As a language expert with a deep understanding of English grammar and sentence structure, I am well-equipped to discuss the intricacies of the personal passive voice. The personal passive voice is a grammatical construction that shifts the focus of a sentence from the subject performing the action to the subject receiving the action. This is achieved by using a form of the verb "to be" followed by the past participle of the main verb. It's important to note that the personal passive voice is different from the impersonal passive voice, which is what you've mentioned in your reference content.
The impersonal passive voice, as you've described, is a construction that often reduces the valency of an intransitive verb to zero by deleting the subject. This is different from the personal passive voice, which maintains the subject but changes the focus of the sentence. Let's delve into the personal passive voice in more detail.
**Step 1: Understanding the Personal Passive Voice**
The personal passive voice is used when the doer of the action is either unknown, unimportant, or less important than the action itself or the receiver of the action. It is formed by using the appropriate form of the verb "to be" and the past participle of the main verb. Here's the structure:
- Subject + was/were + past participle of the main verb
For example:
- Active: The dog bit the child.
- Passive: The child was bitten by the dog.
In this example, the focus is shifted from the dog (the doer of the action) to the child (the receiver of the action).
**Step 2: Uses of the Personal Passive Voice**
The personal passive voice is particularly useful in academic writing, formal reports, and any situation where the action or the receiver of the action is more important than the doer. It can also be used to create a sense of mystery or to deliberately avoid mentioning the doer of the action.
**Step 3: Forms of the Personal Passive Voice**
The personal passive voice can be formed in all tenses by using the corresponding form of the verb "to be" and the past participle of the main verb. Here are some examples in different tenses:
- Present Simple: The homework is done by the students.
- Past Simple: The letter was written by John.
- Present Perfect: The report has been completed by the team.
- Future Simple: The project will be finished by next month.
**Step 4: Distinction from the Impersonal Passive Voice**
While the impersonal passive voice removes the subject entirely, the personal passive voice still includes a subject but shifts the focus away from the doer of the action. The impersonal passive voice is less common and is often used in scientific or formal contexts where the action is more important than the doer.
**Step 5: Exercises to Practice the Personal Passive Voice**
To reinforce your understanding of the personal passive voice, try converting active sentences into passive ones. Start with simple sentences and gradually move to more complex ones. This will help you become more comfortable with identifying the appropriate form of the verb "to be" and the past participle for each sentence.
Step 6: Common Mistakes to Avoid
One common mistake is using the personal passive voice when the doer of the action is important or when the passive voice does not add clarity to the sentence. Another mistake is using the wrong form of the verb "to be" with the past participle. It's crucial to match the subject with the correct form of "to be" (is/was/were) and to ensure that the past participle agrees with the tense you are using.
In conclusion, the personal passive voice is a valuable tool in the English language that allows writers and speakers to shift the focus of a sentence to the action or the receiver of the action. By understanding its structure, uses, and how to form it in different tenses, you can enhance your writing and communication skills in English.

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The impersonal voice, sometimes called pseudo-passive voice, is a verb voice that decreases the valency of an intransitive verb (which has valency one) to zero. The impersonal passive deletes the subject of an intransitive verb.read more >>