Our Hometown Treasures (J9A)
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EN: The passive voice is used to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action (this bridge) rather than the doer. It is formed using 'be' verb + past participle (V-ed). In this past tense sentence, 'was' is used because 'this bridge' is singular.
This book was written in 1990.
EN: The phrase 'ago' is used to indicate how far back in the past something happened, counting back from the present. It is always placed after the time duration (e.g., 'a hundred years ago').
We met five years ago.
EN: Passive Voice (Present Simple): Used to show that the subject is the recipient of the action. Structure: Subject + am/is/are + past participle (V3) + by + agent.
The classroom is cleaned by the students every afternoon.
EN: Adverb Placement ('still'): The adverb 'still' is used to describe an ongoing situation. In sentences with auxiliary or 'be' verbs, 'still' is placed after the first auxiliary/be verb and before the main verb.
He is still working on his project.
EN: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action (the old temple), rather than the doer (many tourists). It is formed using 'be' verb + past participle (V-ed).
This book was written by a famous author.
EN: The preposition 'by' is used in passive sentences to introduce the agent, which is the person or thing that performs the action.
The window was broken by the wind.
EN: The passive voice in the past tense is formed using 'was' or 'were' followed by the past participle (V3) of the main verb. It is used when the action itself or the receiver of the action is more important than the doer. The agent (the person who did the action) is introduced with the preposition 'by'.
This beautiful house was built by my grandfather.
EN: The demonstrative adjective 'these' is used to point to plural nouns that are close to the speaker in distance or time. It must agree in number with the plural noun it modifies (e.g., 'these cookies').
These books on the table are mine.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, home-baked goods, especially those made by grandmothers ('grandma'), carry a strong connotation of warmth, comfort, and family love. Sharing 'grandma's cookies' is a common way to express hospitality and affection.
EN: The passive voice is used to emphasize the person or thing that experiences an action, rather than the one performing it. It is formed using 'be + past participle (V3)'. In this sentence, 'are loved' is the present simple passive, showing that 'they' (the cookies) receive the action of being loved.
The classroom is cleaned by the students every afternoon.
EN: The preposition 'by' is used in passive sentences to introduce the agent—the person or thing that performs the action. Here, 'by everyone' indicates who is doing the loving.
This beautiful poster was designed by our team.
EN: The past passive voice (was/were + past participle) is used to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action in the past, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'was founded' indicates that the school (the subject) underwent the action of being established.
This house was built in 1920.
EN: The preposition 'in' is used before years, months, seasons, and centuries to indicate a specific period of time.
He graduated in 2015.
EN: Passive Voice (Past Simple): Used to focus on the person or thing affected by an action, rather than the one performing the action. The structure is 'Subject + was/were + past participle (+ by + agent)'.
The window was broken by the wind.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice is used to describe actions that are facts, habits, or general truths, where the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. It is formed using 'am/is/are' + past participle (V3).
Spanish is spoken in many South American countries.
EN: The preposition 'in' is used before countries, continents, or large geographical areas to indicate location.
They live in Canada.
EN: English is often referred to as a 'lingua franca' (a common language used for communication between people who do not share a native language) because of its widespread use in global business, science, and travel.
EN: Present Simple Passive Voice: Used to describe regular actions, habits, or general truths where the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than who performs it. Structure: Subject + am/is/are + past participle (V3).
The trash is collected every Tuesday.
EN: Adverbial Phrase of Frequency 'every morning': Used to indicate how often an action occurs. It typically appears at the end of the sentence to modify the verb phrase.
The plants are watered every morning.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, street cleaning is a highly organized municipal service. Residents are often required to move their parked cars on specific 'street sweeping' days to avoid fines, reflecting a shared civic responsibility for neighborhood cleanliness.
EN: Passive Voice (Past Simple): Used to focus on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. It is formed using 'was/were' + past participle (V3). The agent (doer) is introduced with the preposition 'by'.
This house was built by my grandfather in 1950.
EN: Indefinite Article 'a': Used before singular, countable nouns that start with a consonant sound to refer to a non-specific person or thing.
She wants to become a teacher.
EN: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed using 'be' verb + past participle (V-ed). In this sentence, 'is held' is the passive form of 'hold' (to organize/conduct).
The meeting is held in the main conference room.
EN: The word 'every' is used with a singular noun (like 'spring') to express how often something happens regularly.
The train departs every hour.
EN: The passive voice is formed with 'be + past participle' (is kept). It is used here because the receiver of the action (history) is the main focus of the sentence, rather than the agent performing the action.
Many secrets are kept in this old library.
EN: 'So much' is used with uncountable nouns (like 'history') to emphasize a large quantity or degree.
There is so much traffic on the highway today.
