Passive vs. Subjunctive

Attribute	Passive	Subjunctive
Form	Verb form that emphasizes the action being done to the subject	Verb form used to express hypothetical situations, wishes, or recommendations
Usage	Used when the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action	Used in dependent clauses to express doubt, uncertainty, or unreality
Verb endings	Typically formed with the auxiliary "to be" + past participle	Verb endings may change to indicate mood or tense
Examples	The cake was baked by Mary.	If I were you, I would study harder.

Introduction

Passive and subjunctive are two different grammatical constructs that are commonly used in the English language. While they serve different purposes, they both play important roles in conveying meaning and expressing ideas. In this article, we will explore the attributes of passive and subjunctive, highlighting their differences and similarities.

Passive Voice

The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. In passive sentences, the focus is on the recipient of the action rather than the doer. For example, "The cake was baked by Mary" is a passive sentence where the cake is the recipient of the action (being baked) and Mary is the doer. Passive voice is often used when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or when the focus is on the action itself rather than the doer.

One of the key attributes of passive voice is that it allows for more flexibility in sentence structure. By shifting the focus from the doer to the recipient of the action, passive voice can create a more formal or objective tone in writing. Additionally, passive voice can be used to emphasize the action or the recipient, which can be useful in certain contexts.

However, passive voice can sometimes lead to ambiguity or lack of clarity in writing. Because the doer of the action is often placed at the end of the sentence or omitted altogether, passive voice can make it difficult for readers to identify who is performing the action. This can result in confusion or misinterpretation of the intended meaning.

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is a verb form used to express wishes, suggestions, possibilities, or hypothetical situations. In English, the subjunctive is often indicated by the use of the base form of the verb (without the -s ending) in certain contexts. For example, "I wish he were here" uses the subjunctive form "were" to express a hypothetical situation (he is not actually here).

One of the key attributes of the subjunctive mood is its ability to convey uncertainty or unreality. By using the subjunctive form of verbs, speakers can express desires, doubts, or hypothetical scenarios that may not be true in reality. The subjunctive mood is often used in formal writing, such as academic papers or legal documents, to convey a sense of formality or politeness.

However, the subjunctive mood can be challenging for English learners to master due to its irregular verb forms and specific usage rules. In some cases, the subjunctive form of verbs may be identical to the base form, making it difficult to distinguish from the indicative form. Additionally, the subjunctive mood is becoming less common in modern English, leading to confusion or misuse of subjunctive forms.

Comparison

While passive voice and subjunctive mood serve different purposes in English grammar, they share some similarities in terms of conveying meaning and expressing ideas. Both passive voice and subjunctive mood can be used to create a more formal or objective tone in writing, depending on the context. Additionally, both constructs can be used to emphasize certain aspects of a sentence, such as the action in passive voice or the uncertainty in subjunctive mood.

• Passive voice focuses on the recipient of the action, while subjunctive mood expresses wishes or hypothetical situations.
• Passive voice can create ambiguity in writing, while subjunctive mood can be challenging for English learners to master.
• Both passive voice and subjunctive mood can be used to convey formality or politeness in writing.

In conclusion, passive voice and subjunctive mood are important grammatical constructs in English that serve different purposes and have unique attributes. While passive voice emphasizes the recipient of the action and can create ambiguity, subjunctive mood expresses wishes or hypothetical situations and can be challenging to master. Understanding the differences and similarities between passive voice and subjunctive mood can help writers effectively convey meaning and express ideas in their writing.