H5 P1 W3 the passive and letter of complaint

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

Basic rules

• We do our work when we should
• We are silent during explanations and raise our hands for questions
• Our phone is in our "zakkie" in our bag
• We don't eat, drink, or chew gum in class

learning goals

I know how to use the passive.

I can write a short letter of complaint.

homework check

Wasp student file page 16

Assignment 27

recap tenses

I have lived here since 2004.

1. past simple
2. past continuous
3. present perfect
4. past perfect

I [was listening] to my music, so I didn't hear the phone ring.

1. present perfect
2. present continuous
3. past perfect
4. past continuous

She was playing the piano while Ann _______ on stage.

1. sang
2. was singing
3. sings
4. is singing

She didn’t eat any of the dinner because she ________ a big lunch.

1. ate
2. was eating
3. is eating
4. had eaten

FORMAL

INFORMAL

to friends and family

usually longer

to companies and organisations

avoids everyday language

emotional and personal

How do you say this in formal language?

to get

to get in touch

boss

the passive

Passives

What makes a sentence passive?

The combination of 'to be' + past participle (volt. dlw) makes a sentence passive

The woman is bitten (by the dog).

The wound was stitched (by the doctor).

The Government is planning a new road near my house.

1. passive
2. active

This room has been painted blue.

1. passive
2. active

Cricket is played in Australia.

1. passive
2. active

The friends have been looking forward to meeting her.

1. passive
2. active

Make a passive:
Lots of books ...(read, not) by those children yet.

1. aren't read
2. isn't read
3. weren't read
4. haven't been read

Make a passive:
Lots of books ... (buy) by my father every year.

1. are bought
2. is bought
3. were bought
4. have been bought

Write a letter of complaint

Situation

You have ordered a pair of shoes, which were delivered both late and in the wrong colour. 

You have tried to call the company, but nobody picked up.

Write a letter of complaint to this company.

1. Focus on the most important facts. Don’t give unnecessary/personal background information.

2. Make sure you include:

• the reason for writing (e.g. I am writing to ...)

• what went wrong

• what you would like to happen now.

3. Use passives to be less direct and more formal, e.g. I was served slowly, NOT You served me slowly.