Classes week 1: 28/01 and 29/01

Grammar Unit 7: Active & Passive Sentences

 3 examples of the difference between active and passive:

è The police reported 10% more crimes in 2011.

è 10% more crimes were reported in 2011.

 

è The travel agent advised me to take the train.

è I was advised to take the train.

 

è This last-minute task has held us up at the office.

è We’ve been held up at the office.

 

Theory/Rule:

è Active: more important role ‘who’ performs the action

è Passive: more important ‘who’ undergoes the action

Note: !! This is not the same as present and past tenses !!

 I am sending you these papers right now! (emphasis on ‘I’)

Papers are being sent to you right away! (emphasis on  action)

 

This film will amaze you! (emphasis on the film)

You will be amazed! (emphasis on the customer)

Exercise: 

1)Look at these headlines and decide why they are passive (think commercially).

2)Try to make these sentences active.

 

“Boy rescued from Queensland floods”

 

“Al-Shabab Twitter account stopped”

 

“Fewer HTC smartphones sold in 2012”

 

“Facebook used to investigate terrorism and violence”

 

“More time spent on Facebook during school hours”

 

“Five artworks stolen from the Tate Modern”