E9 M - Decide whether active or passive works better

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E9 M - Decide whether active or passive works better

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E9 M - Decide whether active or passive works better

Mini-description: Choose active or passive voice depending on the information focus. Explain your choice with short text examples.

Level: English as a first foreign language, Class 9, Baden-Württemberg, M-level, B1-oriented.

Media start – Look, think, choose: Look at the factory image. Which caption works better?

A: Robots build the products.

B: The products are built by robots.

Both can be correct. The important question is: What should the reader notice first?

Deutsch-Hilfe

Aktiv und Passiv sind keine Frage von „richtig oder falsch“. Du entscheidest nach dem Informationsfokus: Wer handelt? Oder was geschieht mit etwas?

I can ...

By the end of this course, you can:

1. active voice: identify who does the action and explain why this focus fits.
2. passive voice: identify what happens to a person or thing and explain why this focus fits.
3. information focus: compare two versions of a sentence and choose the stronger one for the context.
4. speaking: discuss and justify a choice using short reasons.
5. writing: use active and passive voice in a short report, blog post or process description.
6. mediation: pass on key information without translating every word.

Before you start

You already know:

1. Subject: who or what the sentence is about.
2. Object: who or what receives the action.
3. Past participle: the third verb form, for example built, written, made, repaired.
4. Simple present and Simple past.

Quick check: The class repaired the bikes.

Who did the action? → the class

What received the action? → the bikes

Now compare:

The bikes were repaired.

The bikes are now the main focus.

Media challenge: What is important?

Task: Say two captions about the photo.

1. Active focus: A mechanic repairs a bike.
2. Passive focus: A bike is repaired in the workshop.

Ask yourself: Do I want to highlight the person or the action/result?

Video laden

YouTube

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Fortfahren Ausblenden

Viewing task: Watch the BBC Learning English video in short parts.

1. First viewing: Write down two words you hear often.
2. Second viewing: Note one active example and one passive example.
3. Pause before the quiz part and predict the answer.
4. After viewing: Explain one reason for using the passive.

Sentence starter: The passive works better here because ...

Hint

Listen for forms of be and a past participle: is made, was built, are repaired.

Understand: active or passive?

Active voice: put the doer first

Pattern: doer + verb + object

Maya designed the poster.

Focus: Maya and her action.

Use active voice when the doer is important, clear or interesting.

Useful contexts:

1. a personal story
2. a match report
3. a presentation about a person
4. a clear instruction with responsibility

Visual note: You do not need to understand every label in the diagram. Just notice that the active sentence keeps the doer in the central subject position.

Passive voice: put the action or result first

Pattern: receiver + form of be + past participle

The poster was designed by Maya.

Focus: the poster and what happened to it.

Use passive voice when the doer is unknown, unimportant or less important than the action/result.

Useful contexts:

1. a process description
2. a news report when the doer is unknown
3. a science report
4. a product description
5. a formal notice

Core forms for this course:

Time	Active	Passive
Simple present	Workers check the bikes.	The bikes are checked.
Simple past	Workers checked the bikes.	The bikes were checked.
Present perfect	Workers have checked the bikes.	The bikes have been checked.
Future with will	Workers will check the bikes.	The bikes will be checked.

Remember: Keep the tense. Change the focus.

Deutsch-Hilfe

Im Passiv bleibt die Zeitform erhalten. Das Hilfsverb be trägt die Zeitform; das Vollverb steht im past participle.

What about “by ...”?

You do not always need a by phrase.

The window was broken last night.

The doer is unknown or not important.

The winning goal was scored by Aisha.

Here the person is important, so the by phrase adds useful information.

Decision question: If I remove the by phrase, do I lose important information?

Reading: One event, two reports

Text A – school news

Students from Year 9 created a new school magazine. They interviewed local people, checked the facts and designed the pages. The media team printed the first copies on Friday.

Text B – process note

The interviews were checked before publication. The pages were designed in a simple layout. The first copies were printed on Friday.

Read and compare:

1. Which text highlights the students?
2. Which text highlights the production process?
3. Underline the verbs.
4. Find three passive forms.
5. Explain why Text B uses more passive voice.

