MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

Which of the following describes a passive voice sentence?

1. A sentence where the subject performs the action

2. A sentence where the subject receives the action

3. A sentence with no subject

4. A sentence that expresses a command

The correct answer is: A sentence where the subject receives the action

A passive voice sentence is characterized by the subject receiving the action rather than performing it. In this construction, the focus shifts from the doer of the action to the receiver, creating a sense of distance between the action and the subject. For example, in the sentence "The ball was thrown by the boy," the ball (the subject) is receiving the action of being thrown, while the boy (the doer) is introduced via a prepositional phrase. This highlights how the passive voice directs attention to the action's recipient rather than to the agent performing the action. In contrast, a sentence where the subject performs the action defines the active voice, where the agent is the focal point. A sentence with no subject does not adhere to standard sentence structure, while a sentence that expresses a command typically uses an imperative form, directing the subject to take action.