Research report passive voice and relating exercises

THANH HOA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NONG CONG I HIGHSCHOOL
 RESEARCH REPORT
PASSIVE VOICE AND RELATING EXERCISES 
 Writer : Le Thuy Dung
 Position: Teacher
 Subject: English
 THANH HOA YEAR 2016
I.Introduction
1.1.Rationale of the study:
Engish is the most popular language in the world and an important subject at schools. Seeing its importance in international affiliations, the Vietnam ministry of Education and Training choose English one of the core subjects.It is not only the language for tourism,trade, aviation but is also used in exams.2016 is the second year that apply the new method in checking students’ understanding, skills and knowledge through a general exam for those who take it for graduating purpose and a specific exam for students who want to enter a certain university. English is still one main subject that students have to take in both exams. In the new kind of english exam, students have to do two main parts: the multiple choice part and the writing part. Among a variety knowledge and skills students have to prepare for the above exams, passive voice is one major part. To help students understand the form , the way to change from an active voice to passive one, kinds of passive voice and how to recognize them in multiple choice sentences an rewriting sentences,I choose the topic “Passive voice and relating exercises” in my research.
1.2 Aims of the study:
I do this research in order to give some of my opinions on problems relating to passive voice in English and provide teacher of English with a reference in teaching and reviewing for their students for the coming exams.
1.3 Field of the study:
In the curriculumn, passive voice is taught in grade 10,11and 12.I my research, I would like to concentrade on some theory issues like the form, the way to change from an active sentence to a passive one, types of passive voice and on practice issues such as rewrite exercises from active to passive and multiple choice exercises to help my students consolidate what they have learnt in order to do different kinds of exercises related to passive from basic to advantaged ones easily and effectively and to meet the needs of above new the exams.
1.4 Research Method
The study of theory construction.
II. Development
2.1 Scope of the study:
- Passive voice in English 10, 11, 12.
-Some relating books(Oxford Practice Grammar, Longman English Grammar Practice, Grammar English in Use) and websites(Violet, Tai Lieu,English Grammar) about passive voice.
- My colleges’ shared experience and opinions.
- Classes of grade 10 with total students of 120 
2.2 Actual state
English grammar has an important role in English language as it is the foundation skills that many people have to know to develop their other skills in learning English. Passive voice is one of the major problems my students have to encounter when they study grammar. It is true that they can not make distinction between a passive sentence and an active one . As a result they find it difficult to choose the correct answer in multiple choice tests or writing tests related to passive one. I am interested in showing theoretical sites background and its applied practice and practical teaching so as to help my students overcome problems of learning passive voice.
2.3 Research : Theory of the passive voice
 A. Normal passive voice
I. Form
Active: 	S + V + O + . 
Passive: 	S + be + Vpp + (by O) + 
Eg: Active: Bell invented the telephone. (1)
	S1 V1 O
 Passive: The telephone was invented by Bell. (2)
	 S2(O) BE V1PP BY +O(S)
-We say Bell invented the telephone because we are talking about Bell and the new information is that he invented the telephone. When the subject is the person or thing doing the action(the agent), then we use an active sentence.(1)
- We say The telephone was invented by Bell because we are talking about the telephone, and the new information is that it was invented by Bell.When the subject is not agent (is not doing the action)but the thing that the action is directed at, then we use a passive verb.
II. Rules
When we change from an active sentence to a passive one, we need to follow the following steps	
1. Identify The subject, main verb and objective of the active sentence.
Active: 	She arranges the books on the shelves every weekend.
 S1 V1 O
2. Take object to be subject of the passive sentence, add the suitable verb to be (relating to the tense in the active sentence), move Subject to be Object and put it after by.
à Passive: 	The books are arranged on the shelves (by her) every weekend.
 S be Vpp 	 by O
3. Notes:
a. when the subject has two persons linked by and or of, we have to identify clearly the subjects to change from an active to a passive one.
Active: 	Tom and Mary see the film
à Passive: 	The film is seen by Tom and Mary.
