Using passive voice
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Omitting or including the agent | page 1 of 3 |
Introduction
In the following example of a passive clause, the noun group
a group of unidentified
women occurs at the end of the clause preceded by the preposition by:
Former mental patients attending the controversial Laguna City rehabilitation centre are being videotaped and photographed by a group of unidentified women. (SCMP 23/3/94)
Noun groups like a group of unidentified women which occur at the end of passive
clauses after by are known as agents 
.
Passive voice also allows the speaker or writer to leave out the agent entirely:
Staff said clients had been photographed, videotaped and even chased almost every day since admissions had begun. (SCMP 2/4/94)
This file gives details of reasons for including or not including the agent in passive voice clauses.
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Introduction
Including the agent
