GRAMMAR
Inductive grammar review of the differences between the passive and active focusing mainly on the
present simple, past simple and present perfect passives.
MATERIALS
Teacher produced
Lesson Plan
Lesson
Phase
Exercises
Warm-up 5
minutes
Purpose
Reading 15
minutes
My Hometown
Many years ago, I was born in Seattle, Washington USA. Seattle is located in the Northwest corner of the
USA. Recently, Seattle has become the focus of much international attention. Many films have been made
there, probably the most famous of which is "Sleepless in Seattle" starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.
Seattle is also known as the birthplace of Grunge music, both Pearl Jam and Nirvana are from Seattle. For
older people like myself, it should be noted that Jimmy Hendrix was born in Seattle! NBA fans know
Seattle for the "Seattle Supersonics" which has played basketball in Seattle for more than 30 years.
Unfortunately, Seattle is also famous for its bad weather. I can remember weeks and weeks of grey, wet
weather when I was growing up.
Seattle has also become one of the fastest growing business areas in the United States. Two of the most
important names in the booming business scene in Seattle are Microsoft and Boeing. Microsoft was
founded and is owned by the world-famous Bill Gates (how much of his software is on your computer?).
Boeing has always been essential to the economic situation in Seattle. It is located to the north of Seattle
and famous jets such as the "Jumbo" have been manufactured there for more than 50 years!
Seattle is positioned between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The combination of its scenic
location, thriving business conditions and exciting cultural scene makes Seattle one of America's most
interesting cities.
Generally, students coming from around the world are more than happy to speak about their native
country. Obviously, when speaking about a country (city, state etc.) the passive voice is required. I have
found the following activity using the computer to be of great assistance in helping students focus on the
correct use of the passive voice for communication and reading and writing skills.
Inductively review the passive structures in class (or introduce the passive structures)
Provide a text example, focusing on a specific location, that includes many passive voice structures
Have students read through the text
As a follow up, have students separate passive voice and active voice examples
Using a program such as Microsoft Encarta or any other multimedia encyclopaedia, (or the Internet)
have students working in small groups find information about their own nation (or any city, state etc.)
Based on the information they have found, students then write a short report together at the
computer (using a spell check, communicating about formatting etc.)
Students then report back to the class presenting their report created at the computer
This exercise is a perfect example of involving students in an "authentic" activity that focuses on
communication skills while at the same time including a grammar focus, and uses the computer as a tool.
Students have fun together, communicate in English and are proud of the results they achieve - all
ingredients for successful inductive learning of the passive voice in a communicative manner.
Passive voice
Definition:
A verb form or voice in which the grammatical subject receives the verb's action. Contrast with active
voice.
Examples and Observations:
"Indiscriminate slandering of the passive voice ought to be stopped. The passive should be
recognized as a quite decent and respectable structure of English grammar, neither better nor
worse than other structures. When it is properly chosen, wordiness and obscurity are no more
increased than when the active voice is properly chosen. Its effective and appropriate use can be
taught."
"The strength of a man's virtue should not be measured by his special exertions but by his habitual
acts."
"We have not passed that subtle line between childhood and adulthood until we move from the
passive voice to the active voice--that is, until we have stopped saying 'It got lost,' and say, 'I lost
it.'"
"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have
been tried."
"America was discovered accidentally by a great seaman who was looking for something else . . ..
America was named after a man who discovered no part of the New World. History is like that, very
chancy."
"The young gentleman was later seen by me in front of the gare Saint-Lazare."
"In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been
widely regarded as a bad move."
"Fiction was invented the day Jonas arrived home and told his wife that he was three days late because he
had been swallowed by a whale."
Passive to Active Transformations
Take the following sentences in the passive voice and put them into the active voice. Once you have
decided on your answer, click on the arrow to see if you have answered correctly. For more information
about how to use the passive voice, refer to this passive voice usage chart.
1. The instructions have been changed.
Someone
the instructions.
her.
5. Last year 2,000 new units had been produced by the time we introduced the new design.
We
2,000 new units by the time we introduced the new design last year.
casual clothes.
this rumor.
11. All work will have been completed by five o'clock this evening.
You
us to wait here.
Portuguese.
in that factory.
in the driveway.
in 1934.
The course
by July.
this month.
of plastic.
when I arrived.
in 1986 by Smithers.
13. They are going to perform Beethoven's Fifth Symphony next weekend.
Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
next weekend.
at the meeting.
by Karen.