PASSIVE SENTENCE Meaning and
Definition
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A passive sentence, also known as a passive voice sentence, is a grammatical construction in which the subject of the sentence appears as the receiver of the action rather than as the doer of the action. In other words, the focus of a passive sentence is on the object of the action, rather than the subject performing the action.
In passive sentences, the verb is formed using a form of the auxiliary verb "to be" (such as "is," "was," "will be") along with the past participle of the main verb. This structure allows for the object of the sentence to be placed before the subject, creating a reversed word order from active sentences.
The purpose of using passive sentences can vary. It can be employed to emphasize the object or action, to show detachment or objectivity, or to redirect attention away from the subject. Additionally, it is commonly used in scientific, technical, or formal writing, as it aids in creating an impersonal tone.
For instance, in the active sentence "John baked a cake," the subject "John" performs the action of baking. However, in the passive sentence "The cake was baked by John," the subject "the cake" receives the action performed by John. The passive construction shifts the attention from John to the cake.
Overall, passive sentences are an alternative to active sentences and serve specific communicative purposes by changing the subject-object relationship and emphasizing various elements of a sentence.
Common Misspellings for PASSIVE SENTENCE
- oassive sentence
- lassive sentence
- 0assive sentence
- pzssive sentence
- psssive sentence
- pwssive sentence
- pqssive sentence
- paasive sentence
- pazsive sentence
- paxsive sentence
- padsive sentence
- paesive sentence
- pawsive sentence
- pasaive sentence
- paszive sentence
- pasxive sentence
- pasdive sentence
- paseive sentence
- paswive sentence
- passuve sentence
Etymology of PASSIVE SENTENCE
The term "passive sentence" is derived from the combination of two linguistic concepts: "passive voice" and "sentence structure".
The term "passive voice" refers to a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence receives the action of the verb rather than performing the action. In passive sentences, the subject is typically acted upon or undergoes an action, resulting in a shift of focus from the doer of the action to the receiver.
The term "sentence structure" refers to the organization or arrangement of words and phrases in a sentence. It describes how different components like subject, verb, object, and modifiers are placed in relation to each other.
By combining these concepts, the term "passive sentence" was coined to specifically refer to a sentence that features a passive voice construction, placing the emphasis on the receiver of the action rather than the doer.