Model answer frame:

Text ... works better for ... because the focus is on ... . The sentence “...” shows this.

Reading strategy

Do not translate every word.

1. Find the subject.
2. Find the verb.
3. Ask: Who does the action?
4. Ask: Is the doer named?
5. Ask: What information comes first?

Deutsch-Hilfe

Erschließe unbekannte Wörter zuerst aus Kontext, Bild und Wortfamilie. Übersetze nur, wenn das Verständnis sonst blockiert ist.

Context vocabulary

Word or phrase	Meaning in this course	Example
focus	the information you want to highlight	The focus is on the result.
doer	the person or thing that performs an action	The doer is named.
receiver	the person or thing affected by the action	The receiver comes first.
result	what exists after an action	The result is important.
process	a series of actions	The process is described step by step.
unknown	not known	The doer is unknown.
report	a factual text about an event	Write a short report.
highlight	make something especially important	The passive highlights the product.
responsibility	who is expected to act	Active voice can make responsibility clear.
evidence	information that supports a claim	Give one sentence as evidence.

Use again: Choose three words from the table and use them in your own explanation.

Pronunciation and fluency

Clarity is more important than accent.

Practise sentence stress:

THE STUDENTS designed the poster.

The POSTER was designed by the students.

The strongest stress often follows the information you want to highlight.

Fluency drill:

1. Say the active sentence.
2. Change it to passive.
3. Say one reason for your choice.
4. Repeat with a new example.

Useful chunks:

I would use active voice because ...

I would use passive voice because ...

The reader needs to know ... first.

The doer is not important here.

The result is more important than the person.

Recording option: You may record yourself privately for self-checking. Recording is voluntary. Do not upload recordings unless your teacher has clearly asked for it and your school rules allow it.

Listening and viewing

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Fortfahren Ausblenden

Three-step task:

1. Understand: What is the main point?
2. Notice: Write down two passive forms.
3. Respond: Make one new example connected to school life.

Challenge: Explain why a speaker may leave out the doer.

Hint level 1

Think about “unknown”, “obvious” and “not important”.

Hint level 2

Try: The doer is left out because ...

Functional grammar: choose for a reason

Situation: You are describing a production line.

Version A: Robots assemble the parts.

Version B: The parts are assembled by robots.

A is useful if the robots are the topic.

B is useful if the production process or parts are the topic.

Key rule: Grammar serves meaning.

A quick decision tool

Ask these questions:

1. Who or what is the topic?
2. Is the doer important?
3. Is the doer known?
4. Is the result or process more important?
5. Which version connects better to the sentence before it?

Choose active when the doer should be clear and central.

Choose passive when the action, receiver or result should be central.

Not every “be + word” is passive

The door is closed.

This can describe a state.

The door is closed by the caretaker every evening.

This clearly describes a repeated action in passive voice.

Test: Can you add a meaningful doer with by? Does the sentence describe an action?

Error lab

Find the problem. Then improve the sentence.

1. The bikes repaired every Friday.

→ Missing form of be.

Better: The bikes are repaired every Friday.

2. The poster was design by Sam.

→ Wrong verb form.

Better: The poster was designed by Sam.

3. The report is wrote by our team.

→ Wrong past participle.

Better: The report is written by our team.

4. The match was won the Tigers.

→ Missing by before the doer.

Better: The match was won by the Tigers.

5. The window was broken by someone unknown.

→ Grammatically possible, but often unnecessary.

Better for most contexts: The window was broken.

Feedback routine

Give feedback in three steps:

1. Meaning: Is the focus clear?
2. Form: Is be + past participle correct?
3. Effect: Does the chosen voice fit the text type?

Feedback sentence:

Your sentence is clear. I would keep/change the voice because ...

Speaking: compare and negotiate

Work with a partner.

Scenario 1: School event

A: Our class organised the charity run.

B: The charity run was organised by our class.

Choose the better opening for a student blog. Give a reason.

Scenario 2: Science

A: We heated the water to 80°C.

B: The water was heated to 80°C.

Choose the better sentence for a process description. Give a reason.

Scenario 3: News

A: Someone damaged three bikes during the night.

B: Three bikes were damaged during the night.

