Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive depending on the usage. How do you know if a verb is transitive or intransitive? A good dictionary should tell you.

This passive sentence is technically correct, but you won’t often hear indirect objects used with the passive.

Active: I slept in my bed (indirect object).

Happen is intransitive, so it can’t be used in the passive.

Passive: It was happened something funny.

Active: Something funny happened (no object).

This works because ‘hit’ is transitive.

Since an intransitive verb doesn’t use a direct object, an intransitive verb can’t be used in a passive sentence. Therefore, you need a direct object in order to use the passive. How does this relate to the passive? Remember that in a passive sentence, the object takes the place of the doer. (An indirect object usually comes after a preposition, like in.) But still, there is no direct object in the sentence. You don’t sleep something you just sleep! Keep in mind that an intransitive verb can use an indirect object. For example, in the sentence I was sleeping, the verb sleep doesn’t use a direct object. For example, in the sentence I broke the glass, the glass is a direct object because it is directly affected by the verb broke.Īn intransitive verb doesn’t use a direct object. Now that you know the basics of the passive, you’ll need to consider one more thing: transitive versus intransitive verbs. In example 4, naming Linda might embarrass her, so we can use the passive instead to focus on the situation rather than the person at fault.It may be more polite not to name the doer.In this way, the passive can be used to discuss production and manufacturing. We know farmers grow crops, so we don’t have to include the doer. In example 3, the topic is the corn rather than the farmers who grow it.The doer doesn’t need to be mentioned, because it is understood/implied.In example 2, I didn’t see who stole my wallet.In this way, the passive is often used to discuss injuries. In example 1 above, I hope I am more important than the car that hit me! By using a passive sentence, I focus on myself rather than the car.The object is more important/relevant than the subject.There are several reasons why we might prefer to use the passive: Active: Linda in HR sent the contract to the wrong person.Passive: The contract was sent to the wrong person.Passive: Corn is grown in Iowa (by farmers).We often omit the doer, but it can be included after the preposition ‘by’. In a passive sentence, the subject is no longer the doer. In that case, we can change the structure of the sentence to the passive voice. Sometimes we don’t want to include the doer in the sentence. For example, in the active sentence Julie ate the pizza, Julie does the action. When the subject is the doer of the verb, the voice is active. In an active sentence, the subject is the doer* or agent of the verb.

The typical English sentence is structured SVO (subject + verb + object).

Passive v active voice