But if one knows how to maximize the use of the active and the passive voice, it can be as effective as being diplomatic with an erring company, or keeping your relationship free from stress.
Here are a few examples.
Active: Your office gave me a mobile phone that doesn't work.
Passive: A mobile phone was given to me by your office.
Active: You left the garbage bag sitting in the kitchen all night.
Passive: The garbage bag has been left sitting in the kitchen all night.
Active: Our school canceled classes due to H1N1.
Passive: Classes were canceled by our school due to H1N1.
Active: Krissy baked those biscuits last night.
Passive: Those biscuits were baked by Krissy last night.
Notice how the object of the active sentence becomes the subject in the passive sentence.
There are many technical explanations why a person should or should not use the passive voice. Check out "English With Jennifer", a very thorough video that explains all the reasons for its purpose:
Based on my own observation, passive helps immensely when you want to be indirect to avoid confrontation, lessen the emotional impact of what you wish to convey and/or distance yourself from accountability for your statement. Of course there are occasions where you shouldn't beat around the bush and must go straight to the point and be direct, making the active voice appropriate. In my opinion, the idea of the active and passive sentences also gives writers and speakers an alternative for their technique in stringing words together.
Wife to husband, scenario 1:
"You did not pay the bills on time. How can you overlook this?"
Wife to husband, scenario 2:
"The bills have not been paid on time (wife's thought bubble: '...by you'). How can this be overlooked (wife's thought bubble: '...by you')?"
Diplomacy could save the day.
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