Passive sentences move the focus of the sentence from the subject to the object.

  • Someone stole my medicine! (active)

  • My medicine was stolen! (passive)

Possible reasons for using the passive are:

The agent is not important

  • The clinic was closed when I went. (who closed the clinic is not important)

  • I can't use the elevator because it is broken down. (what caused it to break down is not important)

  • I couldn't buy any cough drops because they were sold out. (who sold all the cough drops is not important)

The agent isn't known

  • His surgery was postponed. (we do not know who postponed the surgery)

  • My right arm was broken when I was working yesterday. (we do not know who or what broke the arm)

  • My bag has been taken. (we do not know who took my bag)

The agent is not needed or already understood

  • The patient was diagnosed at the clinic. (of course, the doctor diagnoses the patient)

  • Penicillin was discovered decades ago. (of course, Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin)

  • The pharmacy is used quite a bit in this area. (of course, people use the pharmacy)

Review - The Active and Passive Voices 1

Mark explains the uses of the active and passive voices

Because of the above reasons, it is usually not important to include "by + agent" at the end of a passive sentence.

  • My bag was stolen by somebody.

  • The patient was diagnosed by her doctor in 1997.

  • Surgery is performed by surgeons in the ER.

In informal language, we can avoid using the passive by using the impersonal subjects like "you" or "they." In this meaning, we use the following subjects:

  • You = people in general
  • We = people in general including the speaker
  • They = people in an authority position (government, police, etc.) This is also used to exclude the speaker and listener and refer to another unrelated group of people.

  • They made this hospital in 1997. (active)

    • This hospital was made in 1997. (passive)

  • You can use the medicine in the daytime. (active)

    • The medicine can be used in the daytime. (passive)

  • We dispense medications in my pharmacy 24/7. (active)

    • Medications are dispensed in my pharmacy 24/7. (passive)

It is very common for past participles to be used as adjectives.

  • The patient is healed.

  • I am so tired right now.

  • She was really surprised when I told her the diagnosis.

  • The patient’s arm is scratched.

Review - The Active and Passive Voices 2

Mark explains the uses of the active and passive voices

Exercise

Using what you have learned about active and passive voices, complete the activity.

Exercise

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