Welcome to our B2 English Course!
Objectives:
• Learn to form and use passive voice across various tenses
• Understand when and why to use passive voice, especially in formal writing and reporting
• Practice transforming active sentences into passive voice and vice versa
Introduction to Passive Voice
Why is it important?
Passive voice is often used in formal writing, news reports, and situations where the focus is on the action rather than who performed it.
Key Concept:
Active Voice:
The subject performs the action
The chef cooked the meal.
Passive Voice:
The action is performed by the subject
The meal was cooked by the chef.
Examples:
Active:
The team completed the project.
Passive:
The project was completed by the team.
Grammar Focus
Passive Voice in Different Tenses
Present Simple Passive
Structure:
am/is/are + past participle
The documents are reviewed every day.
Past Simple Passive
Structure:
was/were + past participle
The book was written in 1995.
Present Continuous Passive
Structure:
am/is/are being + past participle
The house is being painted.
Present Perfect Passive
Structure:
have/has been + past participle
The package has been delivered.
Future Passive
Structure:
will be + past participle
The results will be announced tomorrow.
Convert the sentences:
1. The teacher corrects the tests.
2. They will build the new bridge.
When to Use Passive Voice
When Should We Use Passive Voice?
Key Uses of Passive Voice:
Focus on the Action:
When the action is more important than the doer
A new policy was introduced last week.
Unknown Doer:
When the person who performs the action is unknown
The window was broken.
Formal and Impersonal Tone:
Common in formal writing, reports, and news
The meeting has been postponed.
Examples:
◦ Mistakes were made during the process.
Focus on the mistakes, not who made them
◦ The information will be released soon.
Future focus, formal tone
Identify when passive voice is appropriate:
Which sentence is better in passive voice?
1. The scientists discovered a new planet.
2. A new planet was discovered by the scientists.
Practice - Transforming Sentences
Active to Passive Transformation
1. Convert the following active sentences into passive voice. Share your answers with a partner or group.
Active Sentences:
◦ The company launched a new product.
◦ They are repairing the road.
◦ The chef has prepared the meal.
2. Write a short news report using passive voice. Focus on recent events, using different tenses.
Wrap-Up
Homework:
Write five sentences about recent events in passive voice, using at least three different tenses.
Homework Example:
The results have been announced by the committee.
The streets are being cleaned after the festival.
A new shopping mall was opened last month.
Preview of Next Class:
Discussing environmental issues using relative clauses.