How can I reliably and accurately identify the passive voice in writing or speech?

Question

How can I *reliably* and *accurately* identify the passive voice in writing or speech? I'm not interested in advice about whether or not to use it yet... I just want to know for sure what it is, so that I don't look as stupid as <a href="http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2524">these people</a>.

Answer 1

The passive voice consists of a form of the verb to be and the past participle of the main verb.

For example, She was discovered by many to be a great writer.

The verb to be is "was" and the past participle is "discovered."

When these two elements appear together, you have the passive voice.

Are you satisfied with this explanation?