Introduction: Why Your Writing Style Matters

In your everyday conversations, you probably use the "Active Voice" most of the time (e.g., "I broke the vase"). However, when you step into the world of Senior Secondary English (HKDSE), you are expected to write like a professional. Whether you are writing a formal report for Paper 2 or a proposal in Paper 3, the Passive Voice and Objective Writing are your best friends. They help you sound impartial, formal, and authoritative.

Don't worry if this sounds a bit "heavy" right now! By the end of these notes, you will understand how to flip your sentences around to impress the examiners.


1. What is the Passive Voice?

In an Active sentence, the subject does the action. In a Passive sentence, the subject receives the action.

The Formula:
\( \text{Object of Active Sentence} + \text{to be} + \text{Past Participle (V3)} + (\text{by} + \text{Agent}) \)

Example:
Active: The principal (subject) signed (verb) the letter (object).
Passive: The letter (subject) was signed (be + V3) by the principal.

Quick Review: The "By-Phrase"

We only use "by..." if the person doing the action is actually important to the meaning. If the "doer" is obvious, unknown, or unimportant, we leave it out!

Key Takeaway: Use the passive voice when the action is more important than the person doing it.


2. Step-by-Step: Converting to Passive

If you find it tricky to form passive sentences, follow these three steps:

  1. Identify the Object: Find the thing receiving the action and move it to the front.
  2. Check the Tense: Look at the original verb. Is it present? Past? Future? Your "be" verb must match that tense. (For a deep dive into tenses, see the chapter on "Tenses and time reference").
  3. Add the V3: Use the Past Participle form of the main verb (e.g., eaten, broken, conducted, chosen).

Common Tense Changes:
- Present Simple: The report is written.
- Past Simple: The report was written.
- Present Perfect: The report has been written.
- Future: The report will be written.


3. Why Use Passive Voice in the HKDSE?

The HKDSE syllabus emphasizes Register and Formality. There are three main reasons to use the passive voice in your writing:

A. To be Objective and Formal

In academic writing (Language across the Curriculum), we want to focus on facts, not people.
"The experiment was conducted" sounds more professional than "I did the experiment."

B. When the "Doer" is Unknown or Obvious

If a crime is committed, we might not know who did it.
"The shop was robbed last night." (We don't need to say "by a thief" because it's obvious!)

C. To Be Diplomatic (Avoiding Blame)

In workplace communication (Paper 3), you might want to report a mistake without pointing fingers.
Active: "You made a mistake in the budget." (Aggressive)
Passive: "A mistake was made in the budget." (Polite and professional)

Did you know? Using the passive voice is a key feature of objective writing, which is specifically assessed in your Writing and Integrated Skills papers!


4. Objective Writing: The "Hidden Author"

Objective writing means writing without personal bias or emotion. It is the opposite of "subjective" writing, which is full of feelings and "I" statements.

How to stay objective:
  • Avoid personal pronouns: Instead of "I think..." or "In my opinion...", use "It is believed that..." or "Research suggests...".
  • Use Precise Wording: Instead of "The party was great," use "The event was successful and well-attended."
  • Focus on Evidence: Use data and facts from the Data File (for Paper 3) rather than your own feelings.

Memory Aid: Think of yourself as a news reporter. A reporter just gives the facts; they don't say "I feel sad that the rain ruined the sports day." They say, "The sports day was postponed due to inclement weather."


5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even top students make these mistakes. Watch out for them!

  • Wrong Past Participle: Remember that many verbs are irregular. It is "The news was spread," not "spreaded." It is "The decision was taken," not "took."
  • Forgetting the "Be" Verb: You cannot say "The window broken." You must say "The window was broken."
  • Overuse: Don't make every sentence passive. This makes your writing hard to read. Use it for formal reports, but stick to active voice for stories or personal letters.
  • Confusing the Subject: Always check if your verb agrees with the new subject.
    \( \text{The apple (singular) is eaten.} \)
    \( \text{The apples (plural) are eaten.} \)

6. Summary: Choosing the Right Voice

How do you decide which one to use in your exam?

Use ACTIVE Voice when...
  • You are writing a Short Story (Paper 2 Part B).
  • You want to sound energetic and direct.
  • The person doing the action is the most important part.
Use PASSIVE Voice when...
  • You are writing a Formal Report, Proposal, or Letter to the Editor.
  • You are describing a Process (e.g., how a product is made).
  • You want to sound Objective and Unbiased.

Quick Review Box:
Objective: Factual, no "I", uses passive voice.
Subjective: Personal, uses "I", emotional.
Passive Formula: \( \text{be} + \text{V3} \)

Note: For more information on how to link these sentences together, check out the chapter on "Connectives, cohesion and sentence variety".