Verbs: Passive Voice | Socioemotional Summary

Objectives

1. Understand the concept of passive voice and its importance in constructing sentences in English.

2. Learn how to transform sentences from active voice to passive voice by correctly identifying verbs in passive voice.

Contextualization

Did you know that the passive voice is often used in news reporting and scientific descriptions? This is because it helps to focus on what really matters: the action or the object receiving the action. Imagine being able to write a resume highlighting your skills clearly and precisely! Understanding the passive voice can enhance your communication both in school and in your professional life. Shall we explore how this works? 

Important Topics

Definition of Passive Voice

The passive voice is a grammatical structure where the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence. For example, instead of saying 'The chef baked the cake', we say 'The cake was baked by the chef'. The importance of this construction lies in shifting the focus of the sentence to what is more relevant – the object – often used to highlight actions or results where the subject is not primary.

•  Focus on Object: The passive voice allows the object of the action to be the highlight of the sentence, taking the emphasis off the subject performing the action.

•  Use in Formal Texts: It is frequently used in scientific and academic texts because it emphasizes results and processes over agents.

•  Unknown or Irrelevant Action: Ideal for situations where the subject is unknown or not important to the context.

Structure of Passive Voice

The passive voice in English is formed by the verb 'to be' conjugated in the tense of the original sentence followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example: 'The book is read by Maria'. Understanding this structure is essential for correctly transforming sentences and using the passive voice effectively.

•  Verb 'to be': Conjugate the verb 'to be' in the appropriate tense of the original sentence (present, past, future, etc.).

•  Past Participle: Use the past participle of the main verb from the original sentence. E.g.: 'read' (to read) -> 'read' (read).

•  Temporal Flexibility: The passive voice can be used in various verb tenses, adapting to the context of communication.

Transforming Active Voice to Passive

To transform a sentence from active voice to passive voice, follow a few simple steps: Identify the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence; Move the object of the active sentence to the subject position; Conjugate the verb 'to be' in the tense of the active sentence; Place the main verb in the past participle; Add 'by' followed by the original subject if necessary. This process helps ensure that the construction of the passive sentence is correct and clear.

•  Identification of Elements: First, identify the subject, verb, and object in the active sentence.

•  Reorganization: Rearrange the sentence by placing the object as the subject.

• ⏳ Correct Conjugation: Correctly conjugate the verb 'to be' and place the main verb in the past participle.

•  Inclusion of Original Subject: Use 'by' followed by the original subject if it is relevant for the final passive sentence.

Key Terms

• Passive Voice: A grammatical structure where the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence.

• Verb 'to be': Verb used in constructing the passive voice, conjugated in the correct tense of the original sentence.

• Past Participle: Form of the main verb used in constructing the passive voice.

• Active Voice: A grammatical structure where the subject of the sentence performs the action on the object.

To Reflect

• How can practicing the passive voice help improve your clarity and precision when communicating in English? Think of practical examples.

• What situations do you think using the passive voice would be more effective than the active voice? Explain your reasons.

• How developing the skill of transforming active sentences into passive ones can help strengthen your socio-emotional skills, like patience and attention to detail.

Important Conclusions

•  Main Points of the Lesson:

• Definition of Passive Voice: The passive voice is a structure where the object of the action becomes the subject of the sentence, shifting the focus of the sentence to what is more relevant.

• Structure of Passive Voice: It is formed by the verb 'to be' conjugated in the correct tense followed by the past participle of the main verb.

• Transformation from Active to Passive Voice: Involves identifying the elements of the active sentence, reorganizing them, correctly conjugating the verb 'to be', and using the past participle.

• Impact on Socio-emotional Skills: Practicing the passive voice enhances clarity and precision in communication, while also developing socio-emotional skills such as patience and attention to detail.

Impact on Society

The passive voice has a significant impact on today's society, being widely used in journalistic reports, scientific descriptions, and formal written communication. The ability to transform sentences from active to passive allows for clearer and more objective communication, which is essential in academic and professional environments. Additionally, the correct application of the passive voice can strengthen the understanding of texts in English, helping students excel in assessments and the job market. 

On an emotional level, mastering the passive voice can increase students' confidence when expressing themselves in English, reducing anxiety associated with writing and speaking in a second language. This skill also promotes empathy, as it allows students to communicate information in a way that values what is most important to the interlocutor, whether in a scientific, professional, or personal context. 

Dealing with Emotions

To help manage emotions while studying the passive voice, I propose an exercise based on the RULER method. First, recognize how you feel when performing the activities, whether it's anxiety, frustration, or satisfaction. Next, understand what causes these emotions – perhaps the complexity of the topic or the satisfaction in understanding something new. Name these emotions accurately; this helps in better handling them. Express those emotions appropriately by writing in a journal or talking with a peer. Finally, regulate your emotions by practicing mindfulness breathing techniques we learned in class to maintain calm and focus. ✨

Study Tips

• Practice Regularly: Transform sentences from active to passive in weekly exercises. The more you practice, the more natural using the passive voice becomes.

• Close Reading: Read articles, news, and books in English, identifying sentences in the passive voice. Mark these sentences and try to transform them back to active voice.

• Creative Writing: Try writing weekly paragraphs or descriptions of events using the passive voice. This will help solidify your understanding and use of the structure.