Active: 	He bought a box of chocolates last week
à Passive: 	A box of chocolates was bought last week. 
b. When the verb of the active sentence is a phrase of phrasal verb(verb + preposition), we have to keep the preposition in the passive 
Active: 	They are looking into my problem now.
à Passive: 	My problem is being looked into now.
c. In the passive sentence, by O stands after adverbs of place and before adverbs of time. 
Active: Mr Ha arranged the books on the shelves every weekend.
à Passive: The books are arranged on the shelves (by Mr Ha) every weekend.
 adv of place by O adv of time
 d. In the passive sentence, we can omit by O when the subject ia a personal pronoun like I, you, we, they etc or “vague subjects” like one, someone, people.
Active: They have built a new bridge across the river.
à Passive: 	A new bridge has been built across the river.
 e. We use By + agent to tell the doer who does the action. 
Active: John made the kite
à Passive: 	A kite was made by John.
 We use With + instrument / material / ingredient to tell how the agent is used.
Active: Paper, paint and string made it
 à Passive: 	It was made with paper, paint and string
*Some common phrases:
- be covered with / in + N: che phủ, bao bọc + danh từ chỉ chất liệu.
This box was covered with paper.
- to be filled with: lấp đầy, tràn đầy 
	The room is filled with smoke.
* The agent in some special cases 
- So. / sth. + surprise so. ® So. surprised at / by + sth. / so. (ngạc nhiên)
Active: 	The news surprised him. 
à Passive: 	He was surprised at / by the news.
- So. / sth. excite so ® so. be excited about sth. (háo hức)
Active: 	The match excited the children. 
à Passive: 	The children were excited about the match.
- be worried / upset about sth: lo lắng, đau khổ
- so. / sth. interest so. ® so. be interested in so. / sth. quan tâm đến
- so. / sth. tire so. ® so. be tired of / from so. / sth. (chán cái gì, mệt mỏi bởi).
f. When there are modals or auxiliaries in the verb of the active sentences
Active: 	S + Aux /Modals+ V + O + . 
à Passive: 	S + Aux/Modals + be + Vpp+ (by O) + 
Active: 	My students have to do a lot of homework every day	
	 S Aux V O
à Passive: A lot of homewok has to be done by my students 
	 S Aux BE VPP	
Active: Every one can answer that easy question.
	 S Modal V O
à Passive: That easy question can be answered.
g. Here is the table for different verb tenses in active and passive equipvalents
Tenses in active sentences
Tenses in passive equipvalents
 (Simple Present)
V / V-s/es/ies
AM / IS / ARE + V3
 (Present Continuous)
AM / IS / ARE + Ving
AM / IS / ARE + BEING + V3
 (Present Perfect)
HAVE / HAS + V3
HAVE / HAS + BEEN + V3
 (Simple past)
V2 / V-ed
WAS / WERE + V3
 (Past Continuous)
WAS / WERE + Ving
WAS / WERE + Ving
 (Past Perfect)
HAD + V3
HAD + BEEN + V3
 (Simple future)
SHALL / WILL + V
SHALL BE / WILL BE + V3
 (Near future)
AM / IS / ARE + GOING TO + V 
AM/ IS / ARE + GOING TO BE + V3
 (Future continuous)
WILL BE+ V3
WILL BE BEING + V3
 (Future Perfect)
WILL HAVE+ V3
WILL HAVE BEEN + V3
(Modal)
CAN + V 
CAN + BE + V3
COULD + V 
COULD + BE + V3
HAVE TO + V 
HAVE TO + BE + V3
MAY + V 
MAY + BE + V3
MIGHT + V
MIGHT + BE + V3
MUST + V
MUST+ BE + V3
SHOULD + V
SHOULD + BE + V3
OUGHT + V
OUGHT + BE + V3
USED TO + V
USED TO + BE + V3
WOULD + V
WOULD + BE + V3
Modal perfect / Past modal
MODAL + HAVE + V3
MODAL + HAVE BEEN + V3
Infinitive
TO V
TO BE + V3
Gerund
Ving
BEING + V3
B. Special passive voice 
I. Verbs with two objects
1. Verbs followed by preposition TO: give, lend, send, show, allow, 
Active: 	John will give me this book. 
