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Lesson 2
1. Understanding Active and Passive Voice
In English, sentences can be written in two different voices: active voice and passive voice.
Active Voice: The subject of the sentence performs the action.
o Example: The engineer designed the machine.
o (The subject "engineer" is performing the action of designing.)
Passive Voice: The focus is on the action itself rather than the subject.
o Example: The machine was designed by the engineer.
o (Here, the focus is on "the machine," and the agent "the engineer" is optional.)
Why use passive voice?
We use the passive voice when:
1. The doer of the action is unknown:
o A new material was discovered last year. (We don’t know who discovered it.)
2. The doer is not important:
o English is spoken in many countries. (Who speaks it is not important.)
3. The focus is on the result rather than the agent:
o A new bridge was built in the city. (The focus is on the bridge, not who built
it.)
2. How to Form the Passive Voice
The passive voice is formed using the verb "to be" in the correct tense + the past participle
of the main verb.
Passive Voice in Different Tenses
Tense Active Voice Passive Voice
Present Simple Scientists study materials. Materials are studied.
Past Simple Engineers built the bridge. The bridge was built.
Present Perfect They have tested the metal. The metal has been tested.
Future Simple They will produce new alloys. New alloys will be produced.
Modal Verbs You can see the results. The results can be seen.
3. Changing Sentences from Active to Passive
When changing a sentence from active to passive:
1. Identify the object of the active sentence → This becomes the new subject.
2. Use the correct form of "to be" in the right tense.
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3. Use the past participle of the main verb.
4. Add "by + agent" only if necessary.
Examples:
Active: The company produces smartphones.
Passive: Smartphones are produced by the company.
Active: The scientist discovered a new element.
Passive: A new element was discovered (by the scientist).
4. Passive Voice with Modal Verbs
When using modal verbs (can, must, should, may, etc.), the structure changes slightly:
Formula: Subject + modal verb + be + past participle
Examples:
Active: You must follow the safety rules.
Passive: The safety rules must be followed.
Active: The company can manufacture this product.
Passive: This product can be manufactured.
5. Verbs That Cannot Be Used in Passive Voice
Some verbs cannot be used in passive voice because they are intransitive (they do not take
an object).
❌ He goes to school. → Cannot be made passive because "go" has no object.
Verbs that cannot be used in the passive include:
be, exist, seem, belong, have, come, go, become, appear
6. Pronunciation of Final "-ed" in Past Participles
The -ed ending of regular verbs in the past tense and past participle has three different
pronunciations:
Sound Examples
After voiceless sounds (k, p, s, ch, Look → looked /t/, Clap → clapped
/t/
sh, f) /t/
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After voiced sounds (l, v, n, b, Smell → smelled /d/, Clean →
/d/
vowels) cleaned /d/
/ɪd/ (adds a Decide → decided /ɪd/, Need →
After "t" and "d" sounds
syllable) needed /ɪd/
7. Reading for Specific Information
7.1 What is Reading for Specific Information?
Reading for specific information, also known as scanning, is a reading strategy used to
quickly locate key details within a text. Instead of reading every word carefully, we look for
particular pieces of information such as:
Dates (When did something happen?)
Names (Who was involved?)
Places (Where did an event occur?)
Numbers (How many? How much?)
Key words (What is the main topic?)
This skill is especially useful in technical English where readers need to find instructions,
specifications, or definitions quickly.
7.2 Why is Reading for Specific Information Important?
In academic and professional settings, reading for specific information saves time and
improves efficiency. It is essential for:
✅ Exams & Tests: Quickly identifying correct answers in reading comprehension sections.
✅ Research & Studies: Finding specific facts, definitions, or data without reading full
pages.
✅ Technical Fields: Understanding manuals, reports, and diagrams quickly.
✅ Daily Life: Looking up information in train schedules, medicine instructions, contracts,
or cooking recipes.
7.3 Techniques for Reading for Specific Information
To effectively read for specific details, follow these techniques:
1. Identify What You Are Looking For
Before reading, decide what information is important.
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Example: If you need to find "How much power a motor consumes," look for watts
(W), kilowatts (kW), or volts (V).
2. Scan the Text Without Reading Every Word
Move your eyes quickly over the text instead of reading word by word.
Look for capital letters, numbers, bold words, bullet points, or headings.
Example: If you are reading about the history of engineering, scan for years and
names like "In 1895, Nikola Tesla..."
3. Look for Keywords & Synonyms
The exact words from a question might not appear in the text, but synonyms or
rephrased versions will.
Example:
o Question: What material is used in airplane construction?
o Text: Aircraft are made from lightweight alloys such as aluminum.
o Here, "airplane" is replaced with "aircraft," and "material" is "alloys."
4. Ignore Unnecessary Information
Don't waste time reading full sentences if they do not contain the information you
need.
Example: If you're looking for "What is the boiling point of water?", ignore
paragraphs discussing "the history of boiling water."
5. Pay Attention to Headings, Lists, and Tables
Textbooks, articles, and reports often use headings and bullet points to organize
information.
Skim diagrams, charts, and tables—they often summarize key data.
6. Use Context to Find Missing Information
If you find a partial answer, read the surrounding sentences to clarify.
Example: If a paragraph states, "The Eiffel Tower, built in 1889, stands at 330
meters," and your question is "How tall is the Eiffel Tower?", you already have your
answer: 330 meters.
7.4 Examples of Reading for Specific Information in Different Contexts
1. Academic Context (Reading an Exam Question)
Text:
"The Wright brothers achieved the first powered flight in December 1903 in Kitty Hawk,
North Carolina. Their plane, the Wright Flyer, was constructed mainly from wood and
fabric."
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✅ Question: When did the first powered flight occur?
👉 Answer: December 1903
✅ Question: What was the main material used to build the Wright Flyer?
👉 Answer: Wood and fabric
2. Technical Context (Reading a User Manual)
Text (from an Air Conditioner Manual):
"To operate the unit, press the 'ON' button and set the desired temperature using the '+' or '-'
buttons. For energy efficiency, maintain a temperature of 22-25°C. If an error occurs, the
display will show an 'E' code. Contact customer service if needed."
✅ Question: How do you turn on the air conditioner?
👉 Answer: Press the "ON" button.
✅ Question: What temperature is recommended for energy efficiency?
👉 Answer: 22-25°C.
✅ Question: What happens if the air conditioner has a problem?
👉 Answer: The display will show an "E" code.
3. Daily Life Context (Reading a Train Schedule)
Train Departure Arrival Duration Stops
A101 08:30 AM 10:15 AM 1h 45m 2
B202 09:15 AM 12:00 PM 2h 45m 3
C303 10:00 AM 11:50 AM 1h 50m 1
✅ Question: Which train has the shortest travel time?
👉 Answer: Train A101 (1 hour 45 minutes).
✅ Question: Which train has the most stops?
👉 Answer: Train B202 (3 stops).
8. True/False Questions: Tips
When answering True/False questions:
✅ Read carefully: A small change in wording can change the meaning.
✅ Watch for negatives (un-, dis-, non-) → "Not impossible" = Possible.
✅ Be cautious of extreme words (always, never, only, the best) → These often indicate
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false statements.
✅ A sentence is only true if every part is true.
9. Understanding Diagrams in Technical Reading
In technical English, diagrams, charts, and graphs are often used to explain concepts.
✅ Look at labels: They give clues about the diagram.
✅ Check titles & legends: These explain what the diagram represents.
✅ Pay attention to arrows & symbols: They show relationships and processes.
✅ Look at scales & measurements: They provide important numerical information.
