Questão FC586440
The passive voice is used very often in the text to refer to both how and where fingerprints are generally detected. Why is the passive voice predominant in this case, instead of t
Gramática (Grammatics)
Instituto AOCP · 2025
Read the following text to answer question.
Where Fingerprints May be Found
Fingerprints can be found on practically any solid surface, including the human body. Analysts classify fingerprints into three categories according to the type of surface on which they are found and whether they are visible or not: fingerprints on soft surfaces (such as soap, wax, wet paint, fresh caulk, etc.) are likely to be three-dimensional plastic prints; those on hard surfaces are either patent (visible) or latent (invisible) prints. Visible prints are formed when blood, dirt, ink, paint, etc., is transferred from a finger or thumb to a surface. Patent prints can be found on a wide variety of surfaces: smooth or rough, porous (such as paper, cloth or wood) or nonporous (such as metal, glass or plastic).
Latent prints are formed when the body’s natural oils and sweat which are present on the skin are deposited onto another surface. Latent prints can be found on a variety of surfaces; however, they are not readily visible, and detection often requires the use of fingerprint powders, chemical reagents or alternate light sources. Generally speaking, the smoother and less porous a surface is, the greater the potential that any latent prints present can be found and developed.
Patent prints are collected using a fairly straightforward method: photography. These prints are photographed in high resolution with a forensic measurement scale in the image for reference. Investigators can improve the quality of the images by using low-angle or alternate light sources, but this is usually not necessary.
Adapted from:
https://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/prints/how.html.
Accessed on: 07 apr. 2025.
The passive voice is used very often in the text to refer to both how and where fingerprints are generally detected. Why is the passive voice predominant in this case, instead of the active voice?
- The passive voice is used to refer to either things (“fingerprints”) or inanimate objects (“soap”, “wax”, “wet paint”, “fresh caulk”), which are passive, instead of active subjects or people who are capable of pursuing their goals as agents. It is used in descriptive scenarios where the writer wants to provide a detailed image of a scene.
- The passive voice is used when the subject is hidden or completely absent because it is already understood based on how the verb pattern is constructed or on the verb ending. Because of that, the subject can be dropped while still not sacrificing clarity of meaning, and this allows for more concise writing in technical reports, for example.
- The passive voice is used when the focus is on the recipient of an action instead of the subject who performed that action (“a fingerprint was found” vs. “he/she found a fingerprint”). In scientific language, it helps maintain a more formal and objective tone by omitting the doer and focusing instead on the actions performed.
- The passive voice is used when both subjects are unclear (doer vs. recipient) as to what role they play in a given sentence, and it appears often in texts that address unclear situations with unknown factors, such as criminal investigations, police reports, statements, testimonies, and legal documentation in general.
- The passive voice gives emphasis to the individual or group who committed an action, but is mostly used when observers have to detach themselves from the stories or events they’re reporting, such as a crime scene. It is a tool to avoid revealing the observer’s stance or opinion on a sensitive topic.
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Voz passiva significa colocar o destaque no receptor da ação em vez de quem a executa. No texto, isso aparece em frases como "Fingerprints can be found", isto é, "impressões digitais podem ser encontradas", onde o importante é o fato de as impressões existirem e onde são detectadas, não quem as encontra.
Em linguagem científica a passiva serve para manter um tom imparcial e objetivo. Ao omitir o agente, o texto concentra-se em processos, resultados e métodos: como as impressões são formadas, onde aparecem e como são coletadas.
Portanto, a escolha pela passiva torna a exposição mais clara e técnica, direcionando a atenção do leitor para o evento ou a condição descrita, que é o que realmente importa no contexto investigativo e científico.
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