This week I was skimming through the May "Spotlight" issue when, lo and behold, I stumbled upon a spellbinding grammar topic (yes, grammar can be gripping) namely end focus and the passive.
In the article there stood that the notion that the so-called "by-phrase" (the logical subject of the verb, or the agent) is optional in a passive sentence is a white lie.
While it is true that most past sentences in English don't have a by-phrase, some need a by-phrase desperately because they would be ill-formed without it.
Example:
The opening ceremony was followed by a slide show.
Ultimately, the question whether the by-phrase is optional is not the main point. The main issue, however, should be the question if the passive focuses on the agent or not.
In English new information typically appears at the end of the sentence (end focus). In contrast, subject position usually contains information that is already known.
This is the reason why the active counterpart of the passive sentence above is peculiar-sounding:
A slide show followed the opening ceremony.
The passive sentence above sounds more natural than the active version because the new information receives the stronger end focus.
p.s. This grammar topic goes to prove that one shouldn't follow grammar rules to the letter.
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