Lecture Notes: Understanding Passive Voice and Real-Life Examples

Introduction

• Discussion begins with an anecdotal story involving Jerry being late multiple times due to unusual circumstances.

Jerry's Reasons for Being Late

• Third Incident (Today):

  • Jerry claims he was delayed by a zebra that caused a traffic jam.
  • Animals had escaped from a zoo due to an animal feeder's seizure.
  • The story was confirmed by radio reports.

• Second Incident (Yesterday):

  • Jerry's car was mistakenly linked to a crime scene.
  • He was temporarily arrested but released after the real perpetrators were caught.

• First Incident (Monday):

  • Jerry's car was stolen; he used his wife's car, causing a delay.
  • His car was recovered by the police later that day.

Resolution

• Jerry's supervisor, Carlos, initially skeptical, confirms Jerry's stories after listening to the news report.
• Carlos acknowledges the truth of Jerry's explanations and stresses the importance of timely communication.

Grammatic Focus: Passive Voice

• Definition:

  • Used when the action's significance outweighs the performer.
  • Formed using "to be" + past participle.

• Examples from the Lecture:

  • "My car was stolen" - The car is the subject; the performer is less important.
  • "The traffic was stopped by a zebra" - The focus is on the traffic being stopped.

• Other Examples:

  • It is thought that the animals escaped from the zoo.
  • The animal feeder is being treated in the hospital.
  • The robbers have been arrested by the police.
  • More details will be provided soon.
  • "You were needed in that meeting today" - Emphasizes the need rather than who needed Jerry.

Conclusion

• Jerry's real-life stories were used to exemplify the passive voice structure.
• Emphasis on communication and trust in workplace relationships.

Additional Notes

• Encouragement to subscribe to the channel for more educational content.