The Passive

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3,4

The passive

(in Dutch: lijdende vorm)

How confident are you about the passive?
0 = no idea what it is, 5 = very confident

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For the next sentences decide whether they are active or passive:

My sister made these toys.

1. Active
2. Passive

My car was stolen by two boys.

1. Active
2. Passive

A telescope is used to look at stars.

1. Active
2. Passive

I have read five books by this author.

1. Active
2. Passive

The following questions are about making/using the passive:

How can you tell whether a sentence is active or passive?

1. The subject
2. The word 'by'
3. The object
4. The tense

Why do we use the passive in formal writing?

1. for variation
2. the subject is unknown
3. emphasis on the object
4. all of the above

How do you form the passive?

1. to be + infinitve
2. to be + past participle
3. to have + infinitive
4. to have + past participle

For the next sentences decide which sentence is the correct passive sentence:

Most schools teach French.

1. French teaches by most schools.
2. French is thought by most schools.
3. French is taught by most schools.
4. French is teaching by most schools.

They have just rebuilt the town hall.

1. The town hall was just rebuild.
2. The town hall was just rebuilt.
3. The town hall has just been rebuild.
4. The town hall has just been rebuilt.

Someone stole my car last week.

1. My car was stolen last week.
2. My car has been stolen last week.
3. My car is stolen last week.
4. My car was become stolen last week.

They are repairing your car now.

1. Your car will be repaired now.
2. Your car is repairing now.
3. Your car is repaired now.
4. Your car is being repaired now.

For the sentences on the next slides decide which sentence is preferred, active or passive:

Active or passive?

1. They haven't cleaned the room for months.
2. The room hasn't been cleaned for months.

Active or passive?

1. My boyfriend gave me some beautiful flowers.
2. I was given some beautiful flowers by my boyfriend.

Active or passive?

1. They make these computers in Korea.
2. These computers are made in Korea.

Active or passive?

1. A lot of students made this mistake.
2. This mistake was made by a lot of students.

How confident are you about the passive?
0 = no idea what it is, 5 = very confident

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