UNIT 6:
TEXT ORGANIZATION: LISTING
and PROCESS
PASSIVE VOICE
Objectives:
1. To list relevant points in the appropriate
category
2. To identify signals/clues that indicate listing
3. To list processes based on the correct order
4. To identify signals/clues that indicate
processes
5. To distinguish active from passive sentences
1. Signal markers for Listing
One of the most common means of relating ideas is
by listing them – in other words, by taking items that refer
to the same general idea and arranging them one after the
other. In its loosest form, listing can be a simple list of any
number of related items – for example, a list of adjectives
used to describe some object. However, there are some
signal words that the writer uses to show listing.
The following are possible common signals to show listing:
• and, also, another
• first, second, third, last …
• firstly, secondly, thirdly, finally…
• parallel structures, e.g. adjective….,
adjective…, and adjective…
Sample Passage 1
Human blood serves the body in three
important ways. First, blood carries
substances needed to maintain and
repair the body tissues. In this way, blood
serves as a provider. Second, blood also
serves as a disposer, since it carries
wastes and gases away from the tissues
of the body. In addition, blood acts as a
defender. The white corpuscles in the
bloodstream constantly guard against
and try to destroy bacteria and other
agents that threaten the body’s welfare.
In the sample passage above, the topic
sentence/main idea of the passage is: Human
blood serves the body in three important ways,
with three important ways as its controlling idea.
The writer lists these three important ways by
using the signal words: First (line 2), Second (line
5), In addition (line 8).
Main Idea: Human blood serves the body in three important
ways.
1. as a provider: carry substances needed to maintain
and repair the body tissues
2. as a disposer: carry wastes and gases away from the
tissues of the body
3. as a defender: guard against and try to destroy
bacteria and other threatening agents
2. Signal markers: Process
• Before/Prior to
• First/Initially
• As/ When/ As soon as/ While/ At
this stage/Meanwhile
• On + V-ing
• During/During this process
• After/Next/Then/
/Subsequently/Later/Afterwards
• Until
• Eventually/Finally
Sample Passage
In processing coffee using a wet processing
technique, the fresh fruit is first pulped by a pulping
machine. Some pulp still clings to the coffee, however,
and this residue is removed by fermentation in tanks. The
few remaining traces of pulp are then removed by
washing. The coffee seeds are then dried to a moisture
content of about 12 per cent either by exposure to the
sun or by hot-air driers. If dried in the sun, they must be
turned by hand several times a day for even drying.
• Based on the passage above, there are four different
stages of the wet processing technique:
- pulping - fermentation - washing - drying
• The passage above states four different stages but only
three of them are signaled explicitly, using the markers
“first” (line 2), “then” (line 5), “then” (line 6).
Structural Point
Passive Voice
Active Sentences (with VERB)
Past Present Future
Simple S + V2 S + V1(+s/es) S + will + V1
Progressive S + was/were + V-ing S + am/is/are + V-ing
Perfect S + had + V3 S + has/have + V3
Perfect
Progressive
PASSIVE VOICE
Active: S+V+O
Passive: S + Be + PP(V3ed) + by + O
(tense)
EX: My father planted this tree last year.
This tree was planted by my father last
year.
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN
PASSIVE VOICE
• The Simple Present Tense
Active: S + V(s/es) + O
Passive: S + am/is/are + PP + by + O
EX: He reads books every day.
Books are read (by him) every day.
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN
PASSIVE VOICE
• The Present Continuous Tense
Active: S + am/is/are + V-ing + O
Passive: S + am/is/are + being +PP + by + O
EX: He is writing a novel at the moment.
A novel is being written (by him) at the
moment.
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN
PASSIVE VOICE
• The Present Perfect Tense
Active: S + Has/Have + V3ed + O
Passive: S + has/have + been +PP + by + O
EX: He has just finished a novel.
A novel has just been finished (by
him).
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN
PASSIVE VOICE
• The Simple Past Tense
Active: S + V2ed + O
Passive: S + was/were + PP + by + O
EX: He gave Tom a book.
A book was given to Tom (by him).
Tom was given a book (by him).
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN
PASSIVE VOICE
• The Past Continuous Tense
Active: S + was/were + V-ing + O
Passive: S + was/were + being + PP + by + O
EX: He was writing a letter at 8.00 yesterday.
A letter was being written (by him).
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN
PASSIVE VOICE
• The Past Perfect Tense
Active: S + had + V3ed + O
Passive: S + had + been + PP + by + O
EX: He had finished his homework before
8.00 yesterday.
His homework had been finished (by
him) before 8.00 yesterday.
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN
PASSIVE VOICE
• The Simple Future Tense
Active: S + will/shall + V + O
Passive: S + will/shall + be + PP + by + O
EX: He will finish the homework.
The homework will be finished.
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN
PASSIVE VOICE
• The Future Continuous Tense
Active: S + will/shall + be + V-ing + O
Passive: S + will/shall + be + being + PP + by + O
EX: Tom will be cooking lunch at 10.00
tomorrow.
Lunch will be being cooked by Tom
at 10.00 tomorrow.
TABLE OF ENGLISH TENSES IN
PASSIVE VOICE
• The Future Perfect Tense
Active: S + will/shall + have + V3ed + O
Passive: S + will/shall + have + been + PP + by + O
EX: By the end of next week, he will have
written 10 letters to her.
By the end of next week, 10 letters will
have been written to her.
Exercises
Change the following active sentences into passive
forms.
1. Corn farmers use precision agricultural technologies in
their farms.
2. Scientists are investigating the potential impact of
precision nitrogen management.
3. Has nitrogen fertilizer produced a better crop outcome?
4. Traditionally grain markets gave more emphasis on
quantity.
5. The researchers were preparing some equipment in the
laboratory.
6. Two scientists had modernized soap production.
7. Can precision agricultural technologies improve crop yield
and quality?
