Active vs passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Do you have pen and paper at the ready?

Ja

Nee

Passive Voice

BY LAURA DA’

I use a trick to teach students

how to avoid passive voice.

Circle the verbs.

Imagine inserting “by zombies”

after each one.

Have the words been claimed

by the flesh-hungry undead?

If so, passive voice.

I wonder if these

sixth graders will recollect,

on summer vacation,

as they stretch their legs

on the way home

from Yellowstone or Yosemite

and the byway’s historical marker

beckons them to the

site of an Indian village—

Where trouble was brewing.

Where, after further hostilities, the army was directed to enter.

Where the village was razed after the skirmish occurred.

Where most were women and children.

Riveted bramble of passive verbs

etched in wood—

stripped hands

breaking up from the dry ground

to pinch the meat

of their young red tongues.

recap: give me your opinion about this song. Use the vocabulary from the book

Can you reconstruct this example: 'The president gave the order.'

Can you reconstruct this example: 'Amy sang a song'

Can you reconstruct this example: 'Cerys gives a speech'

Can you reconstruct this example: 'Cerys gives a speech'

What are the changes you made?

Passive Voice

How do you make a sentence passive? - talk about the three steps

Read the article…

After many years of preparation they have opened Midvale Park. They established Midvale park in 2008 when they found a unique ecosystem around Midvale Lake. They isolated the area from the public and they encouraged local plants and animals to reproduce they are still supporting the local animal population today and they will increase it yearly. They can re-introduce about two new species a month. They report that the ecosystem is strong enough for the public to visit now and they are opening new related exhibits at the museum next week.

… and compare it to this one

After many years of preparation, Midvale Park has been opened. The park was established in 2008 when a unique ecosystem was found around Midvale Lake. The area was isolated from the public and local plants and animals were encouraged to reproduce.  The local animal population is still being supported today and it will be increased yearly. About two new species can be re-introduced a month. It is reported that the ecosystem is strong enough for the public to visit now and new exhibits are being opened at the museum next week.

Which one do you prefer?

text one

text two

neither of them are that good on their own

Samenvattend:

• Active: focus on WHO is doing the action
• Passive: focus is on the ACTION
• Active to passive:
• => Object becomes subject + to be + past participle of the main verb
  
  
• Example: 
• She repainted the front door. (past simple) 
• The front door was repainted (by her).  
  
  
• He was telling the story. (past continuous)
• The story was being told (by him).
  
  
• They have finished the story. (present perfect)
• The story has been finished (by them). 

Change the active voice to passive.

Mr. Smith teaches us science.

1. Science was teaching us by Mr. Smith.
2. Science is taught by Mr. Smith.
3. Science was taught us by Mr. Smith.
4. We are taught science by Mr. Smith.

Which option demonstrates the correct transformation of the active voice sentence 'They built the house' into passive voice?

1. The house built them.
2. The house was built by them.
3. The house is built by them.
4. They were building the house.

Change the active voice to passive.

They were helping you.

1. You were being helped by them.
2. You are helping by them.
3. They were helped by them.
4. You are being helped by them.

Change the active voice to passive.

The doctor had examined him.

1. He has been examined by the doctor.
2. He was examined by the doctor.
3. He had been examined by the doctor.
4. None of these

Ex.

- figure out the tense in the active statement

- use the same tense in your answer

- don't forget punctuation marks

- omit the by agent: use e.g. (by them)

rewrite in the passive voice: Anna painted the house.

rewrite in the passive voice:
They had donated books to the school.

rewrite in the passive voice:
Leyla was researching the story.

rewrite in passive voice:
He sends emails.

rewrite in passive voice:
He will send emails

rewrite in passive voice:
John closes the door.

rewrite in passive voice:
Bro, we have won the game.

Yesss!! Easy!!

I think I get it, but I need some more practice!!

I need more help!

Need more practice?