Module Qtr4 Lesson2

Lesson 2: Use active and passive constructions in journalistic contexts
Learning Outcome
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
a. Identify the voice of the verb in each sentence;

b. Rewrite sentences from active to passive voice;
c. Appreciate the relevance of active and passive voices in good writing;
d. Compose a paragraph using active and passive voices
Pre-test
Directions: Find the subject and the verb in the sentences below. Underline the subject once
and the verb twice.
1. My bag and my rubber shoes were lost in the playground.
2. The desks in the room have been destroyed.
3. Where does your friend live?
4. This package was sent by my friend in the U.S.
5. There are many ways to succeed.
Discussion
ACTIVE / PASSIVE VOICE

Active voice In most English sentences with an action verb, the subject performs the action
denoted by the verb.
These examples show that the subject is doing the verb's action.

Because the subject does or "acts upon" the verb in such sentences, the sentences
are said to be in the active voice.
Passive voice
One can change the normal word order of many active sentences (those with a direct
object) so that the subject is no longer active, but is, instead, being acted upon by the verb -
or passive.
Note in these examples how the subject-verb relationship has changed.

Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is passive), such sentences are said to be in
the passive voice.
NOTE: Colorful parrots live in the rainforests cannot be changed to passive voice because

the sentence does not have a direct object.
To change a sentence from active to passive voice, do the following:

1. Move the active sentence's direct object into the sentence's subject slot

2. Place the active sentence's subject into a phrase beginning with the preposition by

3. Add a form of the auxiliary verb be to the main verb and change the main verb's form

Because passive voice sentences necessarily add words and change the
normal doer-action-receiver of action direction, they may make the reader work harder to
understand the intended meaning.
As the examples below illustrate, a sentence in active voice flows more smoothly
and is easier to understand than the same sentence in passive voice.

It is generally preferable to use the ACTIVE voice.

To change a passive voice sentence into an active voice sentence, simply reverse the steps
shown above.
1. Move the passive sentence's subject into the active sentence's direct object slot

2. Remove the auxiliary verb be from the main verb and change main verb's form if
needed

3. Place the passive sentence's object of the preposition by into the subject slot.

Because it is more direct, most writers prefer to use the active voice whenever possible.
The passive voice may be a better choice, however, when
 the doer of the action is unknown, unwanted, or unneeded in the sentence
Examples

 the writer wishes to emphasize the action of the sentence rather than the doer of the
action
Examples

 the writer wishes to use passive voice for sentence variety.
https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/activepass.htm
Activity
A. Directions: Read the crime story “Bank Robbery at First National Bank” below. Then, find
at least 5 passive voice and write them down on the left side of a T-chart. You also need
to write down the active voice of that passive sentences on the right side.
Police were called to the First National Bank yesterday. The bank was robbed at
12:15pm. One million was stolen. No costumers were hurt, but one robber was shot by
police.
Seventeen customers were in the bank at the time of the robbery. They followed the
instructions of the robbers, and dropped to the ground. No costumers were hurt in the
robbery. One robber was shot by a police officer when he tried to leave the bank. The robber
was hit by one bullet, but he escaped with the other robbers. They drove away in a white
truck. Some of the customers were interviewed on TV about the robbery. They were happy to
be alive after this terrible experience.
“When the robber was shot, I screamed.”
Many clues were left at the bank. The most important clues are fingerprints of the
robbers. The fingerprints were found on the desk, on the doors, and on the guns. Two guns
were left at the bank as the robber escaped in a car. One robber was shot, and the blood he
left on the floor is another important clue. The fingerprints and the blood are being studied
by police investigators.
The robbers were filmed by the bank’s cameras, but they have not been identified yet. The
video is being analyzed by the police. Call the police if you have any information.
Passive Active
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
B. Directions: Using both Active and Passive voice of verbs, write a paragraph or two about
your favorite TV series. Encircle the verbs in the active voice and underline the verbs in
the passive voice.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Assessment
A. Rewrite each sentence changing the verb from active to passive.

1. Jamie bakes a lot of cookies.
2. Many people admired Ninoy Aquino.
3. The pretty girl sewed the dress.
4. The doctor examines the patient.
5. She will sponsor the education of many poor students.
B. Rewrite each sentence changing the verb from passive to active.

1. The decision will be made by my boss.
2. The change was proposed by us last week.
3. A message is delivered by John.
4. The meeting shall be coordinated by Dan in Paul’s absence.
5. The shells were collected by James.
Feedback
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_______________.
Suggested Readings
 https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/scholarlyvocie/activepassive
 https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/
active_and_passive_voice/changing_passive_to_active_vocie.html
 http://www.enago.com/academy/active-and-passive-vocie-in-academic-writing/
References:
Books
English 8 Quarter 4 – Module 1 Grammar Awareness. Literacy 21 st Century Skills,

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Lesson 2: Use active and passive constructions in journalistic contexts

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

a. Identify the voice of the verb in each sentence;

ACTIVE / PASSIVE VOICE

These examples show that the subject is doing the verb's action.

NOTE: Colorful parrots live in the rainforests cannot be changed to passive voice because

To change a sentence from active to passive voice, do the following:

It is generally preferable to use the ACTIVE voice.

A. Rewrite each sentence changing the verb from active to passive.

B. Rewrite each sentence changing the verb from passive to active.

English 8 Quarter 4 – Module 1 Grammar Awareness. Literacy 21 st Century Skills,

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