4.active or passive? Using the passive voice has a number of disadvantages. It tends to sound rather formal and remote: Volunteers were sought to set up the tables. It can lead to rather complicated expressions: The opinions of staff and governors were sought and although there were some reservations it was decided that a questionnaire should be distributed to parents. Sentence 1 would be better as: They asked for volunteers to set up the tables. Sentence 2 would be simpler if it were made active: We asked staff and governors for their views. Although not everyone agreed completely, we decided to send a questionnaire to parents. On the other hand, the passive can make sentences shorter and clearer. For example, this: She was run over by a car travelling at excessive speed and overtaking on the wrong side. is better than: A car travelling at excessive speed and overtaking on the wrong side ran her over. The first sentence has a short subject She and is easy to follow. The subject of the second sentence is too long and we lose the sense before we get to the verb. It + passive Some writers like to begin a sentence with It, followed by the passive. for example, the following sentence concerns the options available to a woman who has been attacked: It is considered that in the last resort it is to civil remedies that she should have recourse. This is ‘lawyer talk’. It is better to be direct and use the active voice: We believe that in the last resort she will have to sue her attacker. In some situations, however, the construction can be useful: It is believed that similar reserves exist along the coast. The writer may well not have a clear idea of exactly whose opinion is being quoted, although it is evident that the belief is widespread or well established. Admin: Mêñtør ÄñTør __________m@Th
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 14:09:20 +0000
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