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− | [[File:lighterstill.jpg]] | + | [[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Hand_holding_finger.jpg|right|frame]] |
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| ==Etymology== | | ==Etymology== |
− | [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [[Latin]] passivus, from passus | + | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [[Latin]] passivus, from passus |
− | *Date: [http://www.wikpedia.org/wiki/14th_Centur 14th century] | + | *Date: [https://www.wikpedia.org/wiki/14th_Centur 14th century] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1 a (1) : [[acted]] upon by an external [[agency]] (2) : [[receptive]] to outside impressions or [[influences]] | | *1 a (1) : [[acted]] upon by an external [[agency]] (2) : [[receptive]] to outside impressions or [[influences]] |
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| :b : existing or occurring without being [[active]], open, or direct <passive [[support]]> | | :b : existing or occurring without being [[active]], open, or direct <passive [[support]]> |
| *4 : of, relating to, or being [[business]] activity in which the investor does not actively [[participate]] in the generation of income | | *4 : of, relating to, or being [[business]] activity in which the investor does not actively [[participate]] in the generation of income |
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| + | <center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Passivity''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Passivity '''''this link'''''].</center> |
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| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
| '''Passive''' [[voice]] is a [[grammatical]] voice common in many of the world's [[languages]]. Passive is used in a clause whose subject [[expresses]] the theme or patient of the main verb. That is, the subject undergoes an [[action]] or has its state changed. A sentence whose theme is marked as grammatical subject is called a passive sentence. In [[contrast]], a sentence in which the subject has the [[agent]] role is called an [[active]] sentence, and its verb is [[expressed]] in active voice. Many languages have both an active and a passive voice; this allows for greater [[flexibility]] in sentence construction, as either the [[semantic]] agent or patient may take the syntactic role of subject. | | '''Passive''' [[voice]] is a [[grammatical]] voice common in many of the world's [[languages]]. Passive is used in a clause whose subject [[expresses]] the theme or patient of the main verb. That is, the subject undergoes an [[action]] or has its state changed. A sentence whose theme is marked as grammatical subject is called a passive sentence. In [[contrast]], a sentence in which the subject has the [[agent]] role is called an [[active]] sentence, and its verb is [[expressed]] in active voice. Many languages have both an active and a passive voice; this allows for greater [[flexibility]] in sentence construction, as either the [[semantic]] agent or patient may take the syntactic role of subject. |
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| The use of passive voice allows speakers to organize stretches of [[discourse]] by placing figures other than the [[agent]] in subject position. This may be used to foreground the patient, recipient, or other thematic role. Passive voice may also be useful when the semantic patient is the [[topic]] of on-going [[discussion]]. | | The use of passive voice allows speakers to organize stretches of [[discourse]] by placing figures other than the [[agent]] in subject position. This may be used to foreground the patient, recipient, or other thematic role. Passive voice may also be useful when the semantic patient is the [[topic]] of on-going [[discussion]]. |
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− | <center>The wine is carried by the servant.<center> | + | <center>The wine is carried by the servant.</center> |
− | <center>(Compare this sentence, which gives the same information in the active voice:<center> | + | <center>(Compare this sentence, which gives the same information in the active voice:</center> |
| <center>Servus vinum portat, The servant carries the wine.) </center> | | <center>Servus vinum portat, The servant carries the wine.) </center> |
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| [[Category: Linguistics]] | | [[Category: Linguistics]] |
| [[Category: General Reference]] | | [[Category: General Reference]] |