E9 G - Passive voice in news and factual texts
aiMOOCE9 G - Passive voice in news and factual texts
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E9 G - Passive voice in news and factual texts
Einleitung
Mini-Beschreibung: Erschließe häufige passive structures in kurzen news-style und factual texts und ordne ihnen eine verständliche aktive Bedeutung zu.
Zielgruppe: Englisch als erste Fremdsprache, Klasse 9, Baden-Württemberg, G-Niveau.
In diesem aiMOOC arbeitest Du mit kurzen News-Meldungen, Faktenkästen, Bildern und Videos. Du lernst nicht jede mögliche Passivform. Wichtig sind häufige Formen, die Dir in Nachrichten und Sachtexten wirklich begegnen.
Dein Lernweg: English first → understand → respond → ask → hint → improve → use again.
Du bekommst also zuerst einen englischen Impuls. Danach zeigst Du, was Du verstanden hast. Wenn etwas noch schwer ist, nutzt Du einen Hint. Dann verbesserst Du Deine Antwort und verwendest die Struktur erneut.
Media start – look first, then speak:
Look at the newspaper image. Say two short sentences.
- What can be reported in a newspaper?
- Which sentence sounds more like a news report: “Workers repaired the road.” or “The road was repaired.”?
Hint: News often focuses on the event, the result or the thing that was affected.
I-can-Ziele
Am Ende kannst Du sagen:
- I can spot common passive forms in short news and factual texts.
- I can understand who or what is affected by an action.
- I can change a simple passive sentence into an understandable active meaning.
- I can use present and past passive in short factual sentences.
- I can ask for clarification when I do not understand a report.
- I can explain why a writer may use the passive.
- I can write a short factual report with a few correct passive forms.
- I can check my own text for clear meaning before I check grammar details.
Vorwissen aktivieren
You already know many forms of to be:
am – is – are – was – were
You also know many past participles:
opened – repaired – built – found – made – written – sent
Try this quick check:
The road was repaired.
What do you see?
- was = a past form of to be
- repaired = past participle
- The road receives the action.
You do not need a full German translation. Ask yourself:
What happened to the road?
Answer:
Someone repaired it.
That is the active meaning.
Media mission: News language in action
Look at the reporter. Imagine a short local-news report.
Possible headline: A new sports hall was opened today.
Before you study the rule, answer in English:
- What was opened?
- Do we know who opened it?
- Is the person important for the message?
If your answer is short, that is fine.
Video 1: Find the basic idea
First viewing: no transcript, no translation.
Watch once. Listen for these two ideas:
- What happens to the subject in a passive sentence?
- Which two parts are used to build the usual passive form?
Second viewing: use one hint only if needed.
Hint 1: Listen for a form of be.
Hint 2: Listen for past participle.
After viewing, complete:
Passive = form of ______ + past participle.
Solution check: be.
Functional grammar: The passive you need
The core pattern
Passive = be + past participle
Examples:
The road is repaired every summer.
The road was repaired last week.
For this course, focus on two useful forms:
| Time | Passive form | Example | Simple active meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | is / are + past participle | The bottles are recycled. | People recycle the bottles. |
| Past | was / were + past participle | The bridge was closed. | Someone closed the bridge. |
The active meaning does not always tell you exactly who did the action. If the news text does not name the person, do not invent one.
Why do news and factual texts use the passive?
The passive is useful when the text focuses on the event, result or affected thing. The person who did the action may be unknown, obvious or not important for the message.
Compare:
Workers repaired the road.
Focus: the workers.
The road was repaired.
Focus: the road and the result.
News and factual writing often uses this kind of focus.
What about by?
Sometimes the doer is named with by:
The study was published by the university.
Active meaning:
The university published the study.
But many passive sentences have no by phrase:
The study was published yesterday.
Do not add a person unless the text gives you one.
Your three-step decoding tool
When you see a passive sentence, use this simple tool:
- Spot: Find a form of be plus a past participle.
- Ask: What happened to the subject?
- Rebuild: Say an active meaning with someone, people or the named doer.
