General knowledgeAsked by Anonymous23 Oct 2026, 3:00 AM ISTUpdated
In one line
We use passive voice to focus on the action or the receiver, not who did it.
The rule
In passive voice, the subject receives the action, not does it.
For example: The ball was hit by Virat. (passive) instead of Virat hit the ball. (active).
Let's understand it simply
Imagine you are watching a cricket match. If you care about the ball, you say, "The ball was hit for a six!" You don’t mention who hit it. Sometimes, who did the action is not important, not known, or you want to hide it. Passive voice lets you do that.
Active vs Passive Voice
Active Voice
Passive Voice
Who is the focus?
Doer (subject)
Receiver (object)
Example
Virat hit the ball.
The ball was hit by Virat.
Verb form
Simple past
Was/were + past participle
How it works
The object of the active sentence becomes the subject in passive.
The verb changes to a form of "be" + past participle (like "was hit").
The doer (the person who did the action) is either left out or added at the end with "by".
The focus shifts from the doer to the receiver of the action.
The story behind it
Passive voice has been used in English for centuries. It helps writers and speakers change focus in a sentence. It is common in science, news, and formal writing, where the action or result matters more than who did it.
Where you see it in real life
News reports: "A new bridge was built in the city." (Who built it is not the focus)
Science experiments: "The solution was heated to 80°C." (Focus on what was done)
Instructions: "The rice should be washed before cooking." (Anyone can do it)
Crime reports: "The shop was robbed last night." (Robber may be unknown)
School notices: "The exam has been postponed." (Who postponed is not important)
Why it matters
Makes writing more formal and objective.
Useful when the doer is unknown or not important.
Helps focus on the result or receiver of the action.
Common in exams, official letters, and reports.
Common mistakes
Using passive voice when active voice is clearer. ("The ball was hit by Virat" is longer than "Virat hit the ball.")
Forgetting to change the verb form correctly. ("The ball is hit" vs "The ball was hit")
Overusing passive voice, making writing dull or confusing.
Remember it
Passive voice is for when the action or receiver matters more than who did it.
Check yourself
Why do scientists often use passive voice in their reports?
Because the focus is on the experiment or result, not the person doing it.
Change this to passive: 'The chef cooked the biryani.'
The biryani was cooked by the chef.
When should you avoid passive voice?
When the doer is important or you want clear, direct writing.
Quick recap
Passive voice shifts focus from the doer to the receiver.
It is useful when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or you want to hide it.
