis on the action or outcome rather than the person responsible.

Examples:

  1. Active: You must complete the project by tomorrow.
    Passive: The project must be completed by tomorrow.

    • Explanation: The focus is on the completion of the project.

  2. Active: They should submit the report next week.
    Passive: The report should be submitted next week.

    • Explanation: The emphasis is on when the report should be submitted, not who will submit it.

  3. Active: The company could have implemented the new policy earlier.
    Passive: The new policy could have been implemented earlier.

    • Explanation: Focus is on the policy implementation and its timing.

  4. Active: You might need to reschedule the meeting.
    Passive: The meeting might need to be rescheduled.

    • Explanation: The meeting itself becomes the focus.

  5. Active: They must have finished the construction by now.
    Passive: The construction must have been finished by now.

    • Explanation: The emphasis is on finishing the construction.

  6. Active: She should have completed the project earlier.
    Passive: The project should have been completed earlier by her.

    • Explanation: The focus is on completion of the project, minimizing her role.

  7. Active: We must address the issue immediately.
    Passive: The issue must be addressed immediately.

    • Explanation: The issue takes precedence in the passive construction.

  8. Active: They might announce the new plan tomorrow.
    Passive: The new plan might be announced tomorrow.

    • Explanation: The focus shifts to the announcement of the plan.

  9. Active: You could have found the solution sooner.
    Passive: The solution could have been found sooner.

    • Explanation: The discovery of the solution is highlighted.

  10. Active: The engineer must have tested the equipment.
    Passive: The equipment must have been tested by the engineer.

    • Explanation: The emphasis is on the tested equipment, not on the engineer’s actions.

Rare and Specific Usages of Passive Verbs

Certain verbs are rarely used in the passive, but can still appear when the focus is on the action rather than the agent. These passive forms are typically used in more formal writing or specific contexts.

Examples:

  1. Active: The musician composed the symphony.
    Passive: The symphony was composed by the musician.

    • Explanation: The emphasis is on the completed symphony, not the composer.

  2. Active: The sculptor carved the statue out of marble.
    Passive: The statue was carved out of marble by the sculptor.

    • Explanation: Focus on the carved statue.

  3. Active: They manufacture millions of cars annually.
    Passive: Millions of cars are manufactured annually.

    • Explanation: The passive emphasizes the large-scale production.

  4. Active: The explorer discovered a new island in the Pacific.
    Passive: A new island was discovered in the Pacific by the explorer.

    • Explanation: The emphasis is on the discovery.

  5. Active: The artist painted the mural in vibrant colors.
    Passive: The mural was painted in vibrant colors by the artist.

    • Explanation: The focus is on the mural.

Summary of New Concepts Covered:

  1. Passive Voice in Relative Clauses: Adds more information while emphasizing the object or action.
  2. Academic Passive Writing: Used in formal contexts to focus on actions, processes, and results.
  3. Modal Verbs with Emphasis in Passive: Shifts the focus to the necessity, possibility, or completion of an action.
  4. Rare Passive Verbs: Certain actions typically expressed in active voice can also be passively constructed for formal tone or object focus.

1. Causative Passive Voice – Clarification & More Examples

Clarification:

In causative passive, you cause something to be done, but you don’t do it yourself. This structure is useful for when you want to highlight the action/result rather than the person doing the action. Common causative verbs are have and get.

  • Active Causative: She had the plumber fix the sink.

    • This means she arranged for the plumber to fix the sink, but she didn’t do it herself.

  • Passive Causative: She had the sink fixed by the plumber.

    • The passive version shifts the focus to the sink being fixed, making the result (the fixed sink) more important than who did the work.

More Examples:

  1. Active Causative: They got the electrician to repair the lights.
    Passive: They had the lights repaired by the electrician.

    • Clarification: The passive construction emphasizes the fixed lights, not the person fixing them.

  2. Active Causative: I had someone paint the house.
    Passive: I had the house painted.

    • Clarification: The passive form highlights the action (painting the house) rather than who painted it.

  3. Active Causative: The manager got the staff to prepare the presentation.
    Passive: The manager had the presentation prepared by the staff.

    • Clarification: The focus is on the completed presentation, not the staff.

  4. Active Causative: She had the mechanic check the car.
    Passive: She had the car checked by the mechanic.

    • Clarification: The passive construction emphasizes the checked car.

  5. Active Causative: They got the chef to cook a special meal.
    Passive: They had a special meal cooked by the chef.

    • Clarification: Focus on the special meal, making it the main point of the sentence.

2. Verbs of Perception in Passive Voice – Clarification & More Examples

Clarification:

Verbs of perception like see, hear, notice, feel, and watch describe what someone perceives. When used in the passive voice, the focus shifts to the action being perceived, not who is perceiving it.

  • Active Perception: I saw him leave the building.

    • This focuses on the person seeing (I) and the action (leave).

  • Passive Perception: He was seen leaving the building.

    • This focuses on the person doing the leaving and the action being observed, making the leaving the more important part.