Example:
Two windows were damaged.
Spot: were damaged
Ask: What happened to the windows?
Rebuild: Someone damaged two windows.
Reading 1: Short local news
Read the short report.
Riverside Road reopened
Riverside Road was reopened on Monday morning. The road was repaired after several weeks of work. New lights were added near the school. A new crossing was also built. Drivers were asked to use the area slowly during the first day.
Understand first – no full translation.
Answer in short English:
- What was reopened?
- What was repaired?
- What was added?
- What was built?
- What were drivers asked to do?
Context words:
reopen = open again
crossing = a place where people can cross a road
add = put something new in
repair = fix
Reading strategy: Mark the signal
In the report, mark:
was reopened – was repaired – were added – was built – were asked
What is repeated?
A form of be + a past participle.
Now change only one sentence into an active meaning:
New lights were added near the school.
Possible active meaning:
Workers added new lights near the school.
The exact doer is not given in the report. Workers is a possible context idea, not a fact from the sentence.
Reading 2: Factual science text
Read:
How a water sample is tested
First, a water sample is collected. The sample is taken to a laboratory. It is tested for different substances. The results are recorded and checked. If a problem is found, the local team is informed.
This text does not focus on one scientist. It focuses on the process.
Find five passive verb groups.
Then answer:
What happens first?
What happens after the sample reaches the laboratory?
What happens if a problem is found?
From passive to active meaning
Use people, staff or a named doer only when it makes sense.
| Passive sentence | Understandable active meaning |
|---|---|
| A water sample is collected. | Staff collect a water sample. |
| The sample is tested. | Staff test the sample. |
| The results are recorded. | Staff record the results. |
| A problem is found. | Staff find a problem. |
You are not translating word by word. You are rebuilding the meaning.
Listening and Viewing
Video 2: Present and past passive
Listening routine:
- Watch the first part once without stopping.
- Write down only words you recognize.
- Watch again and listen for is, are, was or were.
- After the second attempt, use the support box below.
Support after listening:
Present passive often uses is / are + past participle.
Past passive often uses was / were + past participle.
Now give one example from the video idea in your own words. Do not copy a full sentence.
Video 3: Check your understanding
Watch part of the grammar game.
Your task is not to understand every joke. Focus on the grammar signal.
When you hear a passive form, note:
BE + PARTICIPLE
After viewing, say one rule in simple English:
A passive sentence uses ...
Kontextwortschatz
You do not need a long word list. These words are useful in short news and factual texts:
| Word | Simple meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| report | give information | The result was reported. |
| announce | make news public | The plan was announced. |
| publish | make a text public | The report was published. |
| repair | fix | The bridge was repaired. |
| close | stop access | The road was closed. |
| open | start access | The centre was opened. |
| collect | bring things together | Samples are collected. |
| recycle | use material again | Bottles are recycled. |
| build | make a structure | A new path was built. |
| find | discover something | A problem was found. |
Image task: Make two factual sentences about recycling.
Use one active and one passive sentence.
Example pattern:
People recycle ...
... are recycled.
Pronunciation and Fluency
Clear speech is more important than accent-free speech.
Read these chunks aloud. Keep each chunk together:
was repaired
were opened
is collected
are recycled
was published
Now read the full sentences:
The road was repaired last week.
The results were published on Friday.
Plastic bottles are recycled here.
Fluency tip: Do not stop between was and repaired. Say the verb group as one chunk.
Optional recording: You may record yourself privately on your own device. Recording is voluntary. Do not upload a recording unless you actively choose to do so.
Speaking
Speaking frame: News partner
Partner A reads a short news sentence.
Partner B reacts and asks one question.
Use these frames:
So, the road was closed?
When was it reopened?
Who repaired it?
Was anyone named in the report?
What happened next?
Then switch roles.
Mini news briefing
Choose one image from this course.
Speak for about 30–45 seconds.
Use this frame if needed:
This picture shows ...
In my short report, ... was / were ...
The main fact is ...
The report does / does not say who did it.
I think the passive is useful here because ...
Writing
Short factual report
Write 5–7 sentences about a fictional local event.
