passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control.
PASSIVE definition: not reacting visibly to something that might be expected to produce manifestations of an emotion or feeling. See examples of passive used in a sentence.
'Catrin told me' is an active sentence, and 'I was told by Catrin' is passive. In a passive sentence, the subject is the person or thing affected by the action of the verb.
From Middle English passyf, passyve, from Middle French, French passif, from Latin passivus (“serving to express the suffering of an action; in late Latin literally capable of suffering or feeling”), from passus, past participle of pati (“to suffer”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₁- (“to hurt”); compare patient.
Used to describe a form of verb in which the grammatical subject is the object of the action, for example, the sentence “The government took steps.” in the passive would be Steps were taken by the government.”
Do you know how to use the passive voice to change the focus of a sentence? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.
Grammar (opposed to active) of, relating to, or being a voice, verb form, or construction that expresses an action that is done to rather than by the subject: In a passive sentence, the subject undergoes the action of the verb but does not perform it.
Definition of passive adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. accepting what happens or what people do without trying to change anything or oppose them. He played a passive role in the relationship. She wore a passive expression on her face as if she didn’t care what happened.
Learn when to use passive voice and when to avoid it with these guidelines and examples. Explore active vs. passive voice and how to identify passive voice.
Learn when to use passive voice and when to avoid it with these guidelines and examples. Explore active vs. passive voice and how to identify passive voice.