UNIT 6

IT’S
MADE OF
GLASS
Source: flotty/pixabay.com
 Learning Overview

It’s Made of Glass

Pronounciation center Interlude Essential Grammar

The Formulas of
Pronouncing “the” Passive Voice
Passive Voice
 Pronounciation Center
Pronouncing “the”
How to Pronounce “the” in English
Normally, we pronounce “the” with a short sound (like “thuh”). But when “the”
comes before a vowel sound, we pronounce it as a long “thee”.
Vowel sound We write We say

A the apple thee apple

E the egg thee egg

I the ice-cream thee ice-cream

O the orange thee orange

U the ugly fruit thee ugly fruit

 Pronounciation Center
Pronouncing “the”
How to Pronounce “the” in English
It is the sound that matters, not the letter used in writing a word. So we use a
long “thee” before a vowel sound, not necessarily before a vowel. Look at these
cases:
We write With We say With

the house consonant (h) thuh house consonant sound

the hour consonant (h) thee hour vowel sound

the university vowel (u) thuh university consonant sound

the umbrella vowel (u) thee umbrella vowel sound

 Interlude
Passive Voice
What is it?
We use passive sentences (usually called the passive voice) when it is not important
who or what does the action.
The object of an active sentence becomes the subject of a passive sentence.

Robots make these cars

These cars are made by robots

 Interlude
Passive Voice

What is it?

• The “by phrase” is used when it is important to know who or

what performs an action.
• In “These cars are made by robots”, “by robots” is important
information as it shows the specific doer.
 Interlude
Passive Voice
When do we use it?
When it is obvious to the listener
We do not know who the agent is
or reader who the agent is
E.g.:
E.g.:
‘I don’t know who did it, but my pet
‘She discovered that she was being paid less
rabbit has been let out.’
than her male colleagues.’
instead of:
instead of:
‘I don’t know who did it, but someone
‘She discovered that the firm was paying her
has let out my pet rabbit.’
less than her male colleagues.’
 Interlude
Passive Voice
When do we use it?

It is not important to know who the
agent is
E.g.:
‘Do you want a lift?’ ‘No thanks, I’m
being picked up.’
Instead of: ‘Do you want a lift?’ ‘No
thanks, someone is picking me up.’
The agent has already been mentioned
E.g.:
‘In the next session of parliament, new laws
will be introduced aimed at stopping
domestic violence.’
Instead of: ‘In the next session of parliament,
the government.’
 Interlude
Passive Voice
When do we use it?
People in general are the agents
E.g.:
‘All the Beatles records can be
borrowed from the central library.
Instead of: ‘You can borrow all the
Beatles records from the central
library. Source: Nationaal Archief-Wikimedia Commons
 Essential Grammar
Passive Voice
Formula
The passive forms are using auxiliary verbs and the past participle forms
of verbs. Be + Past Participle
Verb form Construction Example
Present Simple am/is/are + pp How is this word pronounced?
Present Continuous am/are/is being + pp The house is being redecorated.
Present Perfect has/have been + pp He has just been robbed!
Past Simple was/were + pp All his credit cards were stolen last week.
Past Continuous was/were being + pp He was being treated for
depression when he won the lottery.
 Essential Grammar
Passive Voice
Formula
The passive forms are using auxiliary verbs and the past participle forms of verbs.
Be + Past Participle
Verb form Construction Example
Past Perfect Simple had been + pp The vegetables had been cooked for far too long,
but we had to eat them.
Future Simple will be + pp The house contents will be auctioned a week on
Saturday.
Future Perfect will have been + pp There’s no point in hurrying. It will all have been
eaten by now.
Infinitive (to) be + pp Exams have to be taken almost every year you are
at school. Do you know who is going to be Invited?