What defines passive voice?

Passive voice is defined as a grammatical structure in which the subject of the sentence receives the action rather than performing it. In this construction, the focus is shifted from who is doing the action to what is being acted upon. This is often used to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. For example, in the sentence "The book was read by the student," the book (the subject) is the one receiving the action (being read), rather than the student, who is performing the action.

Understanding passive voice is important in business communication, as it can affect clarity and impact. While it can be useful in certain contexts, excessive use of passive voice can lead to ambiguity and weaken the message. Therefore, recognizing the characteristics of passive voice, like the focus on the subject receiving the action, aids in producing more effective and direct communication.