The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action, rather than the performer of the action. In a passive sentence, the object of a transitive verb in an active sentence becomes the subject, and the original subject (the doer) is either omitted or introduced by the preposition 'by'.
For example, in the active sentence, 'The government implemented new policies,' the government is the doer. In the passive voice, this becomes, 'New policies were implemented by the government,' or simply, 'New policies were implemented.'
Why it matters for IELTS Writing:
Using the passive voice appropriately demonstrates a good command of grammar and a range of complex structures, which contributes to your score in the Grammatical Range and Accuracy criterion. While overuse can make writing seem unclear or evasive, strategic use is beneficial:
- Emphasis: It allows you to emphasize the action or the object receiving the action, which is often crucial in academic or formal writing.
- Objectivity: It can create a more objective tone, as the doer of the action is less prominent or unknown, which is useful in reports or scientific descriptions.
- Variety: Incorporating both active and passive voice correctly adds variety to your sentence structures, preventing repetitive writing.
However, be cautious not to overuse the passive voice, as it can sometimes lead to less direct or less powerful sentences. A balanced approach, using both active and passive voice effectively, is key to achieving a higher band score.
