PASSIVE VOICE – MENTIONING AND NOT MENTIONING THE AGENT
• NOT MENTIONING THE AGENT
1. When the identity of the agent is unknown or when the agent is the natural doer
of the action.
E.g. His car was stolen in Detroit (by a thief)
The mail was delivered to my doorstep (by the mailman)
2. When the action -or the result of it- is more importan than the doer of the action.
E.g. She found that she wasn’t being paid the same wage as her workmates
3. When the agent has already been mentioned or is understood by the context.
E.g. The manager called the employees and some of them were fired (by the
manager)
4. When the agent is “people in general”
E.g. Tickets can be purchased at the box office
5. When we wish to conceal or hide the agent’s identity to avoid assigning blame
or responsibility for a mistake, or to distance ourselves from our own action.
E.g. Errors where made during the experiment, leading to unreliable results
6. When we want to avoid giving direct orders, commands or rules.
E.g. Smoking here is forbidden
• NOT MENTIONING THE AGENT
1. When the identity of the agent is unknown or when the agent is the natural doer
of the action.
E.g. His car was stolen in Detroit (by a thief)
The mail was delivered to my doorstep (by the mailman)
2. When the action -or the result of it- is more importan than the doer of the action.
E.g. She found that she wasn’t being paid the same wage as her workmates
3. When the agent has already been mentioned or is understood by the context.
E.g. The manager called the employees and some of them were fired (by the
manager)
4. When the agent is “people in general”
E.g. Tickets can be purchased at the box office
5. When we wish to conceal or hide the agent’s identity to avoid assigning blame
or responsibility for a mistake, or to distance ourselves from our own action.
E.g. Errors where made during the experiment, leading to unreliable results
6. When we want to avoid giving direct orders, commands or rules.
E.g. Smoking here is forbidden
