Passif

Passif, a term originating from the French language and widely adopted in linguistics and related fields, describes a grammatical construction or voice where the subject of a sentence receives the action of the verb. This contrasts with the active voice, where the subject performs the action. passif sentences often employ a form of the verb 'to be' (être in French) combined with the past participle of the main verb. The passive voice shifts the focus from the doer of the action to the recipient, frequently to emphasize the action itself or the receiver's experience. It can be useful when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or intentionally omitted.

Passif meaning with examples

• The document was signed by the CEO. (Focus on the document and the action of signing.)
• Mistakes were made, but no one is taking the blame. (Emphasis on the mistakes, not the perpetrator.)
• The building is being renovated. (The renovation itself is the key point, not the renovators.)
• He was elected to the city council. (The focus is on his election.)