Passive example sentences

"Passive" Example Sentences

1. The building was being renovated while I was passing by. (passive voice)
2. Renovations were being performed on the building. (passive voice)
3. I was given a raise at work last month. (passive voice)
4. The raise was approved by the manager. (passive voice)
5. Mistakes were made during the project. (passive voice)
6. Active voice should be used whenever possible to make writing more direct and concise.
7. The couch was sat on by my cat all afternoon. (passive voice)
8. My homework was finished by me last night. (passive voice)
9. The door was left unlocked. (passive voice)
10. Active voice shows more responsibility and accountability.
11. Passive voice can obscure who performed an action.
12. The package had already been delivered by the time I got home. (passive voice)
13. Passive voice is most appropriate when the doer of the action is unknown or unimportant.
14. The problem will be solved by the engineers. (passive voice)
15. 30 employees were laid off from the company last month. (passive voice)
16. By using active voice, a sentence's meaning becomes more direct and clear.
17. Nobody told me the news. (passive voice)
18. The news was not told to me by anyone. (passive voice)
19. Active voice is considered better style in most cases.
20. The experiment has already been completed. (passive voice)
21. Passive voice can make writing dull and wordy.
22. My car was hit while I was parked on the street. (passive voice)
23. Active voice uses fewer words and requires less mental effort to process.
24. The package was delivered late. (passive voice)
25. John broke the vase. (active voice)
26. The vase was broken by John. (passive voice)
27. I am frustrated that my ideas are so often ignored. (passive voice)
28. My ideas are ignored too frequently. (passive voice)
29. The burglar was caught by the police. (passive voice)
30. The police caught the burglar. (active voice)
31. Errors were made in the final version. (passive voice)
32. We made errors in the final version. (active voice)
33. The report will be finished by Friday. (passive voice)
34. We will finish the report by Friday. (active voice)
35. The old car was fixed by the mechanic. (passive voice)
36. The mechanic fixed the old car. (active voice)
37. The assignment was completed on time. (passive voice)
38. I completed the assignment on time. (active voice)
39. Active voice engages the reader more than passive voice.
40. Passive voice creates a detached, impersonal tone.
41. Active voice adds energy and vitality to writing.
42. Passive voice forms use a form of "to be" and the past participle.
43. Active voice forms use the subject and a main verb.
44. Passive voice removes agency and responsibility.
45. Passive voice can be helpful to downplay or omit the doer of an action.
46. The movie was enjoyed by everyone. (passive voice)
47. Everyone enjoyed the movie. (active voice)
48. Passive voice was used excessively in that report.
49. That report used passive voice excessively. (active voice)
50. The report has already been written. (passive voice)
51. I have already written the report. (active voice)
52. The mistake was soon discovered. (passive voice)
53. Someone soon discovered the mistake. (active voice)
54. Active voice draws the reader in and makes the subject matter come alive.
55. Passive voice creates a detatched, indifferent tone.
56. The window was broken this morning. (passive voice)
57. Someone broke the window this morning. (active voice)
58. The rule was followed by all students. (passive voice)
59. All students followed the rule. (active voice)
60. Active voice should be used whenever possible for maximum impact and clarity.

Common Phrases

1. The subject was a passive observer in the experiment.
2. The dog lay on the floor in a passive state.
3. His passive attitude angered his coworkers who wanted him to take initiative.
4. The couch potato lifestyle promotes passivity and laziness.
5. The woman had a passive demeanor and rarely spoke up in meetings.
6. Passive smoking is just as dangerous as smoking directly.
7. We need to take an active role rather than a passive one.
8. Workers demanded a more active role and objected to the management's passive style.
9. The company has a passive policy on recycling that relies mainly on employee initiative.
10. The coach tried to motivate players out of their passive state by challenging them.
11. A passive income stream would give him financial security.
12. He built up a passive income from rental properties and investments.
13. Passive resistance proved more effective against the new laws.
14. The device uses voice recognition instead of a passive keypad.
15. Passive monitoring of students' online activity is controversial.
16. The voice activated software provided an alternative to the standard passive keyboard.
17. The politician employed a passive style during the debate.
18. His leadership style is rather passive and hands-off.
19. Companies prefer an active sales approach over a more passive one.
20. The new set design involved more passive and less active elements.
21. The building was swept for passive surveillance devices.
22. Passive verbs should be replaced with more active word choices.
23. The plant was portrayed in a passive role in the photosynthesis diagram.
24. She took on a passive victim role in the relationship.
25. The children were given passive roles as onlookers during the science experiment.
26. The safety features include passive restraints like airbags.
27. The court ruled that the police used excessive and unnecessary passive restraints.
28. In passive restraint systems, no action is required by the occupant.
29. Electronics manufacturers aim for low power passive components.
30. The speaker adopted a more passive stance on the controversial issue.
31. The victim played a passive role in the altercation.
32. She portrayed herself as a passive victim of circumstance.
33. The passive voice is sometimes preferable for formal or objective writing.
34. Use the active voice instead of the passive wherever possible.
35. In passive sentences, the subject receives the action.
36. The patient underwent triple bypass surgery yesterday. (passive voice)
37. The doctors performed triple bypass surgery on the patient yesterday. (active voice)
38. "Was" and "been" are common verbs used in the passive voice.
39. The letter had been written before we arrived. (passive voice)
40. Someone wrote the letter before we arrived. (active voice)
41. Avoid beginning sentences in the passive voice.
42. The package had been delivered while I was at work. (passive voice)
43. Someone delivered the package while I was at work. (active voice)
44. Passive sentences often have an "agentless" subject.
45. The active voice engages readers more than the passive voice.
46. Turn passive verbs and structures into their active counterparts.
47. Passive voice sentences are useful when the agent is unknown or unimportant.
48. The passive voice creates a detachment between subject and action.
49. Interest rates have been lowered by the central bank. (passive voice)
50. The central bank lowered interest rates. (active voice)
51. Many students struggle to distinguish between active and passive voice.
52. The window had been left open all night. (passive voice)
53. Someone left the window open all night. (active voice)
54. Be cautious of using too much passive voice in your writing.
55. Check your writing for passive voice sentences that could be made active.
56. Use passive voice sparingly and strategically in your writing.
57. The package was delivered by the courier service this morning.
58. Passive constructions are useful for creating an objective tone.
59. The girl was praised for her accomplishments. (passive voice)
60. They praised the girl for her accomplishments. (active voice)