States and the Passive form - The lesson
Being able to identify the passive form to describe systems
Passive: The free energy released from this series of oxidation-reduction reactions is combined with production of an electrochemical gradient that can be used to drive ATP synthesis. (26 words) Active: This series of oxidation-reduction reactions releases free energy that combines with an electrochemical gradient to drive ATP synthesis. (18 words) Kerry Evans "When not to use the passive form"
The passive form
THE PASSIVE FORM
State or action completed:
|
COMPONENT |
TO BE |
PAST PARTICIPLE/ADJECTIVE |
|---|---|---|
|
The organsims |
are |
counted. |
|
The animals |
are |
returned. |
|
The recaptures |
are |
completed. |
From the active voice structure:
|
SUBJECT |
VERB |
OBJECT |
PURPOSE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Biologists |
use |
traps |
To capture the animals. |
To the passive voice structure:
The object and subject are inverted.
The past participle of the verb is used with the auxiliary verb TO BE.
The former subject is introduced by BY (it’s the DOER) if necessary.
|
SUBJECT |
VERB |
AGENT (or doer) |
PURPOSE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The traps |
Are used |
by Biologists |
To capture the animals. |
NB: Passive sentences are sometimes impersonal.
There is no mention of the person who does the action. Only the action or function is indicated:
The biologists use the formula to calculate the population. (active)
The formula is used to calculate the population. (passive)