PASSIVE VOICE AND PROCESS PARAGRAPH 10 April 2025 15

Summary

This lesson focuses on understanding process markers and the use of active and passive voices. It explores how process markers like 'firstly', 'next', and 'finally' help describe a sequence of steps, making processes easier to follow. Additionally, the script explains the structure of active and passive sentences, with an emphasis on how to transform sentences from active to passive. The lesson also highlights the importance of using the imperative form when describing processes and the appropriate use of signal words for clear instructions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understanding process markers is crucial for identifying and describing steps in a process.
• 😀 Signal words such as 'first', 'then', 'next', 'finally' help guide the reader through the process description.
• 😀 Active voice sentences are used in everyday conversation to emphasize the subject performing the action, e.g., 'Andy kicks the ball.'
• 😀 Passive voice is often used in formal contexts, such as crime reports or scientific writing, when the doer is unknown or unimportant.
• 😀 Passive sentences involve a transformation where the object becomes the subject, followed by the verb 'to be' and the past participle of the main verb.
• 😀 Different tenses (simple past, present continuous, past perfect, etc.) can be used to form passive sentences with appropriate changes in the verb structure.
• 😀 To form a passive sentence, swap the subject and object, use the correct form of 'to be', and ensure the verb is in its past participle form.
• 😀 When transforming an active sentence to a passive one, it's important to keep the tense consistent and adjust the auxiliary verb accordingly.
• 😀 In process descriptions, it's important to use imperative verbs such as 'open', 'close', 'save' to give clear instructions.
• 😀 Describing a process involves the use of signal words to indicate the sequence of steps, and the use of the imperative form to issue commands or instructions.

Q & A

What are signal words, and why are they important in describing processes?

Signal words are specific words or phrases used to indicate the steps of a process, helping to guide the reader or listener through the sequence of events. Examples include 'first', 'next', 'then', 'finally'. They are important because they help structure the process, making it easier to follow and understand.

What is the difference between active and passive voice?

Active voice focuses on the subject performing the action, e.g., 'Andy kicked the ball'. Passive voice focuses on the action being performed on the subject, e.g., 'The ball was kicked by Andy'. Passive voice is often used in formal contexts, when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

When should you use passive voice in a sentence?

Passive voice is typically used when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or should not be revealed. For example, in a crime report, 'The wallet was stolen' is used because the thief is either unknown or irrelevant to the context.

What are the three key principles for transforming active sentences into passive ones?

The three key principles are: 1) Swap the subject and object in the sentence, 2) Add the appropriate form of 'to be' (e.g., 'was', 'were') based on the tense, and 3) Use the past participle of the main verb.

How do you form a passive sentence in the past simple tense?

In the past simple tense, the structure is: 'subject + was/were + past participle'. For example, 'The classes were cleaned yesterday.'

What is the role of signal words like 'firstly', 'then', and 'finally' in describing processes?

These signal words help establish the sequence of steps in a process, guiding the reader through each stage. 'Firstly' introduces the first step, 'then' connects subsequent steps, and 'finally' signals the conclusion of the process.

Why can't we use continuous verbs (e.g., 'opening', 'saving') when describing a process?

In process descriptions, we use base form verbs like 'open', 'save', etc., because the purpose is to give clear, concise instructions or commands. Continuous verbs (e.g., 'opening', 'saving') are not suitable because they imply ongoing actions rather than distinct, individual steps.

What is the difference between using 'simple present' and 'present continuous' in passive voice?

In passive voice, 'simple present' uses 'is/am/are + past participle' (e.g., 'The classes are cleaned every day'), while 'present continuous' uses 'is/am/are + being + past participle' (e.g., 'The classes are being cleaned right now').

What does it mean when a process description uses negative imperatives like 'Don't open' or 'Don't touch'?

Negative imperatives are used to provide instructions on what should not be done during a process. They are clear commands that help avoid mistakes or unsafe actions.

How does the transformation of a sentence from active to passive voice affect the focus of the sentence?

In an active sentence, the focus is on the subject performing the action. In a passive sentence, the focus shifts to the object receiving the action, making it the new subject of the sentence.