à Passive1: 	I will be given this book by John.
In this sentence, The subject is I and it tells us what i will be given(I- indirect object). 
à Passive2: 	This book will be given to me by John.
In this sentence, The subject is the book, and it tells who will be given it.(the book- direct object).
2. Verbs followed by preposition FOR: buy, make, get, pay:
Active: 	He bought her a rose. (= He bought a rose for her.)
à Passive1: 	She was bought a rose.
à Passive2: 	A rose was bought for her.
II. Verbs of opinion with the subject They / People + say / think / believe that :
1.Form:
Verbs of opinion such as think, believe, say, report, know, expect, consider, understand,find, think ... is often used in structrures with personal / impersonal constructions.
 Active:	S1 + V1(say, believe, ) + (that) + S2 + V2 + 
Passive1:	It + Be + V1pp (said, believed ) + that + S2 + V2 	(1)	
Passive2:	S2 + Be + V1pp (said, believed ) + V2to 	(2)	 Or S2 + Be + V1pp (said, believed) + Vto have +V2pp	(3)
- We can use the structure It +passive verb + clause with verbs of reporting when we can not say or do not need to say who the speaker is, for example in new reports.
Eg: Active: They think that the company is planning a new advertising campaign.
 à Passive1: It is thought that the company is planning a new advertising campaign(1)—impersonal construction
- If the action in that clause(V2) happens at the same time or after the action in the main clause (V1), we use Vto when taking S2 to be the subject of the passive sentence.
à Passive2:The company is thought to be planning a new advertising compaign
- Personal construction.(2)
- If the action in that clause (V2) happens before the action in the main clause (V1), we use perfect infinitive(to have +Vpp) when taking S2 to be the subject of the passive sentence.(3)
People think that he left the country last night.
 S1 V1 S2 V2	 
à Passive1: 	It is thought (that) he left the country last night.(1)
à Passive2:	He is thought to have left the country last night.(3)
III. Verbs of perception: see, watch, hear,(V*)
1.Form
Active:	S + V* + O + bare infinitive / Ving
Passive:	S + Be + V*pp + to-infinitive / Ving
2. If we mention a complete action, we use verb bare infinitive after the verb of perception. 
Active: 	People saw him steal your car.
	 S V* O Vbareinf
- When we change the above sentence into passive Verb bare infinitive become Verb to infinitive
Passive:	He was seen to steal your car.
	 Be +Vpp Vtoinf
3. If we mention an uncompleted action, we use verb ing after the verb of perception.
Active: 	The teacher is watching them working.
	S be + Ving O Ving
- When we change the sentence into passive, Verb ing keeps the same form.
Passive:	They are being watched working by the teacher.
	Be +being Vpp Ving
IV. Causative verbs:
1. With the verb HAVE:
Active:	S + Have + O1(person)+ V +O2(thing) 
Passive:	S + Have + O2 + Vpp + (by + O1)
When we want to ask somebody to do something for us, we can use the structure in the active form and if we want to emphasize something which is done we use the passive structure.
Active: 	I’ll have John repair my bicycle. 
	 S have O1 V O2	
Passive:	I’ll have my bicycle repaired by John. 
	 S have O2 Vpp by + O1	
2. With the verb GET 
Active: S + Get + O1(person) + Vto + O2(thing)
Passive: S + Get + O2 + Vpp + (by + O1)
This structure is used the same as with the verb Have above.
 Active: She got her neighbour to decorate the kitchen.
	 S get O1 Vtoinf O2
 Passive: 	She got the kitchen decorated by her neighbour.	
