Year 6 English · Modal verbs, the perfect form and the passive · Lesson 6.5

Year 6 English: Why choose the passive: focus, and leaving out the doer

Part of the Year 6 English modal verbs, the perfect form and the passive chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

6.5

Why choose the passive: focus, and leaving out the doer

Year 6
Explain how a passive changes what a sentence focuses on, and when the doer can be left out (Y5-6 grammar)

Story. The park warden writes a report. She says the bench was broken, and that the gate was painted, but she does not say who did either job.

A writer chooses the passive to focus on the object, or when the doer is unknown, not important, or not wanted in the sentence. For example: The bench was broken. This sentence does not name the doer.

Focus on the object

Active (focus on the doer)	Passive (focus on the object)
Vandals broke the bench.	The bench was broken.
The council painted the gate.	The gate was painted.

Key ideas

The passive can focus on the object, and put the doer in the background.
The doer can be left out when it is unknown or not important.
Choose the form that puts the most important information first.

Worked example 6.5.1

Which sentence focuses on the bench? Vandals broke the bench. or The bench was broken. Write the sentence that focuses on the bench.

Method. The passive puts the object first, so it focuses on the object.

Find the object. The bench is the object in the active sentence.
the bench
Check the focus. The passive puts the bench at the front.
The bench was broken.
Write the answer.
The bench was broken.

Check. The passive focuses on the bench. ✓

Worked example 6.5.2

Why might a writer leave out the doer in The window was broken?

Method. Think about whether the doer is known, and whether it matters.

Look for a doer. The sentence does not say who broke the window.
no doer named
Decide why. The doer may be unknown, or not important to the writer.
unknown or not important
Write the answer.
the doer is unknown or not important

Check. The doer is left out because it is unknown or not important. ✓

Worked example 6.5.3

Which form fits a report that does not know who painted the gate? Choose active or passive.

Method. The doer is not known, so the form should leave it out.

Check the doer. The doer is not known.
not known
Choose the form. The passive can leave out the doer, so it fits.
passive
Write the answer.
passive

Check. The passive fits. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a passive sentence with the doer left out can be vague. Use it when the doer is really unknown, not to hide who did something.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask your child to say why a newspaper might write The bank was robbed rather than naming the robber, and whether that is a fair choice.

Exercise 6E Practice: choosing the passive

FWhich sentence focuses on the window? Choose the passive sentence: The ball broke the window. Choose one: The ball broke the window. or The window was broken..

Done

FWhich sentence leaves out the doer, because the doer is unknown? Choose one. Choose one: The vase was broken. or Sam broke the vase..

Done

PSWrite the doer that is left out in The gate was painted last week. Write the answer as: not named.

Done

PSRewrite this active sentence in the passive, leaving out the doer: The council painted the gate.

Done

RExplain in one sentence why a writer might choose the passive The vase was broken, rather than an active sentence.

Done

FWhich word in The bridge was built in 1900 shows the passive? Write the word only.

Done

PSWrite a passive sentence about a school trip, where the doer is not named.

Done

RExplain in one sentence what a passive sentence can leave out, and why a writer might leave it out.

Done

RWrite two sentences about the same event: one active, and one passive that focuses on the object.

Done

RWhich form would a news report about a crime probably use, if the criminal is not known? Write active or passive.

Done