Lesson Content
Grammar Focus
Passive Voice (All Tenses)
The passive voice is a grammatical structure where the focus is on the action itself or its result, not on the person or thing performing the action. We form it by using the correct tense of the verb “be” plus the past participle of the main verb. This form is especially useful in formal writing, academic contexts, technical descriptions, news stories, and when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.
Structure:
Subject + be (in the correct tense) + past participle
🔹 Examples:
• Present simple: The office is cleaned every day.
• Past simple: The documents were signed yesterday.
• Present perfect: The letter has been sent.
• Future: The results will be published soon.
• Past continuous: The bridge was being repaired.
• Modal: The rules must be followed.
Passive voice is often preferred when we want to focus on processes, outcomes, or information flow, rather than the person doing the action. It’s common in writing about science, instructions, procedures, or descriptions of events. You can include the doer of the action using “by,” but this is optional:
• The novel was written by George Orwell.
⚠️ Common Mistake:
❌ The contract was sign yesterday.
✔️ The contract was signed yesterday.
🔹 Helpful Tip:
To choose between active and passive voice, ask: “Do I want to emphasize who did it or what happened?” If the doer isn’t important or is unknown, use the passive.
🗣️ Why This Grammar Matters for Listening and Speaking
Passive voice isn’t just for writing—it’s widely used in everyday listening and speaking, especially when talking about news, instructions, procedures, or experiences. Understanding it helps you follow formal announcements, professional conversations, and reports where the focus is on the event or result, not who did it.
🔹 Common real-life uses:
• In customer service:
“Your order has been processed.”
• In formal or polite speech:
“You’ve been selected for an interview.”
• When the doer is unknown:
“My car was stolen last night.”
• In reporting or official communication:
“A new policy will be implemented next year.”
🔹 Listening Tips:
• Native speakers often use reduced forms like:
“It’s been sent.” / “They were told.” / “She’s been promoted.”
• “By…” phrases are often left out if not important:
“The mistake was corrected.” (by someone, but not said)
🔹 Conversation Scenarios:
• At school: “The test was graded over the weekend.”
• In news stories: “Several houses were damaged in the storm.”
• In job interviews: “I was promoted after six months.”
• At home: “Dinner is being made now.”
Understanding and using passive voice improves fluency and helps you sound more professional, objective, and culturally aware, especially in global or academic settings. It also builds your ability to shift focus from people to actions, which is key to advanced communication.
Let’s Practice
Language Game
Now, practice your language skills with this interactive game.
🎧🗣️ Listening & Speaking Practice Questions
Talk About Actions and Results
Use the passive voice to describe things that have been done, are being done, or will be done—especially when the person doing the action is not important or not known. Try to answer in full sentences using different tenses.
🔹 Daily Life Events
What is something that is cleaned or fixed in your house every week?
➤ For example: “The floors are cleaned every Saturday.”
🔹 School and Work Tasks
What documents or tasks have been completed recently at school or work?
➤ For example: “The project was finished yesterday.”
🔹 News and Media
Can you share something that was reported in the news?
➤ For example: “A new bridge was opened downtown.”
🔹 Restaurant and Shopping Experiences
What food or items are usually prepared or served in your favorite place?
➤ For example: “Fresh bread is baked every morning.”
🔹 Future Plans
What do you think will be built or changed in your city in the future?
➤ For example: “A new train station will be built next year.”
🔹 Unexplained Situations
Has anything ever been lost or stolen in your home or school?
➤ For example: “My phone was stolen at the park.”
🔹 Dream Events
What would you like to have done for you one day?
➤ For example: “I would love to have my house cleaned by professionals.”