passive sentences

[chuck4164]

What is a passive sentence?

[Casiopea]

It's when the object comes first and the subject comes last. For example, the subject is underlined and the object is in blue:

Active: Max hit Sam.
Passive: Sam was hit (by Max).

Note, "by Max" is optional (...). It doesn't need to be stated.

Use the passive to place focus on the object.

There are three steps: 1) Move the object to the front, 2) change the verb to passive, and 3) add 'by' to the subject, like this,

Active: Max hit Sam

1. Move: Sam
2. Change the verb: Sam was hit
3. Add 'by': Sam was hit by Max.

Passive: Sam was hit by Max.