THE PASSIVE VOICE IN ENGLISH

6 years ago

 The PASSIVE VOICE is often used in English – more often than it is used in other languages – as a way to avoid naming the subject, either because the subject is unknown or irrelevant, or else. However, there’s instances when a passive voice is used for other purposes – and the subject becomes the agent of the action. 
  
Can you think why a speaker would use the passive voice+by+agent instead of the active voice+subject? Read the following examples and compare the connotations or shades of meaning conveyed in both cases - then write your ideas about it here :)

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

ACTIVE: I keep the butter in the fridge.
PASIVE: The butter is kept in the fridge.

ACTIVE: They stole the painting.
PASIVE: The painting was stolen.

ACTIVE: They are repairing the road.
PASIVE: The road is being repaired.

ACTIVE: Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.
PASIVE: Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.

ACTIVE: A dog bit him.
PASIVE: He was bitten by a dog.

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