THE PASSIVE VOICE

LA VOZ PASIVA

• We say that a sentence is in the passive voice when its subject does not
perform the action, but instead receives its consequences.
Decimos que una oración está en voz pasiva cuando el sujeto de ésta no es
quien realiza la acción, sino que recibe las consecuencias de ésta.
o The police have arrested fifteen criminals this week.
La policía ha arrestado quince criminales esta semana.
o Fifteen criminals have been arrested by the police this week.
Quince criminales han sido arrestados por la policía esta semana.

• To make an active sentence passive, all we have to do is turn the direct object
of the former into the subject of the latter.
Para pasar una oración de activa a pasiva, lo que tenemos que hacer es
transformar el objeto directo de la primera en el sujeto de la segunda.
o Fifteen criminals  Direct object of the active and subject of the passive.
Quince criminales  Objeto directo de la active y sujeto de la pasiva.

• Then, we add the verb ‘to be’ conjugated in the verbal tense of the active
clause’s verb. Next, we add the main verb in the past participle form.
Después, añadimos el verbo ‘to be’ conjugado en el tiempo verbal de la frase
activa. A continuación, añadimos el verbo principal en participio.
o Have arrested  have been arrested
Han arrestado  han sido arrestados

• The subject of the active sentence is now the agent of the passive one. The
agent complement in English is introduced by the preposition ‘by’. This
complement can often be omitted.
El sujeto de la activa ahora pasa a ser el complemento agente de la oración
pasiva. El complemento agente en inglés va introducido por la preposición ‘by’.
Muchas veces el complemento agente se puede omitir.
o The police (active subject)  by the police (passive agent complement)
La policía (sujeto de la activa)  por la policía (complemento agente de
la pasiva)

• In the event that there is a place / time expression (this week), we will locate it
at the very end of the sentence, or else at the beginning.
En el caso de que tengamos un complemento circunstancial de tiempo (esta
semana), lugar, etc, se deja siempre para el final de la oración, o bien se coloca
al principio
ACTIVITY THE PASSIVA VOICE

1. Every year, several awards are to the best pupils

a. Giving
b. Given
c. Gave
2. When the pizza was , it was already cold.
a. Delivered
b. Delivering
c. Deliver
3. This song played on the radio very often.
a. Doesn’t
b. Hasn’t
c. Isn’t
4. your money out of your bag?
a. Were / stealed
b. Was / stole
c. Was / stolen
5. We allowed to go out until our homework is _.
a. Are not / finished
b. Weren’t / finishing
c. Isn’t / finished
6. This cottage in 1960 by my grandfather.
a. Has built
b. Built
c. Was built
7. We for the mid-term exams.
a. Have preparing
b. Are prepared
c. Is prepared
8. It since last month.
a. Hasn’t rained
b. Isn’t rained
c. Haven’t rained
9. The students by the teacher for lying.
a. Has been punished
b. Have been punished
c. Have punished
KEY
1. B
2. A
3. C
4. C
5. A
6. C
7. B
8. A
9. B
READING UNIT 8
Source:Carne, Paul et al. 1996. Cambridge Practice Testsfor First Certificate l. United Kingdom:
Cambridge University Press.

KEY
lB
2D
3A
4C
SB
6D
7C
8C
9D
lOA
llA
12B
 SPEAKING UNIT 8

PART 1

• What does religion mean to you? (30s)

• Why is it important to celebrate special occasions with family and
friends? (30s)
• When do you give presents in your culture? (30s)

PART 2

• Describe this picture (45s)

• What kind of people would go on a trip like this? (45s)
• How do you feel when you see this picture? Would you like to go?
Why? Why not? (45s)
PART 3

• Tell me what you see in the two pictures (45s)

• What do you know about their culture? (45s)
• Which of these two cultures do you prefer? (45s)
PART 4
Answer these questions in 2 minutes. Do not describe the picture.

• Tell me about what you know about his culture.

• What are the differences between your culture and his?
• What do you like and dislike about this culture?
Culture and stereotypes

Belief (plural: Creencia Believe Creer

believes)
Ethical Ético Ethics Ética
Acceptance Aceptación Civilisation Civilización
Misconceptions Concepto Diversity Diversidad
erróneo
Race Raza Cultural shock Choque cultural
Stereotype Estereotipo

Religion

Bible Bíblia Church Iglesia

Christianism Cristianismo Catholicism Catolicismo
Christian Cristiano Catholic Católico
Devil Diablo Mass Misa
Faith Fe God Dios
Sin Pecado Hell Infierno
Heaven Cielo Saint Santo
Pray Rezar Prayer Plegaria
Muslim Musulmán Islam Islam
Tunic Túnica
ACTIVITY
1. When I got to Japan, everything was so new and different…! It was a
huge .
a. Disappointment
b. Cultural shock
c. Misconception
2. Muslim people must 5 times a day.
a. Believe
b. Pray
c. Prayer
3. Many people in God.
a. Belief
b. Believe
c. Believes
4. The Christian religion stipulates that if you behave well, you will go
to in the afterlife.
a. Hell
b. Sky
c. Heaven
5. People from Morocco are .
a. Islam
b. Muslims
c. Mushrooms
6. Strange as it seems, Islam and Christianism share many _.
a. Acceptances
b. Beliefs
c. Sins
7. Religions are based on people’s _.
a. Faith
b. Sins
c. Misconceptions
8. Every Sunday my grandparents go to _.
a. Believe
b. Prayer
c. Church
KEY
1. B
2. B
3. B
4. C
5. B
6. B
7. A
8. C
 WRITING UNIT 8

PART 1
Fill in the form (3 minutes)

MULTICULTURAL COURSE - REGISTRATION FORM

Username

Date of Birth (day month year)

City / Town / Village

1.

[Reasons to learn about 2.

traditions from other countries]
3.

PART 2
You have enrolled a ‘Multicultural Course’, where you will learn new things about
other cultures as well as meet new people from many parts of the world. Fill in the
form with complete sentences. Use 20-30 words. You have 7 minutes.

NEW MEMBER FORM

Please, introduce yourself and explain why you are interested in learning about new
cultures.
PART 3
You are a new member in the ‘Multicultural Course’ and you are in the chat room. You
are talking to Nick, an old member in this course. Talk to him using complete
sentences. Use 30 to 40 words per answer. You have 10 minutes.

Nathan: Hello! Are you a new member? I joined this course a few weeks ago because I
was interested in meeting new people from other cultures. Why did you join?

You:

Nathan: What do you think about the contents and design of the course?

You:

Nathan: How do you feel about the fact that no meetings are going to be held next
month?

You:
PART 4

You are a member of ‘Multicultural Course’. After your last visit to the webpage you
saw the notice below:

Dear members,

We are sorry to inform you that next month’s meeting has been cancelled due to the
organisational problems with our room.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to email us at

studentsupport@multiculturalcourse.com

Write an e-mail to a fellow-member explaining what has happened. Write your

feelings about the message you received and suggest possible alternatives. Write
about 50 words. You have 10 minutes.
Now,write an email to the course's manager,showing your disagreement with the
situation and asking for solutions. Write about 120-150 words. You have 20 minutes.