5 Questions
What is a passive voice construction?
A grammatical voice construction found in many languages, where the subject expresses the theme or patient of the main verb.
How does passive voice contrast with active voice?
Passive voice has the subject expressing the patient of the action, while active voice has the subject as the agent of the action.
Provide an example of a passive sentence.
The tree was pulled down.
What syntactic role does the subject take in passive clauses?
The subject now expresses what is usually expressed by the object (or sometimes another argument) of the verb.
What is the function of having both active and passive voice in many languages?
It allows for greater flexibility in sentence construction, as either the semantic agent or patient may take the syntactic role of subject.
Study Notes
Voice in Grammar
- A passive voice construction is a sentence structure where the subject receives the action described by the verb, rather than performing it.
Active and Passive Voice Contrast
- Active voice: the subject performs the action described by the verb
- Passive voice: the subject receives the action described by the verb
Passive Sentence Example
- The ball was thrown by John. (Here, "the ball" is the subject, but it is not performing the action of throwing)
Subject's Syntactic Role in Passive Clauses
- In passive clauses, the subject takes on the role of the undergoer or the recipient of the action
Function of Active and Passive Voice in Languages
- Having both active and passive voice in many languages allows for flexibility in sentence construction and emphasis
- Enables speakers to choose whether to focus on the doer or the receiver of the action, depending on the context and purpose of the communication
Test your knowledge of passive voice constructions with this quiz! Learn about the grammatical subject's role in expressing the theme or patient of the main verb. Practice identifying passive voice in sentences and understanding its contrast with active voice.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
