Passive is preferable in many scientific documents, actually, where the doer of the action is less important than the action itself.
In more creative documents, however, passive is used when the doer of the action is unknown. It is also preferable if you are trying to emphasize the action part, such as being struck over the head, or de-emphasize the importance of the actor.
But, as mentioned, it is less active, less specific, more wordy/awkward/confusing, and less attached to the one doing the action--someone/thing has something acted upon them instead of someone doing an action.
Because you ought to know who said or did something in papers, teachers have often stressed it to the point of not mentioning passive voice's merits. But as in anything, overuse it and you lose its effectiveness.
If you want more, I can look it up when I return home. This is all that's currently in my brain. Hope it helps.
Depends what tone you're trying to create, I think. For example, if you're trying to make your character seem helpless/subservient/etc, use passive voice a lot, expecially at said moments. Really, I use grammar for characterization a lot. (Heh.)
Well, yes, that was the point I was making. Sometimes active really does sound better (action sequences like the example I gave are a prime example). But passive works so well for other things, too, and I wanted more examples. You're right; the POV of your piece is what really decides it (that and the mood you want in the piece).
And woah woah woah woah, who says I'm done with fanfiction?! I'm just not having time to write much of anything of late. *sigh* (Which fandom are you from . . .? *writes for several*) And yes, of course you can friend me. I never say no to new friends. ^_^ (Don't be insulted if I don't return the favor right away; I'm in a big hurry at the moment and I always need to pick a new color scheme when I friend someone, and that takes awhile. I'll do it when I get home from work today.)
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In more creative documents, however, passive is used when the doer of the action is unknown. It is also preferable if you are trying to emphasize the action part, such as being struck over the head, or de-emphasize the importance of the actor.
But, as mentioned, it is less active, less specific, more wordy/awkward/confusing, and less attached to the one doing the action--someone/thing has something acted upon them instead of someone doing an action.
Because you ought to know who said or did something in papers, teachers have often stressed it to the point of not mentioning passive voice's merits. But as in anything, overuse it and you lose its effectiveness.
If you want more, I can look it up when I return home. This is all that's currently in my brain. Hope it helps.
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And woah woah woah woah, who says I'm done with fanfiction?! I'm just not having time to write much of anything of late. *sigh* (Which fandom are you from . . .? *writes for several*) And yes, of course you can friend me. I never say no to new friends. ^_^ (Don't be insulted if I don't return the favor right away; I'm in a big hurry at the moment and I always need to pick a new color scheme when I friend someone, and that takes awhile. I'll do it when I get home from work today.)
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