PASSIVEVOICE Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho X PLORE 12 Unit 1.2. Killer English Unit 3.2. Real Hunger Games

Passive Voice The Passive Voice is used whenever an action is more important than the agent – for example, in reporting the news, in public notices or scientific experiments. Here the focus is on the writing of the text and what has happened to it rather than who was responsible for manipulating it. Example: The original text was written in Sanskrit but this one has been largely manipulated. Example: The original text was written in Sanskrit but this one has been largely manipulated. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

In passive constructions the agent is only mentioned when necessary. When there is an understanding of who carried out the action it is always incorrect to add the agent or when this information is not known or would be too complicated to add. Example: She was taught foreign languages [by teachers] at school. Example: She was taught foreign languages [by teachers] at school. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

modal verbs After modal verbs the auxiliary verbs be or have been are used; the have been construction shows a past event which didn’t happen. Example: A multilingualism approach should be followed. Example: A multilingualism approach should be followed. Example: Information could have been sent in one language [but it wasn’t]. Example: Information could have been sent in one language [but it wasn’t]. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

Some linguists English have defined by some linguists. English has been defined as a killer- language. as a killer- language Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

have defined has been defined To be + Past Participle ACTIVEPASSIVE Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

the indirect object When putting these verbs into the passive, it is more usual to use the indirect object as the subject. PASSIVE VOICE – TWO OBJECTS Example: I was given a language lesson. Example: I was given a language lesson. givelendawardoffer warnteach Many verbs like give, lend, award, offer, warn, teach… can have two objects. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

useful skills. School has given useful skills by school. have been given Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

it + passive verb + that-clause subject + passive verb + to-infinitive saybelieveestimateknow. Passive constructions are often used with verbs like say, believe, estimate and know. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

is estimated that 51 million children suffer from malnutrition. it + passive verb + that-clause It Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

are estimated to suffer 51 million children subject + passive + to-infinitive from malnutrition. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

Sometimes there are two passive constructions in the same sentence. Example: It is known that global English has been shaped by cultural interactions. Example: It is known that global English has been shaped by cultural interactions. Other verbs which are used in this way include: considerthinkunderstandreportexpectfear claimdeny consider, think, understand, report, expect, fear, claim and deny. Global English is known to have been shaped by cultural interactions. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

Now Practise!

a.The students designed a leaflet to draw attention to languages in danger of extinction. A … b.Some language researchers have advised UN officials that actions need to be taken to protect endangered languages. UN officials … c.Unesco is setting up a programme to make recordings of dialects. A programme … 1. Rewrite these sentences in the active or passive voice. A leaflet was designed to draw attention to languages in danger of extinction. UN officials have been advised that actions need to be taken to protect endangered languages. A programme to make recordings of dialects is being set up by Unesco. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

d.A research had already shown to linguists that the English language is threatening others. Linguists … e.A list of actions was devised to protect minority languages. Unesco … f.The linguistic programme developed by the UN hasn’t been acknowledged by several governments. Several governments … Linguists had already been shown that the English language is threatening others. Unesco devised a list of actions to protect minority languages. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho Several governments haven’t acknowledged the linguistic programme developed by the UN.

2. Rewrite the following sentences beginning with the words given. a.They assumed that the obstacles to the inclusion programme were overcome. It … The obstacles… b.Analysts have foreseen that the Human Rights Committee won’t implement any measures to solve the problem. It … It was assumed that the obstacles to the inclusion programme were overcome. The obstacles to the inclusion programme were assumed to be overcome. It has been foreseen that the Human Rights Committee won’t implement any measures to solve the problem. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

c.That expert is estimating that conflicts due to racial discrimination will increase in our cities. It … d.Journalists have reported that a consensus between the major political parties was reached. It … e.The police expects that the demonstration during the G9 summit will turn violent. It … It is being estimated that conflicts due to racial discrimination will increase in our cities. It has been reported that a consensus between the major political parties was reached. It is expected that the demonstration during the G9 summit will turn violent. Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho

Further Practice! Passive Voice Quiz 1 Passive Voice Quiz 1 Passive Voice Quiz 1 Passive Voice Quiz 1 Passive Voice Quiz 2 Passive Voice Quiz 2 Passive Voice Quiz 2 Passive Voice Quiz 2 Teresa Pinto de Almeida ▪ Paula M. Araújo ▪ Telma Coelho