Present passive

Present simple passive:

1. Beforehand, make cards with names of objects written on them, e.g. scissors, shirt, cell phone, pen, pillow, blanket, shoes, computer, broom, paper, etc.

2. Divide the class into two groups.

3. A student from one group comes to the front and picks a card. He/she then gives clues using the present simple passive to help his/her group guess the object.
For example, if the card reads "stapler", sample clues would be: "It's used for keeping papers together. It's made from metal and plastic. It's used in offices and schools."

4. For every grammatically correct clue, the team earns a point. If after three clues the team doesn't guess, the other team gets the chance to guess.


Present continuous passive:

1. Beforehand, make cards with activities in present perfect passive, such as:
-His hair is being cut.
-The floor is being swept.
-A book is being read.

2. Divide the class into two groups.

3. A student from one group comes the front and draws a card. He/she then gestures what the card says, for his/her team to guess. If after 10 secodns the team hasn't guessed, the other team is allowed to guess it.

Passive Voice Race Game

Source: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ael/all/publications/MALC_ESL/writing/Passive%20Voice/Passive%20Voice%20Race%20Game.htm

Procedure:

Try this activity after having worked on using passive voice in other assignments.

1. Copy the attached pages.

2. Fill in the blank spaces with the names of some of your students.

3. Copy on to coloured paper or cardstock and cut the sentences into strips.

4. Divide the class into teams.

5. This game is played in rounds. For each round, give every team one strip.

6. Students work together to change the active voice sentence to passive.

7. One member of the group races to the board and rewrites the sentence in the passive--if possible. (Almost all the sentences can be changed to passive; there are just a few that can't-- to throw a wrench into the activity.)

8. You check the sentences with the class and keep track of each team's points on the board.

Scoring is as follows:

· Grammatically perfect sentences are worth 5 points.

· An incorrect passive voice sentence is worth 0 points.

· Subtract one point for every other type of grammatical mistake.


Lesson Extension


1. Discuss and correct errors together.

2. Discuss which sentences cannot be changed and why.

3. Discuss use of passive voice and why it might be used.



Follow-up / Transfer Activities:

This activity can be done to reinforce a number of other grammar points such as changing the verb tenses, changing vocabulary choices, adding or deleting connectors…..etc.


Sample Sentences:

1. Scientists observed the tigers for six days.
2. Esther is investigating a new theory.
3. When we walked into the classroom, the teacher had already given the assignment.
4. Some teachers cleaned up the teachers’ room.
5. I think Su and Tin will finish all the food.
6. Maggy made the som tum.
7. Juju’s cat ate the fish.
8. Our discovery will surprise the world.
9. Someone will tell us by this time next week.
10. Many people visit Dreamworld every year.
11. Wanida and Jaruwan have washed the dishes.
12. Someone has poisoned Marlise’s dinner.
13. What happened to you last night?
14. The girls rented some movies.
15. Rinbi will complete her degree in two years’ time.
16. Ekapoom could not fall asleep.
17. A lot of beautiful girls followed Po.
18. Argentina will win the next World Cup!!
19. Tonya ate Wichai’s lunch.
20. The police dragged Miss Doris away.
21. Pray was making all the pictures.
22. Sirinda gave the whole class some presents.
23. Derald is organizing the trip.
24. Paola wears this dress.