Passzívan

Passzívan, also known as passive voice, is a grammatical construction used in many languages, including Hungarian, where the subject of a sentence receives the action rather than performs it. In contrast to active voice, where the subject performs the action (e.g., "I eat the apple"), passive voice structures the sentence so that the action is emphasized, often omitting or de-emphasizing the agent performing it (e.g., "The apple is eaten" or "The apple was eaten by me").

In Hungarian, passive voice is formed using the auxiliary verb *len* ("to be") combined with the past participle of the main verb. For example, the active sentence *"A kutya megfogta a patkányt"* ("The dog caught the rat") becomes *"A patkány megfogásra került"* ("The rat was caught") in passive voice. The agent (the dog) may be included with the preposition *által* ("by") or omitted entirely, depending on whether it is relevant or known from context.

Passive voice is commonly used in technical writing, scientific reports, and formal contexts to emphasize the action or result rather than the doer. It can also help avoid repetition when the agent is obvious or unimportant. However, overuse of passive voice may lead to unclear or ambiguous sentences, as the subject of the action may not be immediately identifiable. In Hungarian, as in other languages, passive constructions should be used judiciously to maintain clarity and conciseness.

The choice between active and passive voice depends on the intended emphasis, stylistic preferences, and the need for precision in communication. While passive voice can be a useful tool, active voice is generally preferred in narrative and informal writing for its directness and clarity.