Mastering Passive Voice: Practice with Texts

Mastering Passive Voice: Practice with Texts

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will understand the basics of passive voice and be able to identify and use it in texts on a B1 level.

Introduce the learning objective and provide an overview of what students can expect to achieve by the end of the lesson.

What do you already know about passive voice?

What is Passive Voice?

Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence is acted upon by the verb. In passive voice, the object of the verb becomes the subject of the sentence, while the original subject is either omitted or introduced in a prepositional phrase.

Define passive voice and provide examples to help students understand how it works.

Identifying Passive Voice

Passive voice can be identified by looking for the verb 'to be' followed by a past participle. For example: 'The book was written by the author.'

Provide clear instructions for how to identify passive voice in texts and give examples to help students practice.

Active vs. Passive Voice

In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb. In passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. For example: Active - 'The dog chased the cat.' Passive - 'The cat was chased by the dog.'

Explain the difference between active and passive voice and provide examples to help students understand the contrast.

Why Use Passive Voice?

Passive voice is often used to shift the focus of a sentence from the subject to the action. It can also be used to avoid mentioning who performed the action.

Explain some of the reasons why writers might choose to use passive voice in their writing.

Practicing Passive Voice

To practice passive voice, read a text and identify all the instances of passive voice. Rewrite the sentences in active voice to see how the meaning changes.

Provide instructions for practicing passive voice and give examples to help students get started.

Example Text: The History of Pizza

Pizza was first invented in Naples, Italy in the 18th century. It was originally a dish made for poor people, but it became popular with all social classes. Today, pizza is eaten all over the world and there are many different variations.

Provide an example text for students to practice identifying and rewriting sentences in passive voice.

Rewriting Passive Voice

Rewriting passive voice sentences in active voice can make them more direct and engaging. For example: Passive - 'The cake was eaten by the children.' Active - 'The children ate the cake.'

Provide clear instructions and examples for how to rewrite sentences in passive voice to active voice.

Practice Exercise 1

Identify the passive voice sentences in the text and rewrite them in active voice: 'The novel was written by a famous author. It has been translated into many languages and has sold millions of copies.'

Provide an exercise for students to practice identifying and rewriting sentences in passive voice.

Practice Exercise 2

Identify the passive voice sentences in the text and rewrite them in active voice: 'The painting was created by an unknown artist. It was discovered in a basement and later sold for millions of dollars.'

Provide another exercise for students to practice identifying and rewriting sentences in passive voice.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Some common mistakes when using passive voice include using it too often, using it when it's not necessary, and leaving out the subject entirely. Make sure to use passive voice intentionally and sparingly.

Provide guidance on how to avoid common mistakes when using passive voice.

Passive Voice in Writing

When writing, it's important to use passive voice intentionally and for specific purposes. Passive voice can be a useful tool for emphasizing the action rather than the subject, but it should be used in moderation.

Explain the importance of using passive voice intentionally in writing and provide guidance on how to do so.

Reviewing What We've Learned

Passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence is acted upon by the verb. It can be identified by looking for the verb 'to be' followed by a past participle. Passive voice can be used to shift the focus of a sentence from the subject to the action. To practice passive voice, read a text and identify all the instances of passive voice. Rewrite the sentences in active voice to see how the meaning changes.

Provide a summary of what students have learned throughout the lesson.

Further Practice

To continue practicing passive voice, read more texts and identify the instances of passive voice. Rewrite the sentences in active voice to see how the meaning changes. You can also try writing your own sentences in passive and active voice.

Provide suggestions for how students can continue practicing passive voice.

Quiz Question 1

Which of the following sentences is written in passive voice? A) The cat climbed the tree. B) The tree was climbed by the cat. C) The tree and the cat were in the same place.

Provide a quiz question to test students' understanding of passive voice.

Quiz Question 2

Which of the following sentences is written in active voice? A) The letter was delivered by the mailman. B) The mailman delivered the letter. C) The letter was addressed to the wrong person.

Provide another quiz question to test students' understanding of active and passive voice.

Interactive Activity

In pairs, read a short text and identify the instances of passive voice. Rewrite the sentences in active voice and discuss how the meaning changes.

Provide an interactive activity for students to practice identifying and rewriting sentences in passive voice.

Interactive Activity Instructions

Instruct students to work in pairs and choose a short text to read. They should identify the instances of passive voice and rewrite the sentences in active voice. Then, they should discuss how the meaning changes when the sentences are rewritten.

Provide clear instructions for the interactive activity and give guidance on how to facilitate pair work effectively.

Group Discussion

In groups, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using passive voice in writing. What are some situations where it might be more appropriate to use passive voice?

Provide a group discussion topic to allow students to explore the nuances of passive voice and its uses.

Group Discussion Instructions

Instruct students to form small groups and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using passive voice in writing. They should also consider situations where it might be more appropriate to use passive voice and share their thoughts with the class.

Provide clear instructions for the group discussion and give guidance on how to facilitate group work effectively.

Conclusion

Passive voice can be a useful tool for emphasizing the action rather than the subject in writing. By understanding how to identify and use passive voice, you can become a more effective communicator.

Provide a conclusion that summarizes the key takeaways of the lesson and encourages students to continue practicing passive voice.

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.