🎯

Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
✓
Form passive voice in present and past simple
✓
Focus on actions and results, not the doer
✓
Write formal reports and process descriptions
✓
Understand when passive voice is more appropriate
💡
Key for this lesson

Passive = be + past participle. Use passive when the action matters more than who did it. "The update was deployed" sounds more formal!

📚

Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Present Passive

Current States and Regular Actions

am/is/are + past participle

Regular: "Reports are sent every Friday."

Current: "The issue is being investigated."

Formal: "Employees are required to sign in."

is doneare madeis being + pp
Past Passive

Completed Actions

was/were + past participle

Completed: "The update was deployed last night."

Process: "The bug was fixed this morning."

Report: "The decision was made by management."

was donewere sentwas completed
🔑
Active vs Passive

Active: "Tom fixed the bug." (focus on Tom). Passive: "The bug was fixed." (focus on the bug/result). Passive is more formal and objective.

🎯

Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

When to Use Passive

📊Reports: "The data was analysed."
🔧Updates: "The system was updated overnight."
📋Policies: "All visitors are required to sign in."
❓Unknown doer: "The file was deleted."

Business Contexts

📧Emails: "Your request has been received."
🚀Releases: "The new version was launched yesterday."
✅Approvals: "The proposal was approved."
📝Processes: "Applications are reviewed weekly."
💡

Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
✓

Professional Passive Voice

✓
"The update was deployed last night."

Past passive - focus on result

✓
"The report is being reviewed by the team."

Present continuous passive

✓
"All emails are scanned for security."

Present passive - regular process

✓
"The decision was made by the board."

With "by" to mention the doer

✗

Common Mistakes

✗
"The report was send yesterday."

Use: "was sent" (past participle)

✗
"The bug fixed." (missing be)

Use: "The bug was fixed."

✗
"The data is analyse."

Use: "The data is analysed." (past participle)

🎧

Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to a company-wide announcement:

🎵Audio: Green Office Initiative
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
🔊
Speed:

David: Hello everyone. This is a short announcement about our new 'Green Office' initiative, which was approved last week by management. From next Monday, a few changes will be implemented to make our workplace more environmentally friendly.

First, paper usage. All reports should now be shared digitally. Printed documents will only be allowed if they are required for legal reasons. Special permission must be requested. Second, recycling. New recycling bins have been placed in every kitchen area. All plastic and paper waste must be put in these bins. Please note that the old bins under your desks will be removed tonight.

Finally, a new coffee supplier was chosen last month. Our coffee is now sourced from a certified fair-trade farm. The new coffee machine was installed yesterday in the main breakroom. Your old coffee pods can no longer be used. More information can be found in the email that was sent out this morning. Your cooperation is appreciated as we make these important changes. This initiative is a key part of our sustainability goals.

Question 1: When was the 'Green Office' initiative approved?

💡 Hint: Listen for David saying "which was approved last week by management."

Question 2: According to the new rules, when are printed documents allowed?

💡 Hint: Listen for David saying "Printed documents will only be allowed if..."

Question 3: What was installed in the main breakroom yesterday?

💡 Hint: Listen for David mentioning "The new coffee machine was installed yesterday..."

Question 4: Fill in the gap: "More information can be found in the email that _____ _____ out this morning."

💡 Hint: Listen for a passive voice structure (be + past participle) describing when the email went out.
🧠

Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes
1

Correct past passive:

AThe report send yesterday.
BThe report was sent yesterday.
CThe report was send yesterday.
2

Present passive for regular processes:

AReports send every Friday.
BReports are sent every Friday.
CReports was sent every Friday.
3

When to use passive voice:

AWhen you want to emphasize who did the action
BWhen the action or result is more important than the doer
COnly in informal writing
✏️

Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Change to passive voice

1. They fixed the bug. → The bug _______ _______.

2. The team sends reports weekly. → Reports _______ _______ weekly.

3. They approved the proposal. → The proposal _______ _______.

4. We review applications daily. → Applications _______ _______ daily.

🗣️

Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
📚
Preparation for Class

Practice describing processes and updates using passive voice.

📊 Task 1: Status Update (1 min)

Describe project updates: "The report was completed... The data is being reviewed..."

🔧 Task 2: Process Description (2 min)

Explain how something works: "Applications are submitted... They are reviewed..."

✨
Well Done!

Key structure: be + past participle. Passive makes communication more formal and objective.
Next: Lesson 7.2 - Question Tags and Verification

Module Overview
Next lesson →