UNIT 2 EMPHASIZING OBJECTS “Language Information 3 ” L.E.L.I. Yazmin Vanessa Barrera Idea original E.T.E. Karim Juárez Cortes Diseño

 We use the passive voice when we want to show that the action of the verb is more important than the person or thing doing or causing the action. Examples:  The first mercury thermometer was invented in  Oliver Twist was written by Charles Dickens

 Passive voice is used in English to focus the attention on the action. Example: The telephone was invented in Note that we are not mentioning who invented the telephone but the action itself.

+ Form of verb “to be”+ verb in past participle. Example: A letter was written. A slice of cheese was eaten. Some televisions were stolen last night. A form of verb be is used in passive statements. It’s singular or plural to agree with the subject, and it also tells the tense of the passive construction.

TURNING FROM ACTIVE INTO PASSIVE  Check this table to make clear the differences between active voice and passive voice. Active Voice

 To rewrite active voice sentences take into account these: 1.The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. 2.The subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped). Active SUBJECT VERB DIRECT OBJECT Millions of people use the Internet everyday. Passive AGENT The Internet is used by millions of people every day.

Passive with by + agent The agent of the a verb is the person, people or thing which performs the action. If it is necessary to mention it, use the preposition by. For example:  The paper was invented by the Chinese.  The first mercury thermometer was invented in 1714 by Gabriel Fahrenheit.  The compact disk was invented in 1965 by James Russell.

TenseActive VoicePassive Voice Simple presentMario feeds the dog three times a week. The dog is fed three times a week. Simple pastMario fed the dog yesterday.The dog was fed yesterday. Present perfectMario has fed the dog.The dog has been fed. Future simple “will”Mario will feed the dog.The dog will be fed. ModalMario should feed the dog.The dog should be fed.

Describing what something is used for Describing what something looks like  It’s something you use to …  It’s a machine you use to …  It’s an object you use to...  It’s a type of ( paper ) you use to …  It’s a type of (device) you use to…  It’s a thing for …  It’s stuff for …  It’s a type of …  They are made of …  It looks like …  They have … When we describe objects, we usually use the following expressions:

Look at the next examples and analyze the grammar rule. After that check the previous ones.  After “… use to… ” we use the verb in infinitive. It is something we use at home to open bottles of wine. It is an object we use to clean the floor.  After “… use for …” we use the verb in gerund form. It is a type of device that we use for sharpening a pencil’s writing point. It is a tool that we use for opening bottles of wine.

 Lingo4U ( 2001 – 2010) “Passive Voice” Consultada el día 9 de junio del up/grammar/passivehttp:// up/grammar/passive  Patricia K. Werner (2007) Mosaic 1 Grammar McGraw-Hill  Sue Kay & Vaughan Jone (2000) Inside Out Intermediate Macmillan  Sue Kay & Vaughan Jone (2000) Inside Out Upper Intermediate Macmillan  Virginia Evans, Jenny Dooley, Enterprise Student’s book Grammar 2, Express Publishing, USA  Chris Redston and Gillie Cunningham, face2 face Intermediate Student’s book. Cambridge University Press United Kingdom  Jack C. Richards with Jonathan Hull and Susan Proctor. New interchange 2 ( 1997) Cambridge University Press. United Kingdom IMAGES TAKEN FROM:  Thermometer:  Oliver twist book :  Televisions :  Paper:  Compact disk: bin/getdoc.cgi?coll=hdwr&db=bks&fname=/SGI_EndUser/PChall_XL_OG/apb.htmlhttp://techpubs.sgi.com/library/tpl/cgi- bin/getdoc.cgi?coll=hdwr&db=bks&fname=/SGI_EndUser/PChall_XL_OG/apb.html  Telephone:  Compact disk:  Television: