Speaking: Grammar in Speaking B1
Using Simple Passive Voice in Explanations
Listen to the examples here.
Focusing on the Action, Not the "Doer" ✍️
Sometimes, the person who does an action (the "doer") is unknown or not important. In these cases, we use the Passive Voice to focus on the action itself, or the thing that receives the action.
How to Form the Passive Voice
Present Simple Passive
Used for facts, processes, and general truths.
- Fish amok is made with coconut milk.
- Many motos are sold in Cambodia.
- I am asked this question often.
Past Simple Passive
Used for past events.
- This bridge was built many years ago.
- My keys were lost yesterday.
- They were invited to the party.
Speaking Tips
🗣️ Pronunciation: Stress in Passive Sentences
In passive sentences, the helping verb "be" (is, are, was, were) is usually unstressed and weak (said quickly and quietly). The main stress often falls on the past participle (V3) and the important receiver.
- Listen: "My MOto w'z STOlen." (Focus: moto, stolen)
- Listen: "A lot of RICE iz GROWN." (Focus: rice, grown)
Practice saying the verbs quickly: iz, w'z, uh(r), wuh(r).
Practice the Passive Voice 🎯
Activity 1: Active or Passive? (Self-Check)
Read the sentences. Decide if they are Active or Passive. Click "Show Answer" to check.
- My brother cleaned the house.
Show Answer
Active (Brother did the action)
- The house was cleaned.
Show Answer
Passive (Focus on the house)
- English is spoken here.
Show Answer
Passive (Focus on English)
- She sells beautiful flowers at the market.
Show Answer
Active (She did the action)
- These shoes were made in Vietnam.
Show Answer
Passive (Focus on the shoes)
Activity 2: Change to Passive (Self-Check)
Change the active sentence to a passive sentence. Focus on the receiver (underlined). Click "Show Answer" to check.
- Active: They make these cakes in Battambang.
Show Answer
These cakes are made in Battambang.
- Active: Someone broke the window.
Show Answer
The window was broken.
- Active: Shakespeare wrote 'Romeo and Juliet'.
Show Answer
'Romeo and Juliet' was written by Shakespeare. (Use 'by' if the doer is important or interesting).
- Active: The company hired many new workers last year.
Show Answer
Many new workers were hired last year (by the company).
Key Grammar Terms
- Active Voice The 'normal' sentence where the subject performs the action (e.g., "The cat chased the mouse.")
- Passive Voice The sentence focuses on the receiver of the action, using 'be' + Past Participle (e.g., "The mouse was chased by the cat.")
- Past Participle The third form of a verb (e.g., eat -> ate -> eaten; grow -> grew -> grown), used to form the passive voice and perfect tenses.
- Receiver (of action) The person or thing that the action happens to (becomes the subject in passive voice).
- Doer (of action) / Agent The person or thing that performs the action (the subject in active voice, often omitted or put after 'by' in passive voice).
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
This week, your mission is to find and use the passive voice naturally.
- Find: Look at the label on your shirt, your phone, your shoes, or some food packaging. Find where it says it was made (e.g., "Made in Cambodia", "Product of Thailand").
- Speak: Tell a friend or practice saying your finding using the Past Simple Passive. For example:
- "My phone was made in China."
- "This shirt was made in Cambodia."
- Think: Why is the passive voice used on labels like this? (Hint: Is the name of the factory worker important on the label?)