The passive voice is often used in English, especially in more formal writing or speech. Although the passive voice does not usually change the meaning of the sentence, it does change the way the sentence sounds. Using the passive voice changes the focus of the sentence.
The passive is formed using: verb 'be' + past participle
In active sentences, the subject performs the action of the verb. It is the 'doer.'
| the doer | the verb | the receiver | |
| Alexander Graham Bell | invented | the telephone | in 1876. |
In passive sentences, the subject receives the verb, or is the result of the action of the verb. It is the 'receiver.'
| the receiver | the verb | |
| The telephone | was invented | in 1876. |
Notice that we don't need to include the original subject, the doer, in the passive sentence. We can add the doer onto the sentence by using 'by.'
| the receiver | the verb | 'by + the doer | |
| The telephone | was invented | in 1876 | by Alexander Graham Bell. |
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