Which of the following is NOT a usage of the passive voice?

Question

a. To put the focus of the sentence on the performer of the action.

b. When the performer of the action is not known.

c. When the performer of the action is not important.

d. When we don't want to say who performs the action.

Answer 1

The passive voice places the emphasis on the person or object that receives rather than performs the action of the verb, so of the choices above, A is "not a usage of the passive voice." Writers should use the passive voice sparingly to avoid prose that is weak and imprecise.