Active vs. Passive Verbs
* Active Verbs: The subject of the sentence performs the action.
* Example: "The dog chased the ball." (The dog is the subject, and it is doing the chasing.)
* Passive Verbs: The subject of the sentence receives the action. This is formed using the verb "to be" (is, are, was, were, etc.) + the past participle of the main verb.
* Example: "The ball was chased by the dog." (The ball is the subject, and it is being chased.)
How to Identify Passive Verbs:
1. "To be" + Past Participle: Look for the structure "is/are/was/were/been + verb ending in '-ed' or '-en' or '-t'." (e.g., "was chased," "has been written")
2. "By" Phrase: Often, a passive sentence will include a "by" phrase that indicates the agent performing the action (though it's not always present).
Examples of Passive Verbs:
* The house was built in 1920.
* The cake has been eaten.
* The book will be published next month.
Why Use Passive Voice?
Sometimes, the passive voice is used to emphasize the object of the action rather than the performer, or to avoid mentioning the performer.
Important Note: While passive voice is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound awkward or vague. Active voice is generally preferred for clear and concise writing.