Grammar: Passive Voice Sentence Structure

Study Notes

In passive voice, the focus is on the action's recipient, not the performer.
The sentence structure is typically: Subject + Linking Verb + Past Participle
The doer of the action (agent) is often omitted or appears in a prepositional phrase.
Examples:
- Active: The dog bites the man.
- Passive: The man is bitten by the dog.
- Active: The company will deliver the package.
- Passive: The package will be delivered by the company.

In passive voice, the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action.
The verb agrees with the subject, not the agent.
Rules for subject-verb agreement in passive voice:
1. Singular subject: use a singular linking verb (e.g., is, was, will be).
2. Plural subject: use a plural linking verb (e.g., are, were, will be).
3. Collective nouns (e.g., team, family): treat as singular or plural depending on the context.
4. Indefinite pronouns (e.g., someone, everyone): use a singular linking verb.
Examples:
- The cat (singular) is fed by its owner.
- The cats (plural) are fed by their owner.
- The team (collective noun) is winning the game.
- Someone (indefinite pronoun) is knocking at the door.

Focus is on the action's recipient, not the performer in passive voice sentences.
Typical sentence structure: Subject + Linking Verb + Past Participle
Agent (doer of the action) is often omitted or appears in a prepositional phrase.

Singular subject: use singular linking verb (e.g., is, was, will be).
Plural subject: use plural linking verb (e.g., are, were, will be).
Collective nouns (e.g., team, family): treat as singular or plural depending on the context.
Indefinite pronouns (e.g., someone, everyone): use singular linking verb.