Period 1 7.1 Passive Voice DOPP B1/B1+
Passive Voice
Read the two headlines:
Who did the actions?
- Where did the actions take place?
- Is the doer of the action important?
- Can you think of any headline for this photo?
Theory on the Passive Voice in Business English
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the focus is on the action, not the performer. In English, it is formed using a form of the verb “to be” followed by a past participle of the main verb. The agent performing the action (if mentioned) is usually introduced by the preposition “by.”
Structure of Passive Voice
The basic structure of the passive voice is:
- Subject + Form of ‘to be’ + Past Participle (+ by + Agent)
Examples:
- Active: The manager approves the budget.
- Passive: The budget is approved by the manager.
Forms of ‘to be’ in Passive Voice
The form of ‘to be’ used in the passive voice changes depending on the tense of the sentence:
- Present Simple: am/is/are + past participle
- Example: The report is written by the analyst.
- Past Simple: was/were + past participle
- Example: The email was sent yesterday.
- Present Continuous: am/is/are being + past participle
- Example: The documents are being reviewed.
- Past Continuous: was/were being + past participle
- Example: The meeting was being held when I arrived.
FromActive to Passive
Tense | Active Sentence | Passive Sentence |
|---|---|---|
Present Simple | The manager writes the report. | The report is written by the manager. |
Past Simple | The manager wrote the report. | The report was written by the manager. |
|
|
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Present Continuous | The manager is writing the report. | The report is being written by the manager. |
Past Continuous | The manager was writing the report. | The report was being written by the manager. |
Listening: Listen to the audio and answer the questions:
- For how many years were the burglars sentenced to?
- What did they steal?
- How did they escape?
- Who does the police think is behind the escape?
Reading and Comprehension: Read the text and answer the questions:
The Rise of Microsoft and Bill Gates
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, is one of the most influential figures in the technology industry. In 1975, Gates, along with his childhood friend Paul Allen, started Microsoft with the vision of putting a computer on every desk and in every home.
Microsoft’s first big success came when it secured a deal to provide the operating system for IBM’s personal computers. This operating system, called MS-DOS, became the foundation for Microsoft’s growth. In the 1980s and 1990s, Microsoft introduced Windows, a graphical extension of MS-DOS, which revolutionized personal computing with its user-friendly interface.
Despite facing intense competition and legal challenges, Microsoft continued to innovate. Under Gates’ leadership, the company expanded its product range to include Microsoft Office, a suite of productivity software, and Internet Explorer, one of the first web browsers.
Looking to the future, Microsoft will be continuing to lead in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. The company will be focusing on integrating these technologies into their existing products and creating new solutions for businesses and consumers alike. Gates’ vision and leadership will be continuing to influence Microsoft’s strategic direction and commitment to innovation.
Comprehension Questions:
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ):
True or False:
Short Answer Questions:
- Who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates?
- What was the graphical extension of MS-DOS called?
- Name one key product introduced by Microsoft in the 1980s or 1990s.
- How will Gates’ vision influence Microsoft’s future?