passive voice
Action-undergone sentence form
Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject receives the action rather than performing it: The ball was thrown rather than He threw the ball.
The agent may be omitted entirely: Mistakes were made.
This evasion makes passive voice useful for deflecting responsibility or emphasizing results over actors.
Writers are often advised to prefer active voice for directness, though passive has legitimate uses—especially in scientific writing, where the focus is on what was done rather than who did it.
Completed action form
- auxiliary verbVerb modifying main verb
- to beInfinitive of existence
- subjectMatter under discussion
- agentOne who acts independently
construction · syntax · transform · nonactive · receives · object · tense · mood
Of unknown origin
- unspecifiedNot explicitly named
- obscuredMade hard to perceive
- backgroundedGiven less prominence
- omittedLeft out intentionally
indefinite · generalized · indirect · vague · ambiguity · noncommittal · indirectness · unfocused
Emotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- disinterestedFree from personal stakes
- uninvolvedNot taking part
- neutralNot favoring any side
- indifferentLacking interest or concern
dispassionate · unemotional · objective · unbiased · apathetic · stoic · unresponsive · unconcerned
Not forceful or bold
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- meekHumbly unassertive
- docileEasily controlled or taught
compliant · yielding · acquiescent · reticent · diffident · demure · reserved · shrinking
- in accordance withConforming to guidelines
- with respect toAbout a topic
- academic writingFormal research communication
- bureaucraticExcessively procedural
past participle
Completed action form
- auxiliary verbVerb modifying main verb
- to beInfinitive of existence
- subjectMatter under discussion
agent · construction · syntax · transform · nonactive · receives · object · tense · mood · structure
anonymous
Of unknown origin
- unspecifiedNot explicitly named
- obscuredMade hard to perceive
- backgroundedGiven less prominence
omitted · indefinite · generalized · indirect · vague · ambiguity · noncommittal · indirectness · unfocused · elusive
aloof
Emotionally withdrawn, uninviting
- disinterestedFree from personal stakes
- uninvolvedNot taking part
- neutralNot favoring any side
indifferent · dispassionate · unemotional · objective · unbiased · apathetic · stoic · unresponsive · unconcerned · disengaged
unassertive
Not forceful or bold
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- meekHumbly unassertive
docile · compliant · yielding · acquiescent · reticent · diffident · demure · reserved · shrinking · mousy
according to sources
- in accordance withConforming to guidelines
- with respect toAbout a topic
- academic writingFormal research communication
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