What are passive verbs?

You've probably heard of the terms passive verbs and passive voice, but do you know what they mean? Do you know how they relate to active verbs and the active voice?

You'll be relieved to know that you can understand the difference by asking just one simple question: Is the subject performing the action of the verb or receiving the action of the verb?

In order to understand this concept, you need to understand subjects and action verbs.

Note that this discussion doesn't include linking verbs. Why? The topic of active and passive only relates to action verbs, and linking verbs don't show action.

Action verbs can be written in two different "voices." These voices tell us whether the subject is performing the action (active voice) or receiving the action (passive voice).

When the subject of a sentence is performing the action of the verb, the sentence is written in the active voice.

In the following examples, the subjects are underlined and the verbs are in bold. Notice that the subjects are performing the actions. 

My grandma made this scarf.

The class took the test.

The storm demolished many buildings.

All of those sentences have active verbs. We can also say that they are in the active voice.

In all of those sentences, the subject is the doer of the action. That is the only thing a sentence needs in order for it to be written in the active voice, so all of those sentences are active. 

When the subject of the sentence is receiving the action of the verb, the sentence is written in the passive voice. 

Look over the sentences below and notice that the subjects are not doing anything. They are not performing the action of the verb. They are the ones receiving the action. 

This scarf was made by my grandma.

The test was taken by the class.

Many buildings were demolished by the storm.

All of those sentences have passive verbs. We can also say that they are written in the passive voice.

In all of those sentences, the subject is the receiver of the action. That is the only thing a sentence needs in order for it to be written in the passive voice, so all of those sentences are passive.

Many times, the doer of the action is written in a prepositional phrase (by my grandma, by the class, by the storm). However, passive verbs don't need to include the doer of the action. Notice that the sentences below don't tell us who or what performed the action.

Did you also notice that those sentences sound really lame? That brings us to our next topic...

The active voice is stronger, snappier, and more direct than the passive voice. It highlights the doer of the action. Use the active voice in your writing as your default.  

Use the passive voice when...

• You don't know who performed the action.

• You want to highlight the receiver of the action rather than the doer of the action. Steven Pinker says, "The passive is the better construction when the done-to is currently the target of the reader's mental gaze."

• Your writing is technical.

Let's see how much you know. The following quiz contains ten questions. Identify whether each sentence has a passive or active verb. 

Are you ready?

Get Started with the Quiz Here *

* This link opens a Google form with the quiz. After you answer all ten questions, you'll receive feedback letting you know which questions you got right and which questions you got wrong. Enjoy!