IL PASSIVO in INGLESE - Una Spiegazione CHIARA!

JoEnglish2 minutes read

The passive voice shifts focus from the doer of an action to the action itself or its recipient, as seen in examples like "The song was written by John Lennon." It is formed using the verb "to be" followed by the past participle and is useful when the doer is unknown or irrelevant, with practical exercises available in a dedicated Facebook group.

Insights

  • The passive voice shifts the focus from the doer of the action to the action itself or its recipient, as seen in the example "The song was written by John Lennon," highlighting how this construction can change the emphasis in a sentence and is particularly useful when the doer is unknown or unimportant, such as in "My bike was stolen yesterday."
  • Forming the passive voice involves using the verb "to be" in conjunction with the past participle of the main verb, allowing for flexibility across different tenses, such as "I am paid every month" in the present or "I will be paid on Monday" in the future, which underscores its versatility in English grammar.

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Recent questions

  • What is passive voice in grammar?

    Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. In passive voice sentences, the subject receives the action instead of performing it. For example, in the sentence "The book was read by Mary," the emphasis is on the book being read, not on Mary as the reader. This contrasts with active voice, where the subject performs the action, such as "Mary read the book." The passive voice is often used when the doer is unknown, irrelevant, or less important than the action itself.

  • How do you form passive voice?

    To form the passive voice, you need to use a form of the verb "to be" followed by the past participle of the main verb. This structure allows you to shift the focus from the doer to the action or the recipient. For instance, in the present tense, you might say, "The cake is baked by the chef," where "is" is the present form of "to be," and "baked" is the past participle of "bake." In the past tense, it would change to "The cake was baked," and in the future, it would be "The cake will be baked." This construction can be adapted to various tenses, making it versatile for different contexts.

  • When should you use passive voice?

    The passive voice is particularly useful when the doer of the action is unknown, irrelevant, or when you want to emphasize the action itself rather than who performed it. For example, if you say, "The documents were lost," it does not matter who lost them; the focus is on the fact that the documents are lost. This can be especially helpful in formal writing or scientific contexts where the action is more important than the actor. Additionally, using passive voice can create a sense of objectivity and neutrality in your writing, which is often desired in academic and professional settings.

  • What are examples of passive voice?

    Examples of passive voice include sentences where the subject is acted upon rather than performing the action. For instance, "The song was sung by the choir" emphasizes the song rather than the choir. Other examples include "The homework was completed by the students" and "The car was repaired by the mechanic." In each case, the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action, rather than the doer. This construction can be used in various tenses, such as "The project is being reviewed" (present progressive) or "The results will be announced tomorrow" (future passive), showcasing its flexibility in different contexts.

  • Why is passive voice important in writing?

    The passive voice is important in writing because it allows for a shift in focus from the doer to the action or the recipient, which can enhance clarity and emphasis in certain contexts. It is particularly valuable in formal writing, scientific reports, and academic papers where objectivity is crucial. By using passive voice, writers can avoid assigning blame or responsibility, which can be beneficial in sensitive situations. Additionally, it can help maintain a neutral tone, making the writing more professional. Understanding when and how to use passive voice effectively can improve the overall quality and impact of your writing.

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Summary

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Understanding and Using the Passive Voice

  • The passive voice is used to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer, as illustrated by the example "The song was written by John Lennon," where the focus is on the song rather than who wrote it. This contrasts with the active voice, which specifies the subject performing the action, such as "John wrote the song."
  • To form the passive voice, always use the verb "to be" followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, in the present tense, "I am paid every month" uses "am" (the present form of "to be") and "paid" (the past participle of "pay"). In the past tense, it would be "I was paid," and in the future, "I will be paid."
  • The passive voice can also be used in various tenses, including present progressive and future forms. For instance, "Breakfast is being served now" uses the present progressive, while "I will be paid on Monday" demonstrates the future passive construction.
  • When the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant, the passive voice is preferred. For example, "My bike was stolen yesterday" does not specify who stole the bike, focusing instead on the action of the bike being stolen.
  • Practical exercises for mastering the passive voice can be found in a Facebook group mentioned in the text, where users can practice various sentences and constructions related to the passive voice.
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