Activity 14: Understanding the Passive Voice
Objective:
This activity will help you understand and practice the passive voice in English.
What is the Passive Voice?
The passive voice is a grammatical structure where the subject of a sentence receives the action rather than performs it. It's often used to emphasize the action or the object of the action, rather than the person or thing performing the action.
Here's the basic structure:
Object + be + past participle + (by + agent)
Example:
- Active: The dog chased the cat.
- Passive: The cat was chased by the dog.
Why use the Passive Voice?
- Focus on the action or object: "The car was stolen" focuses on the car being stolen, not necessarily who stole it.
- When the agent is unknown: "The door was left open" doesn't specify who left it open.
- Formal writing: The passive voice is often used in formal writing, especially in scientific or technical contexts.
Activity:
Part 1: Identifying the Passive Voice
Read the following sentences and identify whether they are in the active or passive voice. If they are in the passive voice, underline the object and the past participle.
- The cake was baked by my grandmother.
- She wrote a beautiful poem.
- The window was broken by the strong wind.
- The children played in the park.
- The house is being painted.
Part 2: Converting to the Passive Voice
Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice:
- The teacher corrected the students' homework.
- The artist painted a stunning landscape.
- A famous architect designed the building.
- They will announce the winner tomorrow.
- They are building a new school in our town.
Part 3: Real-life Application
Think of 3 situations where you would use the passive voice in your everyday life or in writing. Write them down and explain why the passive voice is appropriate in each situation.
Conclusion:
Understanding the passive voice is important for clear and effective communication. This activity helped you learn about the passive voice, its structure, and its uses.
Remember: Practice makes perfect! Continue to practice using the passive voice in your speaking and writing.
