Passive voice is a grammatical voice construction that is found in many languages. In a clause with passive voice, the grammatical subject expresses the theme or patient of the main verb, which means that the person or thing that undergoes the action is emphasized rather than the person or thing that performs the action. In the passive voice, the subject is acted upon by some other performer of the verb. Passive voice constructions are formed using a form of the verb "to be" and the past participle of the main verb.

The passive voice is often used in formal texts, and it is useful when the performer of an action is unknown, or when the subject is distracting or irrelevant. It is also used to show interest in the person or object that experiences an action rather than the person or object that performs the action. However, the passive voice can sometimes weaken the impact of writing, and it can make the meaning of a sentence unclear.

In general, the active voice is considered stronger, more direct, and more active than the passive voice. In the active voice, the sentences subject performs the action. The active voice is usually more effective for most types of writing, such as emails, blog posts, and many kinds of essays. However, there are times when the passive voice is necessary, such as in scientific and legal contexts, or when the recipient of an action is more important than the actor.

To identify the passive voice, look for a form of "to be" followed by a past participle. If youre not sure whether a sentence is active or passive, use the rules outlined above.