How Do You Spell THE PASSIVE?

Pronunciation: [ðə pˈasɪv] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "the passive" may seem straightforward, but its pronunciation can be tricky. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled /ðə ˈpæsɪv/. The first sound, /ð/, is a voiced dental fricative, as in "the" or "this." The second sound, /ə/, is a schwa sound, as in "a" or "about." The word "passive" is spelled as /ˈpæsɪv/, with the emphasis on the first syllable. Overall, the pronunciation of "the passive" is distinct and clear once you have a grasp of IPA phonetics.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
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THE PASSIVE Meaning and Definition

  1. The passive voice is a grammatical term that refers to a type of verb construction where the subject of the sentence undergoes the action, rather than performing it. In this construction, the focus is on the receiver of the action rather than the doer. Unlike the active voice, where the subject of the sentence is the doer of the action, the passive voice places emphasis on the object or receiver of that action.

    In the passive voice, the verb is formed using a combination of the auxiliary verb "to be" and the past participle of the main verb. This construction allows the recipient or object of the action to become the subject of the sentence, while the doer (or agent) either remains unknown or becomes less important. For example, in the sentence "The cake was eaten by Tom," the focus is on the cake, the receiver of the action (eating), rather than Tom, the one performing the action.

    The passive voice is commonly used in English to place emphasis on the result or consequences of an action, to shift focus onto the object being acted upon, or to preserve anonymity about the doer. However, it is often considered less direct and engaging than the active voice. It is important to note that not all sentences can be transformed into the passive voice, as it requires an active subject and a transitive verb.

Common Misspellings for THE PASSIVE

  • rhe passive
  • fhe passive
  • ghe passive
  • yhe passive
  • 6he passive
  • 5he passive
  • tge passive
  • tbe passive
  • tne passive
  • tje passive
  • tue passive
  • tye passive
  • thw passive
  • ths passive
  • thd passive
  • thr passive
  • th4 passive
  • th3 passive
  • the oassive
  • the lassive

Etymology of THE PASSIVE

The word "passive" comes from the Latin word "passivus", which means "capable of being acted upon". It is derived from the verb "pati", meaning "to suffer" or "to undergo". "Passivus" was later adopted into Old French as "passif" before being introduced into English. In English, "passive" specifically refers to the grammatical form that expresses the object of an action as the subject of a sentence, conveying that the subject is being acted upon rather than performing the action.

Infographic

Correct spelling for the passive
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