Which of the above underlined verb phrases use passive structure ? Choose any that do. a) is used b) makes your meaning c) keeps the sentences d) are also more con

Question

Active voice is used for most non-scientific writing. Using active voice for the majority of your sentences makes your meaning clear for readers, and keeps the sentences from becoming too complicated or wordy. Even in scientific writing, too much use of passive voice can cloud the meaning of your sentences.Sentences in active voice are also more concise than those in passive voice because fewer words are required to express action in active voice than in passive.While active voice helps to create clear and direct sentences, sometimes writers find using an indirect expression is rhetorically effective in a given situation, so they choose passive voice.

Q9 - Which of the above underlined verb phrases use passive structure ? Choose any that do.

a) is used b) makes your meaning c) keeps the sentences d) are also more concise e) are required to express f) helps to create g) is rhetorically effective  

Answer 1

You can easily spot a passive structure by looking for the verb "to be" (am, are, is, was, were, have been, has been, will have been, would have been, etc.) together with the participle (the third verb form, e.g. seen, gone, shown, eaten, written, etc.).

In this case, your passive structures are the following:

a) is used

e) are required to express

In each case you have the verb "to be" in combination with the participle: is used, are required.

The others are not a passive structure, because they either use an active verb (makes, keeps, helps) or they use the verb "to be" with an adjective (are concise, is effective).

I hope this helps you identify the passive structure more easily in the future!