In grammar, what does the term "passive voice" refer to?

The term "passive voice" in grammar refers specifically to a construction in which the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action rather than the doer. In a passive voice sentence, the focus shifts from the subject performing the action to the subject being acted upon. For instance, in the sentence "The book was read by the student," the book is the subject that is receiving the action of being read.

This construction often emphasizes the action or the recipient rather than the agent or doer of the action. In contrast, the active voice would highlight the subject performing the action, which creates a more direct and simpler sentence structure. The understanding of passive voice is fundamental in writing as it allows for varied sentence constructions and emphasis, adapting the style and tone according to the context.