Table of Contents
Introduction
The passive voice is an essential grammatical structure that allows speakers and writers to shift focus from the doer of an action to the action itself or the object of that action. Mastering the passive voice can enhance students’ ability to create more varied and sophisticated sentences in English.
This lesson plan is designed to guide advanced learners in understanding the transformation of active sentences into passive ones and to use the passive voice appropriately in different contexts.
Before exploring how to teach the passive voice, let’s have a look at the lesson overview!
Lesson Overview
How to Teach the Passive Voice
- Level: Intermediate to Advanced
- Objectives:
- Understand the structural changes when transforming active sentences into passive ones.
- Use the passive voice correctly in spoken and written English.
- Recognize the difference in emphasis between active and passive sentences.
- Materials: Whiteboard, markers, handouts with example sentences, worksheets for practice
- Timing: 60-90 minutes
Contextualizing the Passive Voice
To introduce the concept of the passive voice, let’s consider the languages spoken in various countries.
Text:
Languages
In various parts of the world, different languages dominate. Spanish is spoken across much of Latin America, making it one of the most widely spoken languages globally. English, on the other hand, is the primary language in the United States and Canada, serving as a key medium for international communication. Meanwhile, French is spoken in France and other regions such as parts of Canada and Africa, where it serves as a significant cultural and diplomatic language. In Germany, German is spoken by the vast majority, reflecting the nation’s strong linguistic traditions. Each of these languages plays a crucial role in the cultural identity and communication of the regions where they are spoken.
Comprehension Questions:
- What language is spoken in Latin America?
- What language is spoken in the United States and Canada?
- What language is spoken in France?
- What language is spoken in Germany?
How to Teach the Passive Voice
1. Introduction to Active and Passive Sentences:
- Draw a table on the board with two columns, one for active sentences and the other for passive ones.
- Ask students what languages people speak in different countries, such as France, the USA, and Germany.
- Write their answers in the active sentence column.
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| Argentinians speak Spanish. | |
| Americans speak English. | |
| The French speak French. | |
| Germans speak German. |
2. Transforming Active Sentences to Passive:
- Explain that these sentences can be written differently, shifting the focus from the subject to the object.
- Example: “Argentinians speak Spanish” becomes “Spanish is spoken by Argentinians.”
- Then, let them work in pairs or groups to complete the table with the passive voice forms (based on the above text)
Argentinians speak Spanish — Spanish is spoken by Argentinians.
3. Group Activity:
- Have students work in small groups to identify the changes that occur in the transformation.
- Ensure they notice the use of the auxiliary verb “be,” followed by the past participle of the main verb and the change of subject.
4. Class Correction:
- Review the transformations as a class, ensuring everyone understands the structural changes.
5. Understanding the Difference in Focus:
- Discuss whether there is any difference in meaning between active and passive sentences.
- Highlight that in the passive voice, the emphasis is on the action or the object of the action rather than on the doer.
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| Argentinians speak Spanish. | Spanish is spoken by Argentinians. |
| Americans speak English. | English is spoken by Americans. |
| The French speak French. | French is spoken by the French. |
| Germans speak German. | German is spoken by Germans. |
6. Additional Examples and Practice:
- Provide more sentences for practice and explain that the auxiliary verb “be” changes according to tense.
- Introduce examples like “Dinner is being served” or “Emails will be sent to the members” for further practice.
Conclusion
The passive voice is a valuable structure for shifting the focus of a sentence from the doer of the action to the action itself or its recipient. This lesson covered the basic transformation of active sentences to passive ones, focusing on present simple tense examples.
However, there are other formal transformations, such as changes to the auxiliary verb “be” in different tenses, which can be introduced in subsequent lessons. Mastering these basics will help students use the passive voice effectively in various contexts.
