Using a zombie test to detect passives
Writing Hub for Innopolis University
Confused?
Try this acid test.
Insert the phrase by zombies into the sentence after the verb:
Two hotdogs were eaten by zombies.
If the sentence makes sense with zombies in it – with zombies representing the implied actors – then you are looking at a passively constructed sentence.
In contrast, We ate two hotdogs by zombies makes no sense, therefore you are using an active construction.
On reasons to avoid passives read Three Reasons to Avoid Passives.
Adapted from "The Reader's Brain: How Neuroscience Can Make You a Better Writer" by Y. Douglas.