KILL 37: USE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE PASSIVE
The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or object that
experiences an action rather than the person or object that performs the action.
In other words, the most important thing or person becomes the subject of the
sentence.
THE FORM OF THE PASSIVE
BE + PAST PARTICIPLE (BY + OBJECT)
Example:
The passive voice is used frequently. (= we are interested in the passive
voice, not in who uses it.)
The house was built in 1654. (= we are interested in the house, not in who
built it.)
A great deal of meaning is conveyed by a few well-chosen words.
This house was built by my father.
Sometimes we use the passive voice because we don't know or do not
want to express who performed the action.
EXAMPLES
Every year thousands of people are killed on our roads.