Choose one topic:
- a repaired school playground
- a new bike path
- a recycling project
- a science test
- a new youth centre
Use at least two passive sentences.
Writing frame:
On Monday, ... was ...
Later, ... were ...
The project was ...
The report says that ...
Finally, ...
Do not add invented private data. Use fictional names only if a name is needed.
Improve your text
Check in this order:
- Meaning: Can a reader understand what happened?
- Focus: Is the passive useful here?
- Form: Did you use a form of be?
- Participle: Is the past participle correct?
- Time: Present or past?
- Clarity: Did you avoid unnecessary long sentences?
Communication comes first. Fix only the most important accuracy points.
Mediation
Situation: A German school notice gives this information:
„Der Fahrradweg neben der Schule wurde erneuert. Neue Lampen wurden installiert. Der Weg ist ab Montag wieder geöffnet.“
Your English-speaking exchange partner asks:
What is the main information?
Give a short spoken message in English. Do not translate every word.
Possible frame:
The bike path near the school ...
New lights ...
It will be open again ...
Your goal is clear information, not a complete translation.
Functional grammar workshop
Present or past?
Look for time clues.
every week / usually / often → present passive is common.
yesterday / last week / on Monday → past passive is common.
Examples:
The bins are collected every Tuesday.
The bins were collected yesterday.
Common irregular participles
You only need a small useful set here:
| Base form | Past participle | News example |
|---|---|---|
| build | built | A new bridge was built. |
| find | found | A problem was found. |
| make | made | The decision was made. |
| write | written | The report was written. |
| send | sent | The message was sent. |
| take | taken | The sample was taken. |
Say the forms in short chunks. Do not learn them as an isolated giant list.
Error analysis
Find the problem and improve the sentence.
1. The road was repair yesterday.
Hint: after was, you need the past participle.
Better:
The road was repaired yesterday.
2. The results were publish on Friday.
Better:
The results were published on Friday.
3. The bottles is recycled.
Hint: bottles is plural.
Better:
The bottles are recycled.
4. The bridge were closed.
Better:
The bridge was closed.
5. The school opened by the mayor.
If you mean a passive event:
The school was opened by the mayor.
Hilfestufen
Use only as much help as you need.
Help 1 – Spot: Underline is, are, was, were.
Help 2 – Match: Find the past participle after it.
Help 3 – Meaning: Ask: What happened to the subject?
Help 4 – Rebuild: Start an active meaning with someone, people, staff or the named doer.
Help 5 – Produce: Use the pattern The ... was/were ....
Then try the task again without the hint.
Feedback loop
Use this short feedback routine with a partner:
Understand: “I understand that ...”
Question: “Do you mean ...?”
Hint: “Check the form after was.”
Improve: Rewrite or say the sentence again.
Use again: Make one new sentence with the same pattern.
Do not correct every small mistake at once. Focus on meaning and one useful grammar point.
Media lab: Weather facts
Read the mini factual text:
Weather data is collected at many stations. Temperature is measured regularly. The data is sent to weather services. Reports are then prepared for the public.
Now do three things:
- Find the passive forms.
- Say the active meaning of one sentence.
- Explain why the text does not need to name every person who works with the data.
Media lab: News production
Imagine a school radio newsroom.
Complete these facts:
The news is ______ before the programme.
The microphones are ______ before recording.
The final report is ______ to listeners.
Possible verbs: check – test – present
Use the correct past participles:
checked – tested – presented
Transfer: Read like a fact checker
Passive grammar does not prove that a statement is true.
Compare:
A new planet was discovered.
The grammar tells you how the sentence is built. It does not tell you whether the claim is correct.
For factual texts, always ask:
- Who published the information?
- Is a source named?
- Can the claim be checked?
- Is the date clear?
- Does another reliable source confirm it?
When AI tools are used for support, check important facts, sources and feedback. Keep your own original text. Do not send private data to external AI services.
