VIDEO-LESSONS ON THE PASSIVE VOICE (+Exercise practice)

Once again video explanations & practice on the Passive Voice. Have a look to check on what we've said in class. Video-lessons PASSIVE:

Links to exercises:
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/passiv.htm

http://www.english-4u.de/passive.html

VIDEO-LESSONS ON CONDITIONALS (+Exercise practice)

Here are six video lessons on Conditionals with practical exercises included. Have a look to check on what we've said in class and understand better.

Video CONDITIONAL 1st type-1:

Video CONDITIONAL 1st type-2:

Video CONDITIONAL - unless:

Video CONDTIIONAL 2nd type:

Video CONDITIONAL 3rd type-1:

Video CONDITIONAL 3rd type-2:

IRREGULAR PAST VERBS GAME

Now that we're studying the past tense in 2ºESO, here's a link were you can play a game to check how well you know the irregular past forms of the verbs in English. Have a try on the link below.

Link to game:

http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/englishfile/elementary/i_games/gotoschool/games_gts01/

INFINITIVE OR GERUND?, GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

Sometimes we need to decide whether to use a verb in its: -ing form, gerund (doing, singing) or infinitive form (to do, to sing). For example, only one of the following sentences is correct. Which one?

We decided to take a taxi OR We decided taking a taxi

A) WHEN TO USE AN INFINITIVE:
1-always used AFTER ADJECTIVES, for example: disappointed, glad, happy, pleased, relieved, sad, surprised...

I was happy to help them. She will be delighted to see you.

- Including TOO+ADJECTIVE: The water was too cold to swim in.

Is your coffee too hot to drink?

- It is used after ADJECTIVE+ENOUGH: He was strong enough to lift it.

She is rich enough to buy two.

2- It's used to express PURPOSE*: He phoned to invite me to a party

*For+somebody+TO DO+something: This bench is for us to sit on /

*For+ing: A knife is used for cutting

3- It's always used after QUESTION WORDS+ a verb:

I don't know how to do it. He didn't say when to call him.

4- The infinitive form is used after certain verbs:- agree, allow, can/can't afford, choose, decide, encourage, expect, forget, help, hope, learn, manage, mean, offer, plan, pretend, promise, recommend, refuse, teach, train, want...

I forgot to close the window. We can't afford to take a long holiday.

5- With other verbs the structure is: VERB+(obj)+TO* infinitive: -allow, ask, expect,

help, invite, mean, order, recommend, remind, teach, tell, want, warn...The police ordered the people to leave.

He wanted me to go with him. I warned him not to come back late.

!!*- make & let: verb+obj.+infinitive without to. Let me do it.

6- Always with MODAL VERBS+infinitive without to: - can/could, may/might, must, need, shall/should, will/would. (Except: ought to).

She can swim very well. I'll see you tomorrow. You mustn't do that.

You should go to the doctor. / You ought to go to the doctor.

B) WHEN TO USE A GERUND (-ing):
1- The -ing form is used as a noun and is the subject of a sentence or clause:

Swimming is good exercise. Doctors say that smoking is bad for you.

2- The -ing form is ALWAYS used after a PREPOSITION:
They left without saying "goodbye".

or a VERB+PREPOSITION*: - succeed in, insist on, think of...

He insisted on taking me home.

or EXPRESSIONS*: - it's no good/use, have difficulty, go+-ing...

It's no use in complaining He goes swimming every Tuesday.

!!* Watch out with:

- USED TO+infinitive: He used to wear glasses.

- BE/GET USED TO+ing: He's used to getting up early.

- LOOK FORWARD TO+ing: They are looking forward to visiting us this summer.

3- The -ing form is used after certain verbs: avoid, can/can't stand, carry on, dislike, enjoy, fancy, finish, give up, imagine, keep on, mind/not mind, miss, practise
I dislike getting up early. Would you mind opening the window?

C) Some verbs can be followed by the -ing form or the infinitive:
1) Without a big change in meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend, like*, love, prefer*, propose, start.
It started to rain. (common) - It started raining.
I like to play tennis. (it's good, right) - I like playing tennis. (I enjoy it).
!!*would like to+infinitive: I would like to live here.

