Final answer:
The sentence regarding the Raptors and Cavaliers is in passive voice because the subject is acted upon, a 'be' verb is used with a past participle, and it includes the preposition 'by'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence, “The Raptors were beaten by the Cavaliers in the playoffs,” is an example of a passive voice construction. To determine if a sentence is passive, there are a few key features to look for:
- The subject is not performing the action but is being acted upon, as in, “The Raptors were beaten...” The Raptors are receiving the action.
- A form of the be verb (am, is, are, was, were) is used along with the past participle of the main verb, in this case, “were” + “beaten”.
- The sentence includes or can include the preposition “by [noun phrase],” which introduces the doer of the action. “...by the Cavaliers” indicates who performed the action.
While passive sentences are grammatically correct, a composition with too many passive structures can seem lacking in energy and clarity. An active voice counterpart to this sentence (“The Cavaliers beat the Raptors in the playoffs”) would be more direct and succinct.