The passive voice is used in these cases : (1) when the actor is unknown, (2) when the speaker does not wish to name the actor, (3) when the other thing connected with the act is more important than the actor, (4) when the statement is a general one, no particular actor being thought of. In other cases the active voice should generally be used, though the passive may sometimes be chosen for the sake of variety.

Exercise 284

Give reasons for some of the passives used in Exercise 283. Why was the passive form used so often in the passage about the flower beds?

Exercise 285

Continue the conjugation of the verb praise begun in Exercise 277 by adding passive verb phrases in six tenses. Notice that the passive conjugation can be made by writing the conjugation of the verb be and adding to each verb and verb phrase the past participle of the verb praise.

Exercise 286

Give the conjugation of the verb attack and drive in the indicative mode through both active and passive voices.

1 From Home and Garden.