Hello there, I'm a language expert with a keen interest in the intricacies of grammar and sentence structure. Today, I'll be discussing the passive voice, a fascinating aspect of English grammar that shifts the focus from the doer of an action to the receiver of that action. Let's dive into some examples to illustrate how it works.
Passive Voice Examples:

1. The cake was eaten by John. - Here, the focus is not on John (the subject), but on the cake (the object), which was acted upon.

2. The book was written by J.K. Rowling. - The emphasis is on the book, not on the author who performed the action of writing.
3. **The flowers were watered by the gardener.** - The action of watering is performed by the gardener, but the sentence puts the flowers in the spotlight.

4. The letter was received by me yesterday. - The letter is the focus, not the person who received it.
5. **The painting was admired by everyone in the gallery.** - The painting is the subject of admiration, not the people who admired it.

6. The report was completed last week. - The time of completion is highlighted, rather than the person who completed it.
7.
The windows were cleaned by the janitor. - The janitor is the one who cleaned, but the windows are the center of attention.
8.
The homework was finished before dinner. - The focus is on the completion of the homework, not the student who did it.
9.
The car was stolen last night. - The car is the object of the crime, not the thief.
10.
The song was sung beautifully. - The song is the subject, not the singer.
Characteristics of Passive Voice:
- The subject is the receiver of the action, not the doer.
- The verb is in a form that shows it is being done to the subject, often using "be" or "get" plus the past participle.
- The agent (the doer of the action) can be included after the verb with a preposition like "by" or it can be left out if it's not important or unknown.
Advantages of Passive Voice:
- It can be used to emphasize the receiver of the action rather than the doer.
- It is useful when the doer is unknown or unimportant.
- It can make a sentence more formal or polite.
Disadvantages of Passive Voice:
- Overuse can lead to confusing or wordy sentences.
- It can obscure the responsibility for the action.
- It is often considered less direct and forceful than the active voice.
When to Use Passive Voice:
- When the action is more important than the actor.
- When you want to protect someone's feelings or avoid assigning blame.
- In scientific or academic writing where the focus is on the process or result, not the researcher.
- When the doer is unknown or irrelevant.
Active vs. Passive Voice:
While the active voice is more common and often preferred for its directness and clarity, the passive voice has its place. Understanding when and how to use each can greatly enhance your writing and communication skills.
Now, let's transition into the Chinese translation of the above explanation.

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Active voice. In most English sentences with an action verb, the subject performs the action denoted by the verb. These examples show that the subject is doing the verb's action. Because the subject does or "acts upon" the verb in such sentences, the sentences are said to be in the active voice. Passive voice.read more >>