Sometimes a prepositional phrase like "by the" in the sentences above indicates that the action is performed on the subject, and that the sentence is passive. Don't assume that just because there is a form of 'be' that the sentence is passive, however. The actor moves to the end of the sentence with by or drops off altogether if it is. You can recognize passive voice because the verb phrase will include a form of be (was, am, are, been, is). Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence is now being acted upon. Another way to recognize passive-voice sentences is that they may include a "by the." phrase after the verb the agent performing the action, if named, is the object of the preposition in this phrase. The presence of a be-verb, however, does not necessarily mean that the sentence is in passive voice. (For example, the sentence 'A good time was had by all' is constructed with a passive voice, in contrast with 'Everyone had a good time,' which is constructed. You can recognize passive-voice expressions because the verb phrase will always include a form of be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been. In traditional grammar, the term passive voice refers to a type of sentence or clause in which the subject receives the action of the verb. Instead, the writing appears to convey information that is not limited or biased by individual perspectives or personal interests. Passive is better in this instance if you want to strategically avoid the. This practice helps to create the appearance of an objective, fact-based discourse because writers can present research and conclusions without attributing them to particular agents. Active is better in this instance if it is necessary to know who made the mistake. In scientific writing, however, passive voice is more readily accepted since using it allows one to write without using personal pronouns or the names of particular researchers as the subjects of sentences (see the third example above). Also, overuse of passive voice throughout an essay can cause your prose to seem flat and uninteresting. Sometimes the use of passive voice can create awkward sentences, as in the last example above. The subject of the passive voice sentence performs the action expressed in the verb in this example. Writing Letters of Recommendation for Students.
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