a passive construction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a passive construction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing grammatical structures where the subject of the sentence is acted upon rather than performing the action. Example: "In the sentence 'The book was read by the student,' 'was read' is a passive construction."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Illustrating the difference between the passive and active voices, he uses the sentence "A rhinoceros ran over Donald Trump today" but admits that some might prefer a passive construction because they care more about No. 45 (Evans's preferred moniker for the President) than "a bad-tempered rhino".

The New Yorker

In the examples in 16, an event verb appears in a passive construction with a theme subject.

Lingua Sinica

Dative actions also can be expressed in a passive construction.

Autism Research

Sometimes there is no clear way to make a statement active, or sometimes you want the lighter touch a passive construction allows.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Two different variations are possible: a) The complement verb appears either in an unaccusative (passive) construction referring to a resultant state similar to the construction with 可 kě: the agent is irrelevant.

Lingua Sinica

The complement verb appears either in an unaccusative (passive) construction referring to a resultant state similar to the construction with 可 kě: the agent is irrelevant.

Lingua Sinica

Although Czech has a periphrastic passive construction (like English), colloquial word-order changes frequently produce the passive voice.

Wikipedia

For those of you keeping score at home, that last sentence contained a verbal noun, a split infinitive, an improper -ize, an inflectional comparative, a blatantly misleading word choice, at least one example of catachresis, an unnecessarily passive construction — and it ended with a preposition.

The New York Times - Magazine

He really is a master of passive construction.

Huffington Post

It is the indicator of the V-DE construction just as bei is an indicator of the passive construction in Mandarin.

Lingua Sinica

They would make decisions by consensus, and they would design a trailblazing green building, using so-called passive construction, heavy on insulation that would cut some heating bills by 90percentt.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and directness in writing, use the active voice predominantly, but recognize that "a passive construction" can be strategically employed when the actor is unknown or less important than the action itself.

Common error

Avoid relying excessively on "a passive construction", as it can make your writing sound vague, indirect, and less engaging. Instead, strive for a balance between active and passive voice to achieve clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a passive construction" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a specific grammatical structure. Ludwig AI shows that it describes sentences where the subject is acted upon, rather than performing the action, as confirmed by Ludwig AI's analysis of various examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

39%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a passive construction" accurately labels a grammatical structure where the subject is acted upon. According to Ludwig, this construction is grammatically correct and commonly used, appearing frequently in scientific and news media contexts. While the active voice is often preferred for clarity, the passive voice has its place, especially when the actor is unknown or the action is more important. Be mindful of overuse, but don't shy away from using "a passive construction" strategically to achieve specific rhetorical effects. Expert sources like The New York Times and Lingua Sinica demonstrate its valid application in diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

passive voice

Focuses on the grammatical voice rather than the structure itself.

passive sentence structure

Highlights the structural aspect of the passive voice in a sentence.

passive grammatical form

Emphasizes the grammatical nature of the passive construction.

construction using passive voice

Specifies that the construction employs the passive voice.

a sentence in the passive voice

Indicates a complete sentence utilizing the passive.

passive phrasing

Refers to the way the sentence is worded using a passive form.

the passive form of a verb

Highlights the form of the verb in a passive context.

an instance of passive voice

Highlights a specific case where the passive voice is used.

utilization of passive voice

Emphasizes the use of the passive voice in writing or speech.

a passive articulation

Describes expressing something in a passive manner.

FAQs

How can I identify "a passive construction" in a sentence?

A passive construction typically includes a form of the verb "to be" followed by a past participle. The subject receives the action, rather than performing it. For instance, in "The ball was thrown by the boy", the ball is receiving the action.

When is it appropriate to use "a passive construction"?

Use "a passive construction" when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the action rather than the actor. For example, "Mistakes were made" avoids assigning blame.

What are some alternatives to using "a passive construction"?

You can often rewrite passive sentences in the active voice to make them more direct and engaging. For instance, instead of "The report was written by the committee", try "The committee wrote the report".

Is using "a passive construction" always bad?

No, using "a passive construction" isn't inherently bad. It's a stylistic choice. However, overuse can lead to weak and unclear writing. Consider alternatives such as "passive voice" when appropriate.