5 Questions
In a passive voice construction, the grammatical subject expresses the...
theme or patient of the main verb
In the passive sentence 'The tree was pulled down', the subject denotes the...
patient rather than the agent of the action
What is the valence-decreasing process associated with turning an active sense of a verb into a passive sense?
Detransitivizing process
In passive clauses, what is usually expressed by the object of the verb is now expressed by the...
subject
What type of process is turning an active sense of a verb into a passive sense?
Valence-decreasing process
Study Notes
Passive Voice Constructions
- In a passive voice construction, the grammatical subject expresses the recipient of the action, rather than the performer of the action.
Characteristics of Passive Sentences
- In the passive sentence 'The tree was pulled down', the subject denotes the entity that undergoes the action, not the one that performs the action.
Valence-Reducing Process
- The valence-decreasing process associated with turning an active sense of a verb into a passive sense is called detransitivization.
Passive Clauses
- In passive clauses, the theme or patient, which is usually expressed by the object of the verb, is now expressed by the subject of the sentence.
Passive Sense Formation
- Turning an active sense of a verb into a passive sense is a type of valence-reducing process, which involves a decrease in the valency of the verb.
Test your knowledge of passive voice with this quiz! Practice identifying and using passive voice constructions in sentences. Improve your understanding of grammar and language structure.
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