[
UK
/pˈɑːsɪv/
]
[ US /ˈpæsɪv/ ]
[ US /ˈpæsɪv/ ]
NOUN
-
the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb
`The ball was thrown by the boy' uses the passive voice
`The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive
ADJECTIVE
-
peacefully resistant in response to injustice
passive resistance -
expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb
academics seem to favor passive sentences -
lacking in energy or will
Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself
How To Use passive In A Sentence
- Sampling of gases and vapors by active sampling on a solid adsorbent or passive sampling by diffusion is routinely done and well documented.
- He sat there passively, content to wait for his father to make the opening move.
- Since when did her quiet, passive, obedient brother ever command anyone?
- `The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive
- Such actively passive self-surrender is thus the necessary beginning of the regeneration on which loving union depends. The Times Literary Supplement
- The actress is frequently locked into playing a stoic, good-natured sufferer with a look of passive resignation about her.
- Since the dangers of passive smoking have been highlighted and smoking is becoming regarded as socially unacceptable, that is, deviant behaviour, many more people are trying to stop, and succeeding.
- A passive-aggressiveness marches through it: On one hand, Capitol doubts its salability and keeps it off the market; on the other, the label constantly attempts to justify its importance by hailing every burp and burble emanating from the recording booth. Pet Sounds : It's Not Rock 'n' Roll, But We Like It
- The past participle of a transitive verb is always passive except in such forms as _have chosen, had chosen_. Higher Lessons in English A work on english grammar and composition
- When you laugh at politicians, all you do is channel righteous anger into passive hilarity. Times, Sunday Times
