We already took up three ways by which the passive voice can change this basic clause pattern: (1) make the indirect object the subject of the sentence: "Roberto was given a tender hug by Alicia."; ...

When the subject of a sentence isn't doing something, the verb is passive. On the other hand, a sentence is active when the subject performs the verb (action). For example, in this sentence the ...

The first is the "it" cleft, which exhibits the pattern "It + be + [subject ... by "what," and is always the subject of a passive-voice sentence. Clefts are potent, high-energy devices for ...

When the subject of a sentence isn't doing something, the verb is passive. On the other hand, a sentence is active when the subject performs the verb (action). For example, in this sentence the ...