UNIT 10 LESSON 04: PASSIVE VOICE

Let’s learn how things are made! 🛠️

WHAT IS THE PASSIVE VOICE?

We usually use the active voice when we talk about who does something:

People make chocolate in many countries.

In the passive voice, we focus on the thing that receives the action:

Chocolate is made in many countries.

Active	Passive
People make bread.	Bread is made.
People grow oranges in Spain.	Oranges are grown in Spain.
People make these bags from recycled plastic.	These bags are made from recycled plastic.

HOW DO WE MAKE IT?

For simple passive sentences in the present, we use:

am / is / are + past participle

Subject	Be	Example
I	am	I am invited.
he / she / it	is	It is made here.
we / you / they	are	They are sold in shops.

The most important thing is to remember the verb be and the past participle.

COMMON PAST PARTICIPLES

Verb	Past participle	Example
make	made	Chocolate is made from cocoa.
build	built	Houses are built with different materials.
grow	grown	Rice is grown in many countries.
write	written	Books are written by authors.
sell	sold	These shoes are sold online.
make	made	These toys are made in a factory.

HOW ARE THINGS MADE?

We often use the passive when we talk about products, food, buildings and processes.

• Paper is made from trees.
• Cars are made in factories.
• Olives are grown in many parts of Spain.
• English is spoken in many countries.
• Books are sold in bookshops.

We don’t always need to say who does the action. The important information is often what happens to the thing.

FROM COCOA TO CHOCOLATE

Chocolate is made from cocoa beans. First, cocoa beans are collected from cocoa trees. Then they are cleaned and dried.

After that, the beans are roasted and ground. The cocoa is mixed with other ingredients, such as sugar and milk. Finally, the chocolate is put into moulds.

When the chocolate is ready, it is packed and sent to shops. Chocolate is enjoyed by people all over the world!

🔎 UNDERSTAND THE TEXT

• What is chocolate made from?
• What happens to the cocoa beans first?
• When are the beans roasted?
• What is mixed with the cocoa?
• Where is the chocolate sent?

YOUR TURN

Complete the sentences using the passive voice.

• Paper __________ from trees. (make)
• Cars __________ in factories. (make)
• Rice __________ in many countries. (grow)
• Books __________ in bookshops. (sell)
• English __________ in many countries. (speak)

ASK A FRIEND

Choose an everyday object or product and ask your partner:

• What is it?
• What is it made from?
• Where is it made?
• How is it made?

Try to answer with simple passive sentences.

🏆 A2 CHALLENGE

Choose one product: bread, chocolate, a T-shirt, a pencil or another everyday object.

Write four sentences explaining what it is made from and what happens to it. Try to use the passive voice in every sentence.

Example: A pencil is made from wood. It is painted a colour. It is sold in shops.

🎮 GAMES

Practise what you’ve learned! Try these games and practise the passive voice.

📥 Fichas descargables

📝 Resumen

En esta lección de inglés A2 has aprendido qué es la passive voice y cómo utilizarla para hablar de productos, alimentos y procesos. Has practicado la estructura am / is / are + past participle y has visto cómo podemos centrar la atención en lo que ocurre en lugar de decir quién realiza la acción. Ahora puedes reconocer y formar frases sencillas en voz pasiva en presente.