The explanation of the passive on that web page is too vague. Among the
other problems (e.g., see Michael's response to this post) I think many
average users of the site would mis-read the given method of identifying a
passive ("a form of BE and a past participle"). It's quite possible that
they could mistakenly interpret simple sentences like this as passive:

"I am confused about the passive voice."

If they read "confused" as a past participle (which it sometimes is) instead
of as a subject complement ........

Paul D.

----- Original Message -----
From: David D Mulroy <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 8:52 AM
Subject: Passive Horror Stories


> At the risk of seeming very ignorant or obtuse -- I am puzzled by Bob
> Yates's citation of the definition of the passive voice from the web site,
> Plain English.  It seems to me to be a good definition, especially
> the statement that the passive voice in English is normally created with a
> form of BE and a past participle.  Yet Bob seems to imply that there is
> something wrong with the presentation.  ("It goes without saying that it
> [this section of the web site] should be avoided," he says.)  Could he or
> someone else clarify?
>
> I'm interested because ignorance of the formal and notional nature of the
> passive voice is a very common and serious problem for my students.  It is
> complicated by the fact that they do not know what the forms of verb BE
> are or what a participle is.  Now I'm beginning to wonder if I share their
> ignorance!
>
> David Mulroy
> University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
>
>
> On Tue, 30 May 2000, Bob Yates wrote:
>
> > I wish that this were true, Brock.
> >
> > "Haussamen, Brock" wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > I think one reason why the passive, like the split infinitve and the
final
> > > preposition, harden into grammar rules is that such constructions are
easy
> > > to spot; they are all essentially matters of word order.
> >
> > I suggest a visit to the Plain English site:
> > http://www.plainlanguage.gov/
> >
> > On that page you will see a link to "Getting Started"  At that page you
> > be directed to a link to WRITING USER-FRIENDLY DOCUMENTS. You will be
> > directed to the on-line version. Go to section 12, Use Active Voice.
> >
> > Here you will find the following way to recognize the passive voice.
> > (It goes without saying that it should be avoided.)
> >
> > The section begins with the following:
> >
> > In an active sentence, the person or agency who is taking an action is
> > the
> >  subject of the sentence. In a passive sentence, the person or item that
> > is
> >  acted upon is the subject of the sentence.
> >
> > . . . . . . .
> >
> > How do you identify passive sentences?
> >
> >  Passive sentences have two basic features, although both do not appear
> > in
> >  every passive sentence.
> >
> >       A past participle (generally with "ed" on the end); and
> >
> >       A form of the verb "to be."
> >
> >
> > Bob Yates, Central Missouri State University
> >
>