Can-do-Check
Mark each statement with:
Yes – Almost – Not yet
| Can-do | Yes | Almost | Not yet |
|---|---|---|---|
| I can spot is/are/was/were + past participle. | □ | □ | □ |
| I can explain a simple passive sentence in active meaning. | □ | □ | □ |
| I can decide between present and past passive in easy contexts. | □ | □ | □ |
| I can ask a question when a news report is unclear. | □ | □ | □ |
| I can write a short factual text with two useful passive forms. | □ | □ | □ |
| I can check whether a factual claim has a source. | □ | □ | □ |
If you mark Not yet, return to the three-step decoding tool and try one short example again.
Interaktive Aufgaben
Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen
Which sentence is passive? (The road was repaired yesterday.) (!Workers repaired the road yesterday.) (!The workers repair roads every day.) (!The road needs a repair.)
What is the basic pattern of the passive in this course? (be plus past participle) (!do plus infinitive) (!have plus infinitive) (!will plus present participle)
Which sentence uses the present passive correctly? (The bottles are recycled every week.) (!The bottles is recycled every week.) (!The bottles are recycle every week.) (!The bottles recycled every week.)
Which sentence uses the past passive correctly? (The bridge was closed on Monday.) (!The bridge is closed on Monday yesterday.) (!The bridge was close on Monday.) (!The bridge were closed on Monday.)
What is a clear active meaning of The sample was tested? (Staff tested the sample.) (!The sample tested staff.) (!The sample was testing.) (!Staff was the sample.)
Why may a news text use the passive? (The event or result is more important than the doer.) (!The writer must always hide the truth.) (!Passive sentences never have a subject.) (!News texts cannot use active sentences.)
Which word can introduce the doer in a passive sentence? (by) (!at) (!if) (!than)
Which past participle is correct? (built) (!builded) (!building) (!build)
Which question helps you understand a passive sentence? (What happened to the subject?) (!How many adjectives are there?) (!Is every word translated?) (!How long is the paragraph?)
Which sentence is best for a factual process description? (The results are recorded and checked.) (!The results records and checks.) (!The results is record and check.) (!The results are recording checked.)
Memory
| Passive | be + past participle |
| Present passive | is or are + past participle |
| Past passive | was or were + past participle |
| by-phrase | names the doer |
| Agent | person or group that does the action |
| News focus | event or result |
Drag and Drop
| Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu. | Thema |
|---|---|
| is repaired | present passive |
| was opened | past passive |
| by the team | doer information |
| people repaired | active meaning |
| past participle | second core part of the passive |
Kreuzworträtsel
| passive | Which voice uses be plus a past participle in our core pattern? |
| agent | What is the grammar word for the doer of an action? |
| participle | Which verb form follows be in the normal passive pattern? |
| reporter | Who may present information in a news report? |
| headline | What short title can stand above a news story? |
| recycle | Which verb means to use material again? |
LearningApps
Lückentext
Offene Aufgaben
Leicht
- Passive erkennen: Fotografiere oder notiere drei kurze englische Sätze aus legal zugänglichen Lernmaterialien und markiere nur die Passivformen. Verwende keine privaten Nachrichten oder Social-Media-Profile.
- Aktive Bedeutung: Schreibe zu fünf einfachen Passivsätzen jeweils eine kurze aktive Bedeutung mit someone, people, staff oder einem im Satz genannten doer.
- Bildnachricht: Wähle ein Bild aus diesem aiMOOC und sprich drei kurze News-Sätze dazu. Mindestens ein Satz soll im Passiv stehen.
- Verbformen: Erstelle sechs Karten mit base form und past participle aus dem Kurs und bilde mit drei davon eigene Sätze.
Standard
- Mini-News: Schreibe eine fiktive Meldung mit 5–7 Sätzen über einen reparierten Schulhof, einen Radweg oder ein Recyclingprojekt. Nutze mindestens zwei Passivsätze.
- News-Interview: Arbeite mit einem Partner. Eine Person berichtet, die andere fragt mit When, Who, What happened oder Was it ...? Wechselt danach die Rollen.
- Faktenprozess: Erkläre einen einfachen Prozess wie Recycling oder eine Wasserprobe in 5–6 Sätzen. Nutze passende present-passive-Formen.
