Passive Voice

Definition

Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence is acted upon rather than performing the action. This structure often shifts focus from who is performing the action to what is being acted upon, making it a useful tool in persuasive language as it can create ambiguity, deflect blame, or emphasize certain aspects of a message.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Passive voice can create a sense of detachment by removing the agent from the sentence, which can help to soften statements or avoid direct accountability.
2. In persuasive writing, using passive voice can make messages more compelling by focusing on outcomes or effects rather than on actions or actors.
3. Overusing passive voice may lead to unclear writing, causing readers to struggle with understanding who is responsible for actions.
4. In legal and formal writing, passive voice is often employed to emphasize processes over individual actions, promoting objectivity.
5. Examples of passive voice include sentences like 'The ball was thrown by John,' where the focus shifts to 'the ball' instead of 'John.'

Review Questions

• How does passive voice impact the clarity and effectiveness of persuasive writing?
  • Passive voice can both enhance and hinder clarity in persuasive writing. While it allows writers to shift focus away from the subject performing an action, this can lead to vagueness and confusion about responsibility. Writers must balance its use by ensuring that key points remain clear and that the audience understands who is taking action, thus maintaining effectiveness in persuasion.
• In what ways can passive voice be strategically used to influence an audience's perception in persuasive language?
  • Using passive voice strategically can shape how an audience perceives events and actions. By emphasizing what is affected rather than who is responsible, writers can evoke sympathy or draw attention away from accountability. For instance, stating 'Mistakes were made' rather than identifying who made them can shift blame and manipulate audience sentiment towards a more favorable view of the speaker.
• Evaluate how the choice between active and passive voice can reflect underlying power dynamics in communication.
  • The choice between active and passive voice reflects power dynamics by indicating agency and responsibility. In contexts where power is imbalanced, passive constructions may be employed to diminish agency or to obscure accountability, allowing those in power to deflect criticism. Analyzing these choices reveals deeper issues within communication structures and highlights how language can be manipulated to serve specific interests, shaping perceptions in both subtle and overt ways.

Related terms

Active Voice: A grammatical structure where the subject performs the action of the verb, making sentences more direct and vigorous.

Agent: The doer of the action in a sentence; in passive voice, the agent may be omitted or de-emphasized.

Ambiguity: The presence of two or more possible meanings within a sentence, which can be enhanced by using passive voice to obscure responsibility or intent.