EN: The passive construction 'be known for' is used to describe what someone or something is famous or recognized for. 'For' is a preposition followed by the reason or characteristic of their fame.
The city is known for its beautiful beaches.
EN: The possessive determiner 'its' is used to show that something belongs to or is associated with a non-human thing, animal, or place (in this case, 'our town'). Do not confuse it with 'it's' (it is).
The dog wagged its tail happily.
EN: Night markets are a central part of social and culinary life in Taiwan and many other Asian cultures. They are vibrant hubs where locals and tourists gather to enjoy street food, play games, and shop for affordable goods.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used here to show that the market does not open itself, but is opened by the people who run it. 'Is opened' represents a regular, present-tense passive action.
The school gate is locked every night at ten o'clock.
EN: Prepositions of time: 'every evening' acts as an adverbial phrase of frequency (no preposition needed), while 'at' is used before specific clock times (e.g., 'at six o'clock').
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice (am/is/are + past participle) is used to describe actions where the focus is on the action itself or the receiver of the action, rather than who performs it. In this sentence, 'are sold' emphasizes that the snacks are being sold, which is a regular or general truth.
Many beautiful photos are taken in this park every day.
EN: The preposition 'along' is used to show movement or position in a line next to something long, such as a street, river, or path. Here, 'along the busy street' indicates the location where the snacks are sold.
Trees are planted along the river.
EN: In many Asian cultures, especially in Taiwan, street food and night markets are a vital part of daily life and local tourism. 'Delicious snacks' (often referred to as 'xiaochi' in Chinese) represent a rich culinary heritage where small, affordable portions allow people to try a wide variety of dishes along a single street.
EN: The past passive voice (was/were + past participle) is used to focus on the action or the receiver of the action in the past, rather than who performed it. In this sentence, 'was built' emphasizes the construction of the bridge.
This school was founded in 1950.
EN: The word 'over' is used as a preposition meaning 'more than' to indicate a quantity or time period that exceeds a specific number.
He has lived in this city for over ten years.
EN: The passive voice is constructed using 'be + past participle' (is crossed). It is used here to shift the focus of the sentence from the active doers (thousands of visitors) to the receiver of the action (the bridge, represented by 'It').
The old temple is visited by many tourists.
EN: The phrase 'thousands of' is used to express a large, indefinite number. Note that 'thousands' is plural and must be followed by 'of' and a plural noun.
Thousands of stars are visible in the night sky.
EN: Passive Voice (Present Simple): Used to focus on the receiver of the action rather than the doer. It is formed with 'am/is/are + past participle (V3)'. In this sentence, 'is decorated' shows that the temple receives the action of decorating.
The classroom is cleaned by the students every afternoon.
EN: Preposition 'with' for Instruments/Means: The preposition 'with' is used to indicate the tool, instrument, or material used to perform an action. Here, 'with beautiful red lanterns' specifies what was used to decorate the temple.
The cake is covered with sweet chocolate frosting.
EN: Red lanterns are a traditional symbol of joy, good fortune, and prosperity in Chinese culture. They are commonly used to decorate temples, streets, and homes during major festivals like the Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival.
EN: The passive voice is formed using 'be + past participle' (V-pp). It is used when the action itself or the receiver of the action is more important than the doer. In this sentence, 'is held' is the present simple passive voice of the verb 'hold' (to organize or conduct an event).
The annual meeting is held in the main conference room.
EN: Adverbials of frequency or time like 'every spring' are used to describe how often an action occurs. They are typically placed at the end of the sentence to provide temporal context without disrupting the main clause structure.
The flowers bloom every spring.
EN: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed using 'be + past participle (V3)'. In this sentence, 'are sung' and 'are performed' are present simple passive forms, indicating regular or general truths.
English is spoken in many countries.
EN: The coordinating conjunction 'and' is used to connect two independent clauses of equal grammatical rank. Here, it links two complete passive sentences to describe simultaneous or related activities during a festival.
The food was prepared, and the drinks were served.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action. In this sentence, 'is loved and shared' is a compound passive verb phrase where two past participles share the same auxiliary verb 'is'.
The local traditions are preserved and celebrated by the community.
EN: The preposition 'by' is used in passive sentences to introduce the agent (the person or thing performing the action). Here, 'everyone' is the agent performing the actions of loving and sharing.
This beautiful poster was designed by our team.
EN: Passive Voice in Questions with 'by': In English, when we want to ask who performed an action in the passive voice, we use 'Who' at the beginning of the sentence and place the preposition 'by' at the end. The structure is 'Who + be verb + subject + past participle (V-pp) + by?'.
Who was this letter written by?
