Question

What is the best definition of a passive verb?

A. With a passive verb, the subject receives the action.
B. With a passive verb, the subject performs the action.
C. With a passive verb, the action is slow-moving.
D. Passive verbs indicate lazy subjects.

Answer 1

A

Explanation:

Sentences can be either passive or active. So what's the difference between the two?

• Active means that the subject is doing the action
• Passive means that the action is being done to the subject

Here are some basic sentences:

ACTIVE:
`"The"` `stackrel("subject")overbrace("dog")` `stackrel("action")overbrace("bit")` `"the"` `stackrel("receiving the action")overbrace("man")`

PASSIVE:
`"The"` `stackrel("subject")overbrace("man")` `stackrel("action")overbrace("was bitten")` `"by the"` `stackrel("doing the action")overbrace("dog")`

So, since you were asked to give the definition of a passive verb, we know that it must be A: "the subject receives the action".

If you want a more detailed explanation, go to this other answer that I wrote.