In English, passive voice is used to shift the focus from the subject performing the action to the object receiving the action. This is done by making the object of the action the subject of the sentence, while the original subject may be omitted or mentioned later in the sentence.

In many other languages, the use of passive voice follows similar principles, but there can be differences in how it is constructed and the contexts in which it is used. For example, some languages have different verb conjugations for passive constructions, while others may rely more on word order or additional particles to indicate passivity.

One of the unique aspects of English passive voice is the frequent use of the auxiliary verb “be” followed by the past participle of the main verb (e.g., “was seen,” “is being built”). This specific structure is less common in some other languages, leading to variations in how passive voice is expressed.

Bilingual speakers might face challenges when interpreting or using passive constructions across languages due to differences in how passive voice is formed or the frequency with which it is used. They may need to be attentive to these differences to accurately convey the intended meaning in both languages. Moreover, cultural and stylistic preferences regarding passive voice can also vary between languages, adding another layer of complexity for bilingual speakers.

Overall, while passive voice is a common linguistic feature in many languages, the specific nuances and structures can vary, requiring bilingual speakers to be aware of these differences to effectively navigate and communicate in both languages.