Passive Voice Example

Passive voice is known as a mode of expression word structure and syntax in which the subject of a sentence is the one who receives the action of the verb. Sentences that are structured with this type of voice are known as passive sentences or passive voice sentences.

When a sentence is in the passive voice, the subject is the one who directly receives the action expressed by the verb. So this type of subject is known as a patient subject: because he does not perform the action, but receives it. This is the main characteristic of the passive voice: this type of voice is what tells us that the subject is patient in relation to the verb. We can say that it is a taxable person because it does not act, but rather they act on it.

Verbs in passive sentences are always transitive verbs; these types of verbs are those that are complemented by a direct object that completes the idea of ​​the verb. In the case of passive voice sentences, it is not a direct object but the subject himself who receives the action and completes the idea of ​​the verb.

This is explained in the following passive voice examples:

• Water (patient subject) it was drink (transitive verb in passive voice).

The subject "Water" is a patient subject because he does not perform the action (to drink), but the action acts or falls on the subject (someone drinks the water).

• Survivors (patient subject) they were rescued (transitive verb in passive voice).

The subject, "The survivors", is a patient subject because he does not perform the action (rescue), but the action falls on him (they rescue the survivors).

In passive sentences, the person who performs the action of the verb, as we have already seen, is not the subject of the sentence. Who performs the action of the verb is an agent complement; it is called this way because it is a complement of the sentence that is agent or active in relation to the action of the verb. Usually, the agent complement is introduced by the preposition for. Let's see some examples:

• The marathon (patient subject) was won (verb in passive voice) by the athlete (agent complement).

"The marathon" is the patient subject who receives the action of the verb (to win). Who performs the action is the agent complement "for the athlete".

• My sister (patient subject) was promoted (verb in passive voice) by his boss (agent complement)

"My sister" is a patient subject because action (promote) falls on him. Whoever performs this action is an agent complement: "by his boss."

To better understand the passive voice, it is important to distinguish it from the active voice, in which the subject of the sentence is the one who performs the action of the verb. This type of subject that performs the action is called the agent subject. We see the difference from the previous sentences:

• Passive voice prayer: The marathon (patient subject) was won (verb in passive voice) by the athlete (agent complement).

Active voice prayer: The athlete (agent subject) won (active verb) the marathon (direct object).

• Passive voice prayer: My sister (patient subject) was promoted (verb in passive voice) by his boss (agent complement).

Active voice prayer: The boss (agent subject) promoted (active verb) to my sister (direct object).

As we can see in these examples, when we transform a passive voice sentence into an active voice sentence, the patient subject (the one who receives the action) becomes the direct object of active prayer. What's more, the agent complement of passive prayer (the one who performs the action) becomes the agent subject of active sentence (a subject who performs the action).

Types of passive voice: passive periphrastic and passive reflex

With the passive voice you can form two types of passive sentences:

1) Passive peripheral voice

Passive Periprastic Sentences are formed with the conjugation of the verb to be and a transitive verb in participle (ending in –ado, -ido, -to, -so, -cho). This type of sentence can contain an agent complement that indicates who performs the action; as we have already seen, the complement is introduced with the preposition for.

Examples of passive peripheral voice sentences:

• The data They were (verb to be) collected (participle) by researchers.
• The content They were (verb to be) imparted (participle) in order of importance.
• The stars They were (verb to be) observed (participle) by astrologers.
• Dictionary It was (verb to be) consulted (participle) by the student.
• Home It was (verb to be) graffiti (participle) of white.

2) Reflex or passive passive voice with I know

Passive voice sentences reflect, also passive calls with I know, are the sentences in which the subject is patient (receives the action of the verb) and are formed by the pronoun I know and a conjugated transitive verb.

Examples of passive reflex sentences:

• Letters (passive subject) I know (pronoun I know) they lost (conjugated transitive verb).
• The cakes (passive subject) I know (pronoun I know) Do you sell (conjugated transitive verb).
• The reflection (passive subject) I know (pronoun se) he saw (conjugated transitive verb) in the mirror.
• An improvement in wages (passive subject) I know (pronoun I know) got (conjugated transitive verb) last week.
• The cell phone (passive subject) I know (pronoun I know) decomposed (conjugated transitive verb).

60 Examples of passive voice sentences:

1. The computer was formatted by the systems technician.
2. The ball was thrown by the star player.
3. The sheets were cleaned in the laundry room.
4. The seat was upholstered with a new fabric.
5. The horse was trained by the trainer.
6. The lenses were graduated by the eye doctor.
7. The mail was sent by the institution.
8. The pants were sewn by the seamstress.
9. The battle was won by the opposing side.
10. The dog was adopted by a family.
11. The stairs were climbed by the children.
12. The music was heard by the attendees.
13. The film was praised by critics.
14. The camera was adjusted by the photographer.
15. The girl was combed by her mother.
16. The work was organized by a competent team.
17. The research was published in a specialized journal.
18. The town was listed as a World Heritage Site.
19. The popular legends were written in an anthology.
20. The story was read aloud by all the students.
21. The movie was watched by thousands of people around the world.
22. The schedule was readjusted to accommodate everyone's needs.
23. The bottle was drunk by all the friends.
24. The fair was organized by the municipal government.
25. The monument was preserved by specialists.
26. The hat was bought to be used in the theatrical performance.
27. The soldiers were relocated after the defeat.
28. The offices were remodeled for rent.
29. Peace was achieved after mutual agreements.
30. The fish were put in a fish tank.
31. Freedom is achieved with education.
32. The library opened last year.
33. The flowers withered from lack of watering.
34. The birth of their first child was eagerly awaited.
35. The rhythm was achieved after the band practiced a lot.
36. The air was polluted by toxic waste.
37. The beverage machine broke down due to lack of maintenance.
38. The lovers' eyes met.
39. The silence was broken by the shouts of the crowd.
40. The books became damp from the seepage of water.
41. The results were obtained after hard work.
42. Unreported taxes were collected.
43. The sale of smart phones spread in the market.
44. The glasses were broken by accident.
45. The new laws passed were put to a vote.
46. The facilities of the old house were remodeled.
47. The papers were printed in different colors.
48. The bank went bankrupt after the crisis.
49. E-books are marketed on different virtual platforms.
50. The building's structure collapsed due to internal damage.
51. The painting was sold at auction.
52. The child cooed to the song of his mother.
53. The shoes wore out from constant use.
54. At Christmas my brother bought a new car.
55. The musicians shared the money they got from the concert.
56. The lady's laughter was heard throughout the restaurant.
57. The tension of the moment was felt in the environment.
58. Works by national and foreign painters were exhibited in the gallery.
59. Lies are easily told and truths are difficult to tell.
60. A thunderous sound was heard from the neighbor's house.