English FAL Matric Revision: Active and passive voice

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Revision Notes: Active and Passive Voice in CAPS Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy

Introduction

Understanding sentence structure helps convey clear and precise information. This is especially important in mathematical literacy where operations and instructions need to be clear and unambiguous. One topic that frequently comes up in this context is the use of active and passive voice.

Importance in Mathematical Literacy

  • Clarity: Clear instructions and descriptions are critical in solving mathematical problems.
  • Focus: Depending on the context, it might be essential to focus on the action itself rather than the actor.
  • Variety: Using both voice structures appropriately adds variety and depth to your language skills, useful in exams, reports, and practical applications.

1. Key Points

Active Voice

  • Structure: Subject + Verb + Object
  • Example: “The student solved the equation”.
  • Subject (The student) does the verb (solved) to the object (the equation).

Passive Voice

  • Structure: Object + Auxiliary Verb (be) + Past Participle of Main Verb + Subject (optional)
  • Example: “The equation was solved by the student.”
  • Object (The equation) receives the action (was solved) which is optionally followed by who did it (by the student).

Forming Passive Voice

  1. Move the object to the front.
  2. Add the auxiliary verb ‘be’ in the correct tense.
  3. Use the past participle form of the main verb.
  4. Optionally, add ‘by’ followed by the subject.

Tense Examples:

  • Present Simple:
  • Active: “She writes the report.”

  • Passive: “The report is written (by her).”

  • Past Simple:

  • Active: “He solved the problem.”

  • Passive: “The problem was solved (by him).”

  • Future Simple:

  • Active: “They will complete the project.”
  • Passive: “The project will be completed (by them).”

2. Real-World Applications

Example 1:

Active Voice: “The technician repairs the machine every month.”
– In context: This is clear and direct; it tells us who regularly does the action.

Passive Voice: “The machine is repaired every month (by the technician).”
– In context: Focuses on the action of the machine being repaired, more relevant if the technician is implied/less important.

Example 2:

Active Voice: “Students use calculators to check their answers.”
– In context: Emphasizes what students actively do during their work.

Passive Voice: “Calculators are used (by students) to check answers.”
– In context: Useful if we are more concerned about the verification method (use of calculators).

3. Common Misconceptions and Errors

Misconception: Passive Voice is Always Passive

  • Reality: Passive voice can also indicate the importance of different parts of a sentence.
  • Error Example: Incorrect tense agreement in passive voice transformations.
  • Incorrect: “The answers were checked by students yesterday.”
  • Correct: “The answers were being checked by students yesterday.”

Strategies to Avoid Errors:

  1. Always match the tense of the auxiliary verb ‘be’ with the original verb tense.
  2. Check that the past participle form of the main verb is correct.
  3. Ensure that the sentence still makes logical sense after transformation.

4. Practice and Review

Practice Questions:

  1. Transform the following sentences from active to passive voice:
  2. “The teacher explains the lesson.”
  3. “The mathematician discovered the formula.”

Answers:
– “The lesson is explained by the teacher.”
– “The formula was discovered by the mathematician.”

Examination Tips

  • Look out for keywords indicating passive voice: “is”, “was”, “by”.
  • Pay attention to tense. The form of ‘be’ changes with the tense.
  • Allocate time for reviewing your work to correct any voice inconsistencies.

5. Connections and Extensions

Interdisciplinary Links:

  • Science: Passive voice is often used in scientific writing to focus on processes rather than the researcher.
  • History: Describing past events can utilize the passive voice to emphasize the events over the people.

Real-World Implications:

  • Technical Writing: Manuals and guides often use passive voice to focus on the procedure being described.
  • Reports: Use passive voice to be objective and emphasize the action/outcome rather than the performer.

6. Summary and Quick Review

Key Points Summary:

  • Active Voice: Subject performs the action.
  • Passive Voice: Subject receives the action.
  • Construction: Object + Auxiliary (be) + Past Participle + (by Subject)

Quick Reference:

  • Present Simple: “is/am/are + past participle”.
  • Past Simple: “was/were + past participle”.
  • Future Simple: “will be + past participle”.

7. Additional Resources

  • Online Articles:
  • Khan Academy: Understanding Active and Passive Voice
  • BBC Learning English: Grammar – Active and Passive Voice.
  • Videos:
  • Youtube: Active vs Passive Voice in English by LearnEnglish with Emma.

Use these resources for further practice and deeper understanding!

Note: Always remember that correct usage of active and passive voice structures can significantly enhance clarity and focus in your writing, especially in mathematical contexts.

These notes are designed for easy comprehension, especially for second-language English speakers, ensuring that the essential aspects are clearly understood and can be applied effectively.