Discovering the Passive Voice

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Discovering the Passive Voice

Learning Objective

Understand how to form passive sentences in the present simple, present continuous, and past simple tenses.

Introduction to Passive Voice

The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. The subject of the sentence 'undergoes' the action.

Example:

The mechanic is repairing my car 

My car is being repaired by the mechanic.

Forming the Passive

Stap 1: zoek het lijdend voorwerp in de 'actieve' zin.

Stap 2: bepaal het originele onderwerp.

Stap 3: bepaal in welke tijd het werkwoord staat.

Stap 4: Maak het lijdend voorwerp het onderwerp in de 'passive' zin.

Stap 5: zet het 'actieve ww.' om naar de 'passive' vorm.

Stap 6: zet het originele onderwerp achteraan de zin met 'by'

Examples

My brother plays a game.

A game is played by my brother.

The mechanic is repairing my car 

My car is being repaired by the mechanic.

The cat caught a mouse.

The mouse was caught by the cat.

Active vs Passive

Tijd	Active	Passive
Present Simple	ww / ww + s	am/is/are + ww + ed am/is/are + 3e rijtje
Pr. Continuous	am/is/are + ww +ing	am/is/are + being + ww-ed/3e rijtje
Past Simple	ww + ed/2e rijtje	was/were + ww/ed of 3e rijtje

Practice Exercise 1

What: on the next slides, choose whether the sentence is active or passive.

How: on your own, in silence

How long: 2 - 3 minutes

Why: to check if you have understood the difference.

Done: continue with the next exercise.

5. The flowers were watered by the gardener.

1. Active
2. Passive

4. The book was read by me last night.

1. Active
2. Passive

3. The teacher explained the lesson.

1. Active
2. Passive

2. The cake was baked by my sister.

1. Active
2. Passive

1. The cat chased the mouse.

1. Active
2. Passive

Practice Exercise 2

What: Make passive sentences from the active sentences on the next slide. Copy them in word. Write down the step by step plan to come to your answer. Use the table shown earlier.

How: in pairs, whispered conversation.

How long: 10 - 15 minutes

Why: to practise forming passive sentences.

Done: show the teacher you are finished.

Active to passive

1. She reads a book every evening.

2. They play soccer on Saturdays.

3. My sister cooks dinner every week.

4. He is eating an apple right now.

5. We are watching a movie.

6. The children are playing a videogame.

7. I visited my grandparents last weekend.

8. She finished her homework yesterday.

9. They watched a football match on TV.

10. He cooked dinner for his family.

Key Points to Remember

1. in een actieve zin 'doet' het onderwerp iets.

2. in een passive zin 'ondergaat' het onderwerp iets.

3. Zoek het lijdend voorwerp en kijk goed in welke tijd de actieve zin staat; de passieve zin moet dit 'matchen'.

4. vergeet niet om by + originele o.w. achteraan de zin te voegen.

Application Activity

What: write three sentences in different tenses and change them from active to passive voice.

How: alone and in silence.

How long: 10 - 15 minutes

Why: to practise the passive

Done: show the teacher.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.