unit 2

• Engels
• Voortgezet speciaal onderwijs
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerroute V
• Leerjaar 4

unit 2

Keeping in touch

unit 2 p 30-31

The Passive

the active sentence

The boy kicks the ball.

The subject carries out the action described by the verb.

the passive sentence

The ball is kicked by the boy.

The subject undergoes the action described by the verb

the passive

step 1

find the direct object of the sentence and make it the subject of the new sentence

The child reads a book.

A book ..........................

The question What does the child read?  helps you find the direct object.

the pasisve 

step 2

Find the verb of the sentence and replace it with the same form of the verb to be.

A child reads a book.

A book is ..................

A child is reading a book.

A book is being .............

A child has read a book.

A book has been  ............

the passive

step 3

Add the past participle of the verb.

to read - read - read

A child reads a book.

A book is read......

A child is reading a book.

A book is being read ....

A child has read a book.

A book has been read ....

the passive

step 4

Copy the rest of the sentence ( if there is one).

A child reads a book in the library.

A book is read in the library ...

the passive

step 5

Put the subject of the active sentence at the end of the passive sentence and put the word by in front of it.

A child reads a book.

A book is read by a child.

note!

• The passive sentence has one more verb than the active sentence because you add to be.

• If the original subject is vague (you, they, people) you can leave out by you, by them, by people.

• If the active sentence has a direct object and an indirect object there are two possible passive sentences.

I wrote her a letter. ---> A letter was written to her by me /  She was written a letter by me.

• You can also use a passive to translate the Dutch men and er.

Er werden drie auto’s verkocht

There were sold three cars WRONGGGGGGGGGG!

Three cars were sold. RIGHTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

• Men zegt dat Engels erg gemakkelijk is.
  

It is said that English is very easy.

English is said to be very easy.

• questions:

Werden er drie auto’s verkocht? Did they sell three cars?

Were three cars sold (by them)?

Now, let's practise!

turn into a passive sentence:
The police arrested the thief yesterday.

turn into a passive sentence:
The fire has destroyed our house.

turn into a passive sentence:
The two gangsters were robbing the mayor when the police arrived.

Make as many passive sentences as possible based on the photo.

possible sentences

The grey car was bumped into by another car.

The traffic was stopped by the accident.

The wounded were taken to the hospital by the ambulance.

The accident was caused by the weather.

The ambulance is parked on the highway.

The side of the car is damaged.

The car's hood has been destroyed by the accident.

hedging

Hedging language refers to how a writer expresses certainty or uncertainty. Often in academic writing, a writer may not be sure of the claims that are being made in their subject area, or perhaps the ideas are good but the evidence is not very strong. It is common, therefore, to use language of caution or uncertainty (known as hedging language).

Hedging verbs

The verbs appear and seem may be used to express uncertainty. Appear and seem can be used with existential clauses (the verb to be) to indicate caution.

appear/seem to + verb

There appears to be a correlation between social class and likelihood of getting to university,

seem to + verb

It seems to be the case that non-native speakers of Englis

Modal Verbs

A writer can also hedge their claims by using modals of uncertainty (may/might, could, can):

Advocacy groups may ask an institution such as judges, politicians or scientists, to take on, highlight or, in the best case, show support towards their particular stance.

A policy image might be fit into one venue better than another.

In the 1950s, the American Government put forward a positive image of nuclear power as a new source of cheap and endless energy that could help reduce the dependence on imported oils.

Policy actors can make use of scientific evidence to increase the legitimacy for their stance.

Adverbs may be used to express uncertainty. Note that these adverbs often go just before the main verb in a sentence. For example:

All teachers were fully aware of the class being recorded, so they probably spoke more English than they usually would.

She argues that strategies of expansion do not necessarily have to involve authoritative institutions only.

There are always a number of issues which could potentially get onto the agenda.

describing your family

sibling = broer of zus

widow = weduwe

niece/ nephew + kinderen van je broer/zus

daughter-in-law = schoondochter

stepson = stiefzoon ( geen bloed relatie)

fiancé(e) = verloofde

cousin = kind van je oom/tante

godmother = meter

half-brother  = halfbroer ( 1 ouder gemeenschappelijk)

extended family = uitgebreide familie