Choose the better first sentence when the person is unknown. Give a reason.

Speaking goal: Do not only say A or B. Explain the information focus.

Writing: make the focus work

Task: Mini science report

Write 80–120 words about a simple classroom experiment.

Use:

1. at least two passive sentences for the process
2. at least one active sentence when the doer matters
3. one sentence that explains why you chose active or passive

Possible structure:

First, the materials were prepared. Then ... . Our group noticed ... . Finally, ... . I used passive voice in ... because ... .

Check before you finish:

1. Is the tense correct?
2. Is be present in passive forms?
3. Is the past participle correct?
4. Is the information focus clear?

Mediation: pass on the key message

A German school notice says:

Die Fahrradwerkstatt ist am Mittwoch geöffnet. Defekte Fahrräder werden zuerst geprüft. Kleine Reparaturen erledigt das Technik-Team direkt. Ersatzteile werden nur nach Rücksprache eingebaut.

Task: A new English-speaking student asks what happens there. Give the key information in natural English. Do not translate sentence by sentence.

Useful start:

The bike workshop is open on Wednesday. First, ...

Mediation goal: Keep the meaning, select relevant information, use natural English.

Deutsch-Hilfe

Bei Mediation überträgst Du die wichtigen Informationen sinngemäß. Eine vollständige Übersetzung ist nicht nötig.

Help ladder

Help 1: Find the focus

Complete:

The important person or thing is ...

The reader should notice ... first.

Help 2: Build the passive

receiver + correct form of be + past participle

Example:

The team repairs the bikes.

→ The bikes are repaired by the team.

Help 3: Explain your decision

Use one of these:

Active works better because the doer is important.

Passive works better because the process is important.

Passive works better because the doer is unknown.

Active works better because responsibility should be clear.

AI and source check

AI tools can make mistakes. Keep your own text and check suggestions.

1. Check grammar examples with your textbook, teacher or a reliable grammar source.
2. Check factual claims before using them in reports.
3. Do not upload private recordings, names, application data or social-media information.
4. Use fictional profiles if a task needs personal-style data.
5. Do not let an external AI replace your own first draft.
6. Compare feedback with the task goal: focus, meaning and understandable English.

Transfer: one event, three text types

Event: A new school garden was opened.

Student blog: Our eco club planned the garden and invited families.

The people are part of the story → active voice fits well.

School notice: The garden was opened on Friday.

The event is central → passive voice fits well.

Process report: The beds were prepared, seeds were planted and signs were added.

The process is central → passive voice fits well.

Transfer question: How does the text type change your grammar choice?

Can-do check

Rate yourself: yes, almost or not yet.

I can ...	yes	almost	not yet
identify active and passive voice	□	□	□
form common passive structures correctly	□	□	□
explain the information focus	□	□	□
choose a voice for a text type	□	□	□
justify my choice with a short reason	□	□	□
improve an unclear sentence	□	□	□

If you marked “almost” or “not yet”: Return to the Help ladder, improve one sentence, then use the same idea in a new context.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

Which sentence is in the passive voice? (The bikes are repaired every Friday.) (!The class repairs the bikes every Friday.) (!The class is repairing the bikes now.) (!The bikes need new tyres.) (!We repair bikes after school.)

Why can passive voice work well in a process description? (The process can be more important than the doer.) (!The passive always makes a text shorter.) (!The passive removes every verb.) (!The passive is only used in questions.)

Which pattern forms the usual passive in English? (form of be plus past participle) (!subject plus infinitive only) (!have plus present participle) (!modal plus adjective)

Which sentence puts the doer in focus? (The media team printed the magazine.) (!The magazine was printed on Friday.) (!The pages were checked before printing.) (!The first copies were delivered.)

When is it often useful to leave out the doer in a passive sentence? (When the doer is unknown or unimportant.) (!When the doer is the main point.) (!When the sentence has no verb.) (!When every detail must be personal.)

Which passive sentence is correct? (The poster was designed by Maya.) (!The poster was design by Maya.) (!The poster designed by Maya.) (!The poster was designing by Maya.)

Which sentence keeps the simple present tense in the passive? (The bikes are checked every week.) (!The bikes were checked every week.) (!The bikes will be checked every week.) (!The bikes have been checked every week.)