 S get O2 Vpp by + O1
3. There are some structures that we can use causative form in pasive when we want to rewrite sentences so as to keep its original meaning.
tell / ask / order + sb + to do sth. 
pay + sb + for doing sth 
Active:	get / hire / employ + sb + to do sth	
	arrange + for sb + to do sth	
tip + sb + for doing sth
prepare + for sb + to do sth
Passive: 	Have / Get + sth + Vpp
Active: 	He is employing a boy to pick up apples.
à Passive: 	He is having apples picked up by a boy 
Active: 	The Browns have prepared for a man to fix the air-conditioner.
à Passive: 	The Browns have had the air-conditioner fixed.
4. With the verb MAKE:
Active:	S + Make + O + V 
à Passive: 	S + Be + made + Vto 
In active sentence, the verb after make must be in bare form while in passive one it is used in to infinitive.
Active: 	They made him work hard. 
	 S make O Vbareinf
à Passive: 	He was made to work hard. 
	 S be made Vtoinf	
Active: 	The news has made me laugh. 
	 S make O Vbareinf
à Passive: 	I have been made to laugh. 
	S be made Vtoinf 
V. With the verb NEED: 	
Active:	S (person) + Need + Vto + O (thing)
 	Need + Ving
Passive:	S (thing) 
 	Need + To be + Vpp
-In the active sentence, the subject must be person and the verb following need is to infinitive. 
Active: 	John and his brother need to paint the house.
	S need Vtoinf O(thing)
- In the passive sentence, the subject is thing (O in active one) and must be follwed by either Ving or to be Vpp
à Passive1: 	The house needs painting 
à Passive2: 	The house needs to be painted.
Active: 	The floor is dirty. 
à Passive1: 	It (the floor) needs to be cleaned. 
à Passive2: 	It (the floor) needs cleaning.
VI. With Negative indefinite pronouns: No one, Nobody, Anyone, Anything (dạng Any + / No +):
Because these pronouns have negative meaning themselves so when we change from an active sentence to a passive one, we must add “not” after modals or auxiliaries and vice-versal.
Active: 	No one can answer this question. (à Affirmative verb)
à Passive: 	This question can’t be answered. (à Negative verb)
Active: 	They haven’t done anything. (àNegative verb)
à Passive: 	Nothing has been done. (àAffirmative verb)
VII. With the structures of request and imperative:
1.Request sentences
a. Affirmative sentence:
Active: 	Imperative (V) + O + Vto
à Passive: 	Let + O + Be + Vpp + Vto
-In active sentence, we use verb bare +Object and Verb to infinitive.
Active: 	Tell him to wait.
	 V O Vtoinf 
- In passive sentence, we add let before the object and the imperative verb change into verb past participle
à Passive: 	Let him be told to wait.
	Let O be Vpp
b. Negative sentence
Active: Negative imperative (Don’t let V) + Operson + Vbareinf + Othing
à Passive: 	Don’t Let + Othing + Be + Vpp + by +Operson 
- In active sentence, we use Don’t let + Objectperson +Vbareinf +Object thing
Active: 	Don’t let the children tease the dog. 
	 S Operson Vbareinf Othing
- In passive sentence,we put the Object thing before verb be + Vpp and by + Operson
à Passive: 	Don’t let the dog be teased by the children
	 S Othing be +Vpp by + Operson
2. Imperative sentences
a. Affirmative sentence:
Active: 	Imperative (V) + O + Vto
à Passive: 	S + must + Be + Vpp 
-In affirmative sentence, we use verb bare infinitive + Object
Active: 	Close your book.
	V O
- In passive one, we use Object as the subject of the sentence and add must be + verb in the past participle form.
à Passive: 	Your book must be closed.
	 S must be +Vpp
b. Negative sentence
Active: 	Negative Imperative (Don’t V) + O + Vto
à Passive: 	S + mustn’t + Be + Vpp
-In affirmative sentence, we use Don’t + verb bare infinitive + Object
Active: 	Don't touch this button. 
	 Don’t +Vbare O
-In passive one, we use Object as the subject of the sentence and add musn’t be + verb in the past participle form.
à Passive: 	This button mustn't be touched.
