IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

Agent

THE AGENT IS THE PERSON, ANIMAL OR THING THAT MAKES AN ACTION.

Object

THE OBJECT IS THE PERSON, ANIMAL OR THING THAT RECEIVES AN ACTION FROM  A SUBJECT. (IT IS ALWAYS PART OF THE COMPLEMENT)

Verb.

A VERB IS AN ACTION MADE BY A SUBJECT

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTIVE AND PASSIVE

  

ACTIVE VOICE: GIVES  IMPORTANCE TO THE SUBJECT THAT MAKES AN ACTION.

IT IS VERY POPULAR IN NORMAL SPEECH, WE CONSIDER IMPORTANT THE THING OR THE PERSON WE MENTION FIRST

ACTIVE VOICE FORMATION:

SUBJECT + VERB + COMPLEMENT

EXAMPLES:

* LUIS  CLOSED THE DOOR. (LUIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE DOOR)

SUBJECT- LUIS

OBJECT- THE DOOR

VERB- CLOSE

  

* I FED MY DOG. (I AM MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY DOG)

SUBJECT- I

OBJECT- MY DOG

VERB- FEED

  

* SHE RODE A HORSE. (SHE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE HORSE)

SUBJECT- SHE

OBJECT- A HORSE

VERB- RIDE

  

ACTIVITY 1. IDENTIFY SUBJECT, OBJECT AND VERB IN THESE IDEAS. (TAKE YOUR ANSWERS TO CLASS)

1.- CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA IN 1492.

2.- JOHN PEMBERTON INVENTED COCA COLA.

3.- BILL GATES FOUNDED MICROSOFT CORPORATION.

4.- VIRUTA AND CAPULINA MADE A LOT OF MOVIES TOGETHER.

5.- SHAKESPEARE WROTE ROMEO AND JULIETTE.

6.- THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAVE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL CURRENCY.

  

PASSIVE VOICE: GIVES IMPORTANCE TO THE OBJECT THAT RECEIVES AN ACTION.

USE:

In general, passive voice in English is used when:

1.- We don´t know WHO is the subject.

* The First National bank was robbed yesterday night . (we don´t know who robbed the bank).

2.- The subject is not important for us.

* I could buy a present for you because the store was closed (we don´t care who closed the store).

3.- The subject is obvious.

* The bank robber was arrested this morning (obviously by the police).

4.- Describing processes such as a recipe. (have a look at chilaquiles recipe)

5.- Writing scientific texts

* The liquid is heated to a temperature of  60°c.

PASSIVE VOICE  FORMATION

OBJECT + AUX. BE + VERB IN PAST PARTICIPLE  + AGENT

the agent is an optional element in this structure, you can leave it out if you want

EXAMPLES:

* THE DOOR WAS CLOSED (BY LUIS).

SUBJECT- LUIS

OBJECT- THE DOOR

VERB- WAS CLOSED

* THE DOG WAS FED (BY ME).

SUBJECT- I

OBJECT- THE DOG

VERB- WAS FED

* A HORSE WAS RIDDEN (BY HER).

SUBJECT- SHE

OBJECT- A HORSE

VERB- WAS RIDDEN

 

  

 

ACTIVITY 2.

*READ THE CHILAQUILES RECIPE IN THE GRAMMAR IN USE SECTION AND CHECK HOW PRESENT PASSIVE VOICE IS USED FOR DESCRIBING A PROCESS AND ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

 

ACTVITY 3.

* LOOK AT THIS PROCESS AND COMPLETE THE STEPS FOR MAKING “SOPES”.