Which reason best supports active voice in a responsibility message? (The reader needs to know who must act.) (!The doer should always disappear.) (!The result must never be mentioned.) (!Active voice has no subject.)

What should you compare when choosing between active and passive? (the information focus) (!the number of letters) (!the font size) (!the speaker's accent)

Which response gives a useful grammar justification? (Passive works better because the result is the main focus.) (!Passive is better because I like it.) (!Active is always correct.) (!The sentence is long.)

Memory

Active voice	doer in focus
Passive voice	action or result in focus
Agent	person or thing performing the action
Receiver	person or thing affected by the action
Past participle	third verb form
By phrase	optional information about the doer

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Active focus	The students designed the poster.
Passive focus	The poster was designed for the school festival.
Unknown doer	Three bikes were damaged overnight.
Process focus	The samples were checked in the lab.
Responsibility focus	The media team checks every fact.

...

Kreuzworträtsel

active	Which voice usually puts the doer in subject position?
passive	Which voice often puts the receiver or result first?
agent	What is a common grammar term for the doer of an action?
participle	Which verb form follows be in the usual passive?
focus	What word means the information you want to highlight?
subject	Which sentence part comes first in many English statements?

Lückentext

Vervollständige den Text.

In active voice, the is often the subject. In passive voice, the can move into the subject position. The usual passive uses a form of plus a past participle. A passive sentence can be useful when the doer is . In a process description, the may be more important than the person. A by phrase can name the . Good writers choose the voice that fits the information . In a report, active voice can make clear.

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

1. Caption challenge: Choose one course image and write one active and one passive caption.
2. Focus finder: Find five sentences in a textbook text and mark which information comes first.
3. Voice switch: Change four active sentences into passive and explain what changes in focus.
4. Mini audio: Read two sentence pairs aloud and notice which words you stress; recording is optional and private.

Standard

1. School news: Write a 100-word report about a fictional school event and use both voices for clear reasons.
2. Process poster: Create a five-step process poster in English with suitable passive forms.
3. Partner debate: Compare two versions of six sentences and negotiate which voice works better in each context.
4. Mediation task: Summarise a short German school notice in natural English without translating every sentence.

Schwer

1. Style investigation: Compare a short news text and a short personal blog. Analyse how voice changes the focus.
2. Rewrite for audience: Rewrite the same fictional event once for a school blog and once for a formal notice.
3. Error clinic: Create six realistic active/passive errors, exchange them with a partner and write feedback using the three-step routine.
4. Mini presentation: Present a one-minute explanation of how text type, responsibility and information focus influence the choice between active and passive.

Lernkontrolle

1. Focus comparison: You receive two versions of the same paragraph. Explain which version fits a science report better and support your answer with two language features.
2. Audience transfer: Turn a personal blog sentence into a formal notice and explain why you changed or kept the voice.
3. Responsibility check: Improve three sentences in which passive voice hides important responsibility. Explain your changes.
4. Process transfer: Describe a familiar process with passive voice, then add one active sentence where the doer matters.
5. News analysis: A report says, Three windows were broken last night. Explain what the grammar tells you and what it does not tell you.
6. Coherence task: Reorder and rewrite four sentences so that the information focus connects smoothly from one sentence to the next.

Lernnachweis

For a successful learning record, you should show that you can:

1. identify active and passive voice in context
2. form common passive structures accurately
3. explain why a writer chooses active or passive
4. connect grammar choice to text type and audience
5. use active and passive voice in your own coherent text
6. give and use feedback
7. mediate key information without full translation
8. reflect on one error and show an improved version

A strong learning record includes short evidence from your own work and a brief reflection: What did I change, and why?

OERs zum Thema

Free media used in this course: Wikimedia Commons files are embedded directly in the relevant learning tasks. Check each file page for its exact licence and attribution information.

Folgekurs

Continue with:

1. Use passive voice in reports and processes
2. Make writing coherent with information focus
3. Report events clearly and responsibly

Use again: In the next course, do not only form the passive. Decide whether it improves the text.

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

Active and passive voice Information focus Subject and object Past participle Text types Writing Speaking Mediation Feedback