Two sides of A4, pupil sheet only. Tick Background graphics in the print box for the colours (it works fine without).Teacher notesAnswers

The Hidden Doer

Active and passive, and why a writer might hide who did it

Lesson 17
Medium
Name
Date
Chef Polpetta

Every passive has a doer standing just off the page. Ask it: by whom?, then decide if hiding them was fair.

1

Tick the right one

a“The last cannoli was eaten” tells us who ate it.“The last cannoli was eaten” hides who ate it.the doer
b“The window was broken by Leo” names the doer.“The window was broken by Leo” hides the doer.the doer
c“Mistakes were made” hides who made them.“Mistakes were made” names who made them.the doer
d“The order was cancelled” names who cancelled it.“The order was cancelled” hides who cancelled it.the doer
2

Find the 4 mistakes

Polpetta sorted the day's sentences into active and passive, whistling as he went. The chef cooked the soup (active). The soup was cooked by the chef (active). Mia laid the tables (passive). Somebody ate the last cannoli (active). The last cannoli was eaten (active). The recipe is kept secret (active). The window was broken by Leo (passive).
Check each label against the shape: who leads, and is there a was, were, is or are before the verb? One vague-looking label is already right.
Write the corrections here
SPAGhetti · Lesson 17 · The Hidden Doer  ·  Medium Turn over →   1 of 2

The Hidden Doer

Lesson 17 · Medium · side 2

Name
3

Now you write

☆☆☆
a Which sentences are passive?
Tick 2The bread was baked by Nonna.Nonna baked the bread.The tables were laid.Mia laid the tables.Leo is washing up.
Now write an active sentence and its passive twin:
b The tables ___ by Mia.
Tick 1were laidlaidwas laywere lainlaying
Now write your own passive with a by-phrase:
c Which are fair passives, because the doer is unknown or does not matter?
Tick 2The order was cancelled.The window was smashed in the night.The soup was made by me.The ball was kicked by me.The cake was eaten by Leo.
Say why the passive is fair there:
4

Help Polpetta

Chef Polpetta

The last cannoli was eaten, so nobody is to blame. Watertight, no?

Tell him what the passive is hiding, and rewrite his report so it is honest.
SPAGhetti · Lesson 17 · The Hidden Doer  ·  Medium  ·  2 of 2 Play it
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