!!*prefer +ing to +ing: I prefer driving to travelling by train.

prefer to infinitive rather than...: I prefer to drive rather than to travel by train.

would prefer to infinitive rather than...: I'd prefer to stay (rather than leave).

2) Others have a change of meaning depending on which is used:
- REMEMBER / REGRET

I remember posting the letter. (= He remembers having done it. After)
Remember to post the letter when you go out. (Before doing it, remind you to do it.)
- NEED

I need to do more exercise. (It's necessary for me).
The batteries need changing. (Need as a modal verb. It needs to be done.).
- STOP

I stopped to talk to him. (It tells the reason for stopping).
He stopped walking. (It tells the action which stopped).
- TRY

I tried to keep my eyes open. (Effort, attempt).
Try pressing this button. (Experiment, test).

Here are links to practice and test yourself:

http://www.edu.ge.ch/cptic/prospective/anglais/exercises/gerund2.htm

http://a4esl.org/q/f/z/zz97mkm.htm
http://www.english-zone.com/grammar/ger-inf01.html
http://academic.cuesta.edu/ahalderma/gerinfinq.htm
http://www.testyourenglish.net/english-online/grammarquiz/gerinf.html
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/420.html
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_verbform1.htm

PASSIVE vs ACTIVE

The passive voice is used when we want to focus attention on the person or thing affected by the action.

Normally, the performer of the action, or the agent, comes first and is made the subject of the verb and then we use the active form of the verb. The other person or thing is made the object of the verb. Consider these examples:

'The boss invited her to the party.'
'The construction company in Station Road employs three hundred people.'

However, if you want to focus on the person or thing affected by the action, you make the person or thing the subject of the sentence and use the passive voice:

'She was invited to the party by the boss.'
'Three hundred people are employed by the construction company in Station Road.'

When, then, should we use the passive voice in preference to the active?
We often prefer to use the passive voice when:
1. We do not know who the agent is:
'I don’t know who did it, but my pet rabbit has been let out.'
'I had the feeling that I was being followed.' instead of:
'I don’t know who did it, but someone has let out my pet rabbit.'
'I had the feeling that somebody was following me.'
2.When it is obvious to the listener or reader who the agent is:
'I had been instructed to remove all the ash trays.'
'She discovered that she was being paid less than her male colleagues.' instead of:
'My boss had instructed me to remove all the ash trays.'
'She discovered that the firm was paying her less than her male colleagues.'
3. When it is not important to know who the agent is:
'Do you want a lift?' 'No thanks, I’m being collected.' instead of:
'Do you want a lift?' 'No thanks, someone is collecting me.'
4. When the agent has already been mentioned:
'In the next session of parliament, new laws will be introduced aimed at stopping domestic violence.' instead of:
'In the next session of parliament, the government will introduce new laws aimed at stopping domestic violence.'
5. When people in general are the agents:
'All the Beatles records can be borrowed from the central library. instead of:
'You can borrow all the Beatles records from the central library.

Here is a complete list of all the verb forms that are normally used in the passive.
Passive forms are made up of an appropriate form of the verb ‘to be’ followed by the past participle (pp) form of the verb:

Present simple am/is/are + pp
How is this word pronounced?
Present continuous am/are/is being + pp
The house is being redecorated.
Present perfect simple has/have been + pp
He's just been sacked!
Past simple was/were + pp
All his credit cards were stolen last week.
Past continuous was/were being + pp
He was being treated for depression when he won the lottery.
Past perfect simple had been + pp
The vegetables had been cooked for far too long, but we had to eat them.
Future simple will be + pp
The house contents will be auctioned a week on Saturday.
Future perfect simple will have been + pp
There’s no point in hurrying. It will all have been eaten by now.
Infinitive (to) be + pp
Exams have to be taken almost every year you are at school.
Do you know who is going to be invited?

Links to exercises:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive/exercises?simple-present

http://www.nonstopenglish.com/allexercises/grammar/grammar-passive_voice.asp

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_passive2.htm