Front

What is the passive voice?

Back

The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb, often emphasizing the action or the recipient rather than the doer.

Front

How do you form the passive voice in English?

Back

The passive voice is formed using the verb 'to be' + past participle of the main verb. For example, 'The book was read by John.'

Front

What is the difference between 'was' and 'were' in passive constructions?

Back

'Was' is used with singular subjects, while 'were' is used with plural subjects in passive constructions.

Front

What does 'are said to' indicate in a sentence?

Back

'Are said to' indicates that something is commonly believed or reported, often used in passive voice.

Front

What is the structure of a passive sentence?

Back

A passive sentence typically follows the structure: Subject + form of 'to be' + past participle + (by + agent). For example, 'The cake was eaten (by the children).'

Front

What does 'have been' indicate in a passive construction?

Back

'Have been' indicates that an action was completed at some point in the past and has relevance to the present.

Front

What is the role of the agent in a passive sentence?

Back

The agent in a passive sentence is the doer of the action, often introduced by the preposition 'by'. It can be omitted if it is unknown or irrelevant.

Front

What is an example of a sentence in the present passive voice?

Back

An example of a present passive voice sentence is: 'The letters are delivered by the postman.'

Front

How do you change an active sentence to passive?

Back

To change an active sentence to passive, identify the object of the active sentence, make it the subject of the passive sentence, and use the appropriate form of 'to be' with the past participle of the main verb.

Front

What does 'estimated to be' imply in a sentence?

Back

'Estimated to be' implies that a certain amount or number is approximated based on expert opinion or statistical analysis.