Passive Voice II
In this unit, students improve passive voice use by making smart choices about agents (by…), emphasis, and style. The goal is to write more natural academic/workplace English and avoid repetition by mixing passive and active structures.
SWBAT (Objectives)
- Choose when to include an agent (by + noun) and when to omit it.
- Use passive voice to control emphasis (what comes first in the sentence).
- Avoid repetitive writing by balancing passive and active sentences.
- Identify passive structures in a text and explain why they were used.
- Edit a short report for clarity, style, and variety.
Focus Points (Agent, Emphasis, Variety)
Keep by + agent when it matters.
• The policy was approved by the board.
Omit it when obvious/unimportant.
• The form is submitted online.
Passive helps you place the important thing first.
• The results were analyzed carefully.
(focus on results, not the analyst)
Too many passives feel heavy.
Mix styles: passive for processes, active for clear responsibility.
Use synonyms: conducted / carried out / completed.
Repetitive: The test was done. The results were checked. The report was written.
Improved: The test was conducted, the results were reviewed, and the team wrote a short report.
Reading: Short Report (Model Text)
- Underline all passive verbs.
- Circle the sequence markers (then, within…, as a result).
- Decide: is the agent important? Why/why not?
Noticing Tasks (Why Passive?)
Which version fits a formal report better?
1) “We investigated the issue.”
2) “The issue was investigated.”
Explain your choice in one sentence.
Decide if “by…” should be added:
• The policy was approved (by…).
• The email was sent (by…).
• The bridge was designed (by…).
Rewrite to avoid repeating “was/were” too many times. Keep the meaning and formal tone.
Editing Task: Improve a Paragraph
- Keep the meaning.
- Reduce repetition.
- Use 1–2 active sentences (if helpful).
- Improve vocabulary (checked → reviewed, processed → handled).
Rewrite Practice (Active ↔ Passive)
A) The engineers repaired the bridge overnight.
B) The bridge was repaired overnight.
Which is better for a news report? Which is better for assigning responsibility? Why?
1) The decision was made _____.
2) The building was designed _____.
3) The ticket was issued _____.
Rewrite (same meaning):
“The samples were collected. They were tested. The results were recorded and were shared.”
Exit Ticket (5 minutes)
- Write 1 passive sentence with no agent (formal report style).
- Write 1 passive sentence with an agent using by….
- Rewrite 1 repetitive passive line to reduce “was/were”.
- Answer: When is active better than passive?