Using passive voice
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Passive voice with linking verbs | page 5 of 6 |
Labelling
There is a type of clause commonly used in science and other school subject areas to label things and in particular to introduce and define technical terms. Such clauses often use verbs like call, know (as), refer (to as), define (as) in what appears to be passive voice:
Such changes are called "mutations" ... (Microconcord Corpus B)
The distance between the centre of the lens and this point is known as the focal length. (Bank of English)
In some books the Ox is referred to as the Buffalo or Bull. (Bank of English)
However, there is rarely an agent 
in such clauses and they can also be
interpreted as clauses with complex linking verbs rather than as passive clauses. In other
words, for teaching purposes, forms such as are called, is known as, is
referred to as, can be treated as phrases used to link terms to their meanings, rather
than as passive verb groups related to active forms such as (scientists) call (such
changes mutations), (scientists) know (this point as the focal length),
(some books) refer (to the Ox as the Buffalo or Bull).
Introduction
Labelling
