Hello, I'm an expert in linguistics with a particular focus on English grammar and sentence structure. Today, I'll be discussing the concept of a passive word within the context of English sentences.

A passive word is a term used to describe a word or phrase that is used in a passive construction within a sentence. In English grammar, passive voice is when the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb, rather than performing the action. This contrasts with the active voice, where the subject performs the action.

Let's delve into the characteristics and uses of passive voice:

### Characteristics of Passive Voice


1. Subject-Verb Relationship: In passive sentences, the subject is the receiver of the action, not the doer.

2. Verb Form: Passive sentences use a form of the verb "to be" followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, "was washed" in "The dog was washed."

3. By-Phrase: Often, a passive sentence includes a "by" phrase to indicate the agent performing the action, though this can sometimes be omitted if the agent is unknown or not important. For instance, "The window was broken" could imply that the agent is unknown or irrelevant.

### Uses of Passive Voice


1. Emphasis on the Action: When the action is more important than the doer, the passive voice is used to keep the focus on what happened rather than who did it.

2. Unknown Agent: When the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant, passive voice is appropriate.

3. Politeness or Formality: In formal writing or speech, passive voice can be used to avoid direct accusations or to soften statements.

4. Safety and Legal Documents: It's often used in safety instructions and legal documents to focus on the action that needs to be taken or avoided.

### Examples

Active: The girl washed the dog.
Passive: The dog was washed by the girl.

In the active sentence, "The girl" is the subject performing the action of washing. In the passive sentence, "The dog" is the subject receiving the action, and "The girl" is the agent performing the action, which is indicated by the "by" phrase.

### When to Avoid Passive Voice

While passive voice has its uses, it can sometimes make sentences less direct and harder to understand. It's generally recommended to use active voice for clarity and conciseness, especially in informal writing and speech.

### Conclusion

Understanding when and how to use passive voice is crucial for effective communication in English. It allows you to control the focus of your sentences and to convey information in a way that suits the context and purpose of your writing or speech.

Now, let's move on to the translation of the above explanation into Chinese.

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Active and Passive Sentences. A sentence is written in active voice when the subject of the sentence performs the action in the sentence. e.g. The girl was washing the dog. A sentence is written in passive voice when the subject of the sentence has an action done to it by someone or something else.read more >>