6
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
In this chapter, the writer presents the theories which are related to this research. There two main topics in this chapter: theoretical description and theoretical
framework. The theoretical description explains the relevant theories that support the writer’s research. It also elaborates the framework summarized and synthesized from
the discussion of the theories in the theoretical description.
1.1 Theoretical Description
In this part, the writer elaborates the passive. In the beginning, the writer explores the active and also passive voice. Then, the writer specifies the explanation
into explanation of passive voice. The writer also discusses the form of passive voice. Finally, the writer states the use of passive voice.
1.1.1 Voice
Quirk et al. 1972 defines voice as a grammatical category which makes it possible to view the action of a sentence in two ways, without change in the facts
reported: The butler murdered the detective.
The detective was murdered by the butler.
7 In those examples, sentence a is active, and sentence b is passive.
In the definition above, Quirk does not exactly state the difference between active and passive voice. However, House et al. 1957 defines voice as the
modification of a transitive verb which indicates whether the subject is acting or being acted upon. When the subject of the verb represents the actor or agent the voice
is called to be active. When the subject receives or denotes the object to which action is directed, the verb is said to be in a passive voice.
The example:
John killed the bird. active voice The bird was killed by John. passive voice
From the definition above, the writer concludes that voice refers to the form of the verb which shows whether the subject is acting active voice or being acted
upon passive voice.
1.1.2 The Active and Passive Voice Form
In an active voice, the subject of a clause is the one who does the action. Murcia and Freeman 1999 emphasizes that the subject of a clause is most often the
agent, or doer of some action. e.g. Darwin studied the fauna of the Galapagos Islands.
If that sentence is changed into passive, the direct or indirect object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the corresponding passive sentence, and the
subject appears after the verb in a by-phrase.
8 e.g. The fauna of Galapagos Islands was studied by Darwin.
Quirk 1973 argues that the active and passive have different verb phrases. The difference is the passive has an additional auxiliary: a form of the auxiliary be
followed by an –ed participle. The example of corresponding active and passive verb phrases:
ACTIVE PASSIVE
loves is
loved sold
was sold
is reading
is being
read has written
has been written will buy
will be bought may have take
may have been taken On the other hand, Azar 1992 emphasizes that only transitive verbs verbs
that are followed by an object are used in the passive. When we are going to make a passive voice, “by phrase” is included only if it is important to know who performs
an action. In brief, the passive is a way of phrasing the sentence so that the subject does not refer to the person or thing responsible directly or indirectly for the action.
In line with Quirk, Azar 1992 also states that it is possible to use intransitive verbs in passive voice such as happen, sleep, come, and seem. It means
that the passive form of the sentence does not use a “by phrase”. This kind of passive is most frequently used when it is not known or not important to know exactly who
performs an action.
9 For example:
The accident happened. Rice is grown in Indonesia.
Our house was built in 1890. In addition, Quirk 1973 also agrees that there are some passive sentences
that do not contain the by-phrase. He states that it is felt to be unnecessary to identify the person perhaps because irrelevant or obvious or it is felt to be tactless to do so.
Snakes were being skinned outside our restaurant. Most of the buildings were destroyed.
The decision has already been taken.
1.1.3 Forms of English Passive Voice
