Why do we sometimes prefer passive voice?

In one line

The rule

In passive voice, the subject receives the action, and the doer (agent) is less important or not mentioned.

Formula: Passive: Subject + form of 'to be' + Past Participle + (by + Agent)

Let's understand it simply

Imagine you are playing cricket. If you say, "I broke the window," you are using active voice. You are telling who did it. But if you say, "The window was broken," you are using passive voice. Now, the focus is on the window, not on who broke it.

Sometimes, we care more about what happened than who did it. For example, in a crowded bus, if someone lost their wallet, we might say, "The wallet was stolen." We do not know who did it, but the action is important.

How it works

1. Decide what you want to focus on: the doer or the receiver.
2. If the receiver (object) is more important, make it the subject.
3. Use the correct form of 'to be' (is, was, were, etc.) with the past participle of the verb.
4. Add 'by' and the doer (agent) if needed, or leave it out if not important.

The story behind it

The passive voice has been used in English for hundreds of years. Writers and speakers noticed that sometimes the action or the result is more important than the person doing it. This way of speaking helps us talk about things when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.

Where you see it in real life

• News reports: "A new bridge was built in the city." (Who built it is less important than the bridge itself.)
• Science experiments: "The solution was heated to 80°C." (Focus is on the process, not the person.)
• Instructions: "The onions are chopped and fried." (Anyone can do it; the steps matter.)
• Crime reports: "The jewels were stolen last night." (The thief is unknown.)
• School announcements: "The results will be declared tomorrow." (Who declares is not important.)
• Everyday talk: "Tea is served at 5 pm." (Focus on tea, not the server.)

Why it matters

• Helps focus on the action or result, not the doer.
• Useful when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.
• Makes writing more formal and polite, often used in reports, science, and official notices.
• Needed for clear instructions and rules, like in recipes or manuals.

Common mistakes

• Using passive voice when active voice is clearer: "The ball was hit by Rahul" (better: "Rahul hit the ball").
• Forgetting to use the correct form of 'to be' ("The window broke" instead of "The window was broken").
• Making sentences too long or confusing by overusing passive voice.

Remember it

If you care more about the action or receiver than the doer, use passive voice.