- Fehlerdetektiv: Erfinde vier typische Fehler mit be + past participle, tausche sie mit einem Partner und verbessert sie mit einer kurzen Begründung.
Schwer
- Perspektivwechsel: Schreibe einen kurzen Bericht zuerst überwiegend aktiv und danach mit sinnvoll eingesetztem Passiv. Vergleiche, worauf der Fokus fällt.
- Quellencheck: Suche zwei kurze englische Faktenmeldungen aus seriösen, altersangemessenen Quellen. Markiere Passivformen und prüfe, ob Quelle und Datum erkennbar sind.
- Mediation News: Fasse eine kurze deutsche Schulmeldung mündlich auf Englisch zusammen, ohne vollständig zu übersetzen. Nutze bei Bedarf ein Passivmuster.
- Kurzpräsentation: Halte eine 60–90-sekündige Präsentation über passive voice in factual texts. Zeige zwei Beispiele, erkläre den Fokus und beantworte eine Rückfrage.
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Lernkontrolle
- News-Fokus erklären: Vergleiche „Workers repaired the bridge“ und „The bridge was repaired“. Erkläre auf Englisch oder in einfachem Deutsch, wie sich der Fokus verändert und in welchem Kontext welche Form hilfreich sein kann.
- Unbekannter doer: Du liest „Three windows were damaged during the night.“ Erkläre, welche Information sicher ist und welche Information der Satz nicht liefert. Formuliere anschließend eine vorsichtige aktive Bedeutung.
- Prozess umschreiben: Forme einen kurzen aktiven Prozess mit drei Sätzen in einen factual text mit sinnvollen Passivformen um. Begründe eine Deiner Entscheidungen.
- Fehleranalyse im Kontext: In einem Bericht steht „The results was publish yesterday.“ Verbessere den Satz und erkläre die zwei zentralen Fehler.
- Quellenkritik: Ein KI-Tool schreibt „A new medicine was discovered last week“, nennt aber keine Quelle. Erkläre, welche grammatische Information Du aus dem Satz sicher erkennen kannst und welche Fakten Du zusätzlich prüfen musst.
- Transfer in eigene Texte: Schreibe eine 6-Satz-Meldung, markiere Deine Passivformen und ersetze danach einen unnötigen Passivsatz durch einen klareren Aktivsatz. Begründe die Änderung.
Lernnachweis
Für einen Lernnachweis zu diesem Thema ist wichtig, dass Du zeigen kannst:
- Du erkennst häufige present- und past-passive-Formen in kurzen News- und Sachtexten.
- Du erklärst die aktive Bedeutung eines einfachen Passivsatzes, ohne unbekannte Personen zu erfinden.
- Du verwendest is/are + past participle und was/were + past participle in passenden Kontexten.
- Du unterscheidest zwischen dem Ereignis oder Ergebnis und dem doer.
- Du kannst einen kurzen factual text oder news-style text klar strukturieren.
- Du reagierst auf Rückfragen und kannst selbst nachfragen.
- Du verbesserst zentrale Fehler bei be, past participle und Singular/Plural.
- Du prüfst bei Faktenbehauptungen Quelle, Datum und Plausibilität.
- Du nutzt Hilfen schrittweise und kannst eine Aufgabe danach erneut versuchen.
- Du achtest auf verständliche Aussprache; Akzentfreiheit ist kein Lernziel.
OERs zum Thema
Weitere freie Medien im Kurs: Die eingebundenen Bilder stammen aus Wikimedia Commons. Prüfe auf der jeweiligen Dateiseite Lizenz und Namensnennung, wenn Du ein Bild außerhalb von MOOCwiki weiterverwendest.
Folgekurs
Wenn Du diesen Kurs sicher beherrschst, arbeite weiter mit:
E9 - Passive voice: more tenses and real-world texts
Dort kannst Du weitere passive structures kennenlernen und sie in längeren Texten vergleichen.
Für das G-Niveau hier gilt zuerst:
clear meaning → useful form → practice again
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