Why Was the Road Crossed by the Chicken?
English speakers like straightforward, clear communications. They prefer the subject first. They want the verb - in active voice - second:
"(You) Feed your snakes before you go to bed."
"I love you."
"I thought he was talented, but undisciplined."
On some level, they think people who delay or omit the subject sound stiff or weasely. Sentences distorted in this way require a wordy two-verb form called passive voice, and they make ideas harder to remember.
Still, some people keep using the structure, in an attempt to sound dignified. Others use it to deflect blame, to gloss over sources or to mislead, as in Ronald Reagan's "Mistakes were made."
Passive in practice requires putting the object or receiver of a sentence first - NOT the subject. A similar construction arranges the delay by starting with "there" or with "it" when "it" doesn't refer to anything.
The passive verb following the object/receiver always includes a form of "to be" - yes, the same "to be" that's in the third example of active voice. But, this "to be" goes with the past participle of another verb, as in "were expected," "are encouraged" and "will be held." Sometimes you can identify the verb's subject only by asking, "By or for whom?"
Your snakes must be fed before your bed is gone to. (By/by whom?)
You are loved. (I need a name!)
There was thought to be talent, but it was a concern that he seemed undisciplined. (Okay. Who's passing all the judgments?)
To make a passive sentence active, simply flip-flop its subject with the initial object/receiver. Or, if the subject is missing, ask questions!
More details about passive voice are on the Web site at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_actpass.html.
Kathleen Ward
Communications Specialist
Kansas State University
kward@oznet.ksu.edu