More Examples:

  1. Active Perception: They watched the children play.
    Passive: The children were watched playing.

    • Clarification: Focus shifts to the children playing.

  2. Active Perception: She heard him sing the song beautifully.
    Passive: He was heard singing the song beautifully.

    • Clarification: Emphasis on him singing the song, not who heard it.

  3. Active Perception: The audience saw the fireworks light up the sky.
    Passive: The fireworks were seen lighting up the sky.

    • Clarification: The focus is on the fireworks lighting up the sky, not who watched it.

  4. Active Perception: We noticed the rain stop suddenly.
    Passive: The rain was noticed stopping suddenly.

    • Clarification: The focus is on the action of the rain stopping.

  5. Active Perception: He felt the earthquake shake the ground.
    Passive: The earthquake was felt shaking the ground.

    • Clarification: The emphasis is on the earthquake shaking the ground.

3. Passive Voice in Relative Clauses – Clarification & More Examples

Clarification:

A relative clause (or adjective clause) provides more information about a noun. When these clauses use passive voice, they emphasize the action or object rather than the subject.

  • Active: The book that they wrote is fascinating.

    • Focus is on who wrote the book.

  • Passive: The book that was written by them is fascinating.

    • The focus is on the book itself rather than who wrote it.

More Examples:

  1. Active: The cake that she baked was delicious.
    Passive: The cake that was baked by her was delicious.

    • Clarification: Focus is on the baked cake, not the baker.

  2. Active: The movie that they directed was a hit.
    Passive: The movie that was directed by them was a hit.

    • Clarification: Focuses on the movie rather than the directors.

  3. Active: The email that he sent contained important information.
    Passive: The email that was sent by him contained important information.

    • Clarification: The emphasis is on the email, not on the sender.

  4. Active: The job which they offered me was amazing.
    Passive: The job which was offered to me was amazing.

    • Clarification: Focus on the offered job, not the people offering it.

  5. Active: The building that they designed is very modern.
    Passive: The building that was designed by them is very modern.

    • Clarification: Focus on the modern design of the building, not the designers.

4. Modal Verbs with Passive Voice – Clarification & More Examples

Clarification:

Modal verbs like must, should, might, could, and would express obligation, possibility, or necessity. In passive constructions, the focus is on the action that must/might/should be done rather than the person doing it.

  • Active Modal: You must submit the report by Friday.

    • Focus is on who must submit (you).

  • Passive Modal: The report must be submitted by Friday.

    • Focus is on the action (submitting the report) rather than the person.

More Examples:

  1. Active Modal: They should clean the house today.
    Passive: The house should be cleaned today.

    • Clarification: Focus on the house being cleaned.

  2. Active Modal: You could finish the assignment tonight.
    Passive: The assignment could be finished tonight.

    • Clarification: Focus on the assignment being finished.

  3. Active Modal: The chef might prepare a special dish for the event.
    Passive: A special dish might be prepared for the event by the chef.

    • Clarification: The special dish is emphasized rather than the chef.

  4. Active Modal: We must solve the problem before the deadline.
    Passive: The problem must be solved before the deadline.

    • Clarification: Focus on solving the problem, not who solves it.

  5. Active Modal: They should have completed the project by now.
    Passive: The project should have been completed by now.

    • Clarification: The emphasis is on the project being completed.

5. Passive Voice with Infinitives – Clarification & More Examples

Clarification:

When an infinitive (e.g., to do, to be, to fix) is used in the passive voice, it often appears as to be + past participle. This construction focuses on what should or will happen to something, rather than who will do it.

  • Active: They expect him to finish the work by Friday.

    • Focus is on him finishing the work.

  • Passive: He is expected to finish the work by Friday.

    • The passive construction shifts the focus to the work being finished.

More Examples:

  1. Active: I want them to complete the project soon.
    Passive: They are wanted to complete the project soon.

    • Clarification: The focus is on the project being completed by them.

  2. Active: The teacher expects you to submit your homework.
    Passive: You are expected to submit your homework.

    • Clarification: The focus is on the action of submission, not on the teacher.

  3. Active: The company needs him to finish the report.
    Passive: He is needed to finish the report.

    • Clarification: The passive focuses on him finishing the report.

  4. Active: They plan to have the building renovated by next year.
    Passive: The building is planned to be renovated by next year.

    • Clarification: Focuses on the renovation of the building, not the planners.

  5. Active: We expect her to join the meeting soon.
    Passive: She is expected to join the meeting soon.

    • Clarification: The emphasis is on her joining the meeting.
  • Causative Passive: Focuses on something being done by someone else for you, emphasizing the result.
  • Verbs of Perception in Passive: Shifts focus to what was perceived, not on the person observing.
  • Relative Clauses in Passive: Adds information about a noun while emphasizing the action or result.
  • Modal Verbs in Passive: Focuses on what must/could/should be done, rather than who should do it.
  • Infinitives in Passive: Focuses on what is expected/needed to happen, making the action more important than the doer.