	 S musn’t be + Vpp
VIII. With other verbs:
1 begin / continue:
- In active form the verb used after begin/continue is to infinitive/Ving while in the passive form it is to be + Vpp/being +Vpp
Active: 	People begin to explore the internet.
à Passive: 	The internet begin to be explored.
Active: 	We continued rehearsing the play after the break.
à Passive: 	The play continued being rehearsed after the break.
2. like/ love/ expect/ want/ wish:
- In the active sentence, we use Verb to infinitive after V*(like, love, want, wish) + Othing while in the passive form we use V* + Othing + Vto be + Vpp
Active: 	S +V*( like/ love/ expect/ want/ wish) + Vto +Othing
à Passive: 	S + V*+ Othing + to be +Vpp.
 Active: 	He likes to take away the books.
à Passive: 	He likes the books to be taken away.
Active: 	They expect people to dig the garden.
à Passive: 	They expect the garden to be dug.
 3.If the subject and the object denote the same person then we have the following structure:
 Active: 	S + V*(like/ love/ expect/ want/ wish )+ Vto + O (S = O) 
Passive:à 	S + V*+ to be Vpp
Active: 	He likes people to call him Proffessor.
à Passive: 	He likes to be called Proffessor.
IX. With other special structures: 
1. Active: 	It is/ (im)possible Vto sth
à Passive: 	Sth can / can’t be done.
Active: 	It is possible to type the letter now.
à Passive: 	The letter can be typed now.
Active: 	It was impossible to start the machine by electricity then.
à Passive: 	The machine couldn't be started by electricity then.
Note: You must pay attention to the verb to be. If it is in the simple present form in the active sentence, we use can(can’t with negative). If the verb to be is in the past form then we use could(couldn’t with negative).
2. Active: 	It is + one's duty + Vto sth 
Passive: à 	S + be + supposed + Vto sth. 
Active: 	It is your duty to clean the room.
à Passive: 	You are supposed to clean the room.
3. Active: 	
It is/was adj*(important/necessary/essential/crucial/advisable/better/only right) + Vto sth
à Passive: 	It is/was + adj* + that sth should be + Vpp
Active: 	It is necessary to repaint the door.
à Passive: 	It is necessary that the door should be repainted.
4. Active: 	S+ V*(Advise / beg / urge / order)+ sb + Vto + sth 
à Passive: 	S +V* + that sth should be + Vpp
Active: 	I advised her to make artificial flowers.
à Passive: 	I advised that artificial flowers should be made.
5.Active: 	S +V*(Agree/ arrange/ determine/ decide/ demand/ be anxious/ be determined) + Vto+ sth 
à Passive: 	S + V* + that sth should 	be + Vpp
Active: 	We agreed to cut the cake in half.
à Passive: 	We agreed that the cake should be cut in half.
6Active: 	S +V*(Insist on / suggest / propose / recommend / advise) + V-ing + O 
à Passive: 	S + V*+ that S should be + V3
Active: 	She suggested taking photographs by the lake.
à Passive: 	She suggested that photographs should be taken by the lake.
7.Active: 	S +V*( love / enjoy / like / hate / mind )+ people + V-ing + O
à Passive1: 	S + V* + being + Vpp (S = O)
à Passive2: 	S + V* + having + O + Vpp (S ¹ O)
Active: 	I love people admiring me. 	
à Passive1: 	I love being admired.
Active: 	I love people admiring my house. 	
à Passive2: 	I love having my house admired.
2.4 Research application: Some basic and advanced types of exercises
- Here are some basic and advanced types of exercises I apply after teaching types of passive I teach my students. With different levels of students, I give them different kinds of exercises from easy to hard ones so that I can check their understanding about passive voice. 
A. Normal passive voice
I. Change the following active sentences in to the passive ones(pay attention to the verb tense)
1.My father waters this flower every morning.
2.John invited Fiona to his birthday party last night.
3.Her mother is preparing the dinner in the kitchen.
4.Our teachers hav