The acquisition of the passive voice

Abstract

The study was aimed at determining the average ages at which children imitate (I), produce (P) and comprehend (C) passive constructions. The results were compared with those obtained from partial studies of the acquisition of the passive voice conducted by researchers such as Fraser, Bellugi & Brown (1963). The finding that imitation precedes comprehension which in turn precedes production (I > C > P), as reported by Fraser et al. (1963) for 12 three-year-olds, is confirmed in this study for children from 3; o to 8; o. The ability to use the passive voice in various tasks was found to be generally greater than that suggested in previous studies. © 1976, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.