EN: Simple Past Passive Voice: The passive voice in the simple past tense is formed using 'was' or 'were' followed by the past participle (V-pp) of the main verb. It is used to emphasize the receiver of the action rather than the doer.
The window was broken by the wind.
EN: In English, asking 'Who was this cake made by?' (passive) sounds very natural when the focus is on the cake itself (for example, when admiring its appearance). In contrast, the active voice 'Who made this cake?' is also common but places more direct emphasis on the person who did the baking.
EN: The passive voice in the past tense is formed using 'was/were' + past participle (V3). It is used to focus on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. The doer of the action is introduced with the preposition 'by'.
The book was written by a famous author.
EN: Time expressions like 'this morning' function as adverbial modifiers of time. They are typically placed at the end of a sentence to specify when the action occurred in the past.
EN: Passive Voice in the Past Tense (was/were + past participle): Used when the action itself or the receiver of the action is more important than the doer. The agent (the person who did the action) is introduced with the preposition 'by'. Since 'photos' is plural, the plural past tense auxiliary 'were' is used with the past participle 'taken'.
These letters were written by my grandfather.
EN: Tag Questions (..., right?): A common informal way to turn a statement into a question to confirm information or seek agreement. It is placed at the end of the sentence and spoken with a rising intonation.
You are coming to the party, right?
EN: In English-speaking cultures, using 'right?' at the end of a sentence is a very common, friendly, and informal way to seek confirmation. It is less formal than traditional tag questions like 'weren't they?' and is widely used in daily conversations.
EN: The passive voice in the past tense is formed using 'was/were' + past participle (V3). It is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'were taken' indicates that the photos (they) underwent the action of being taken.
The keys were found under the sofa yesterday.
EN: The preposition 'at' is used to specify a precise location, point in space, or a specific event/social gathering (e.g., 'at the school fair', 'at the party').
We met some old friends at the music festival.
EN: A 'school fair' (or school festival/carnival) is a common event in many English-speaking countries, featuring games, food stalls, and exhibitions. It is a social highlight of the school year where students, parents, and the local community gather, making it a popular setting for taking memorable photos.
EN: Passive Voice in Present Simple Questions: The passive voice is used to focus on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. To form a yes/no question in the present simple passive, we invert the auxiliary verb 'be' (am/is/are) and the subject, followed by the past participle of the main verb: 'Is/Are + subject + past participle?'
Are these letters delivered every afternoon?
EN: Adverbial Phrase of Frequency 'every day': 'Every day' (written as two words) functions as an adverbial phrase of frequency, indicating how often an action occurs. It is typically placed at the end of the sentence.
The museum is closed every Monday.
EN: Passive Voice (Present Simple): Used to focus on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. Formed with 'am/is/are + past participle (V3)'. The agent (doer) is introduced with the preposition 'by'.
The classroom is cleaned by the students every afternoon.
EN: In many English-speaking schools, students are responsible for keeping their personal spaces tidy, but major cleaning is often done by professional custodial staff. However, in some cultures (like Japan or Taiwan), students cleaning their own classrooms daily is a standard part of the character-building curriculum.
EN: The passive voice is used to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action (the prizes) rather than the doer (the principal). It is formed using 'be' verb + past participle (V-3). In this past tense sentence, 'were' is used because 'prizes' is plural.
The letters were written by the manager.
EN: The preposition 'by' is used in passive sentences to introduce the agent, which is the person or thing that performs the action.
This beautiful cake was made by Hana.
EN: In many English-speaking schools, the principal (or headteacher) is the highest-ranking administrator and traditionally presents major awards or prizes at official assemblies or graduation ceremonies to show recognition and respect.
EN: The passive voice is used to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action (the poster) rather than the doer. It is formed with 'be' verb + past participle (V-ed). In this past tense sentence, 'was' is used because 'This poster' is singular.
This cake was made by Hana.
EN: The preposition 'by' is used in passive sentences to introduce the agent (the person or thing that performs the action).
These photos were taken by Leo.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice (am/is/are + past participle) is used to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'is seen' focuses on 'our hard work' being recognized.
The classroom is cleaned by the students every afternoon.
EN: The preposition 'by' is used in passive sentences to introduce the agent (the person or thing that performs the action). Here, 'by everyone' indicates who is doing the seeing.
This beautiful poster was designed by our team.
EN: The passive voice is formed with 'be' + past participle (V-pp). It is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'are remembered' is the present simple passive voice.
These books are read by millions of people.
EN: Adverbs of frequency (such as 'always', 'usually', 'often') are typically placed after the 'be' verb in a sentence.
She is always cheerful in the morning.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
Famous or well-known because of a particular feature or characteristic.
A street market which operates at night and sells food, clothing, and other goods.
An event held at a school, typically featuring games, stalls, and entertainment to raise money or celebrate.