Passive Voice- Discuss and Agree

Passive voice discuss and agree

including verbs which aren’t used in the passive

Work in pairs or small groups. Choose gapped sentences from below and try to write sentences that you both agree with/ all agree with. If you can’t agree, keep discussing until you agree, change topic, or change sentence. Whenever you agree, write the sentence down, then switch to another sentence.

Suggested topics

• alcohol
• architecture
• art
• business
• drugs
• the economy
• education
• the elderly
• elections
• the environment
• families
• fuel
• globalisation
• government policy
• health
• housing
• international organisations
• international relations
• manufacturing
• media
• migration
• nature
• news coverage
• politics
• population
• power
• religion
• smoking
• social problems
• taxation
• technology
• urban planning
• violence
• work

Share one sentence you agreed on and see if other groups agree.

Ask about any sentences below that you can’t understand, couldn’t complete, etc, working together as a class to complete the sentence each time.

Passive voice sentences to discuss and complete

• ________________________ can be achieved by ____________________________
• _______________ will be affected by _____________________ in the next few years
• ____________________ should be allowed/ permitted/ legalised (for _____________)
• Problems with ________________ will arise in the future if _____________________
• ____________________ should be arrested for ______________________________
• ___________________ should be banned/ forbidden/ prohibited (for _____________)
• It used to be believed that ____________ but no one should hold that belief nowadays
• (The last) ___________________ was (mainly) caused by ______________________
• _____________________ needs to be changed (to ___________________________)
• __________________________________________________ need to be constructed
• _______________________ should be cut (by/ to/ for _________________________)
• ___________________ will be damaged by _____________ (unless _____________)
• Help for unemployed people should depend on _______________________________
• Fewer people would die from _____________________ if ______________________
• ______________________ will disappear unless _____________________________
• More research needs to be done on ________________________________________
• The main reason that ___________________ (still) exists is ____________________
• _________ are being (unfairly/ excessively) exploited at the moment (by __________)
• _______________________________ would grow if __________________________
• ________________________________________________ must be halted/ scrapped
• ____________________ happens/ occurs because ___________________________
• Too much ________________________ is imported (from _____________________)
• _________________________ could be improved by _________________________
• ____________________________ could lead to _____________________________
• ___________________ has to be limited (by/ to _____________________________)
• The best ____________________ is located/ is situated _______________________
• _______________________ are opposed by (many/ most) _____________________
• ___________________ should be (mainly/ only) powered by ____________________
• _____________________ should be protected from ___________________________
• _______________________ could be prevented by ___________________________
• ________________ hasn’t been (conclusively/ convincingly) proven/ determined (yet)
• _____________________ should be raised (by/ to ___________________________)
• Not enough ___________________________ is recycled (by ___________________)
• ______________________ needs to be reformed (by/ to ______________________)
• _________________ will have been totally replaced by _______ within _______ years
• More ________________________ are required (by/ to/ for ____________________)
• __________________________ would result in ______________________________
• ______________ is (often) said to be _______________ but this is probably incorrect
• _________________________________________ will never be solved by technology.
• ________________________ should(n’t) be subsidised (by ____________________)
• ___________________________ is supported by _________________________
• ___________________ should take part in _____________________________
• _________________ is thought to be ________________ and this is probably correct
• Too much ____________________________ is used (to_______________________)
• _______________________________ won’t be used in the year ________________

 

Passive voice presentation

Put the verbs below into the correct form, in the passive if possible. Some can’t be passive and so should be written in the correct active form. Most sentences are about the present, but read the whole sentence each time to check if it is about the past, present or future.

• A cut in CO2 can _________________________________ (achieve) by fusion power.
• Employment _______________________________ (affect) by AI in the next few years
• Marihuana should ________________ (allow/ permit/ legalise) for medical purposes.
• Problems with elderly care ______ (arise) in the future if immigration isn’t made easier.
• It used to _____________________________________________________________ (believe) that slavery is natural but no one should hold that belief nowadays
• The last financial crisis ______________ (mainly cause) by a lack of controls on banks
• More social housing needs to ____________________________________ (construct)
• The price of education should ________________________ (cut) for poorer families.
• Help for unemployed people should ________________________________________ (depend on) how likely they are to get work.
• Fewer people _______________ (die) from pollution if we used more nuclear power.
• Many species ___________________ (disappear) unless we preserve them in zoos.
• More research needs to ______________________ (do) on genetic reasons for crime.
• The main reason that poverty still __________________________________________ (exist) is that voters believe they too might join the rich
• Foreign trainees ________________________ (exploit) at the moment by employers.
• The economy _________________________________________________________ (grow) if the government invested more in renewable energy.
• The building of large dams must ________________________________ (halt/ scrap).
• Domestic violence _____________________________________________________ (happen/ occur) because it isn’t punished harshly enough.
• Too much oil _________________________________ (import) from the Middle East.
• The environment could ________________________________________________ (improve) by architects putting plants on buildings.
• Donald Trump’s tweets could __________________________________ (lead to) war.
• Smoking has to __________________________________________________ (limit) by new legislation to only the older generations who have already got the habit.
• Deforestation could _____________________________ (prevent) by more recycling.
• The need for more inflation ___________________________ (conclusively prove) yet.
• Not enough packaging ____________________________ (recycle) by supermarkets.
• ______________________ needs to be reformed (by/ to ______________________)
• Gasoline cars ___________ (totally replace) by non-polluting vehicles within 30 years.
• More investment ________________________________ (require) for public transport.
• A major nuclear war ____________________ (result in) the end of the human species.
• Teenage rebellion ___________ (often say) to be natural but this is probably incorrect
• Mental disease ________________________________ (never solve) by technology.
• Lower government spending _________________________ (support) by most voters
• 16 year olds should ________________________ (take part in) national referendums.
• Most depression __________________________________________________ (think) to be connected to your genes and this is probably correct

Check above. Other forms are sometimes possible, so check with your teacher if you wrote something different. Then discuss if you agree with these completed sentences.