EN: The passive voice is used to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. It is formed using 'be + past participle (V3)'. In this sentence, 'was made' is the past passive voice, showing that the phone underwent the action of being manufactured in the past.
This book was written by a famous author.
EN: Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by someone, enclosed in quotation marks. When the reporting verb (like 'says') comes after the quote, the subject and verb can remain in the standard order (Subject + Verb) or be inverted (Verb + Subject, e.g., 'says Hana').
"I am tired," says 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, 'are produced' shows that the parts undergo the action of production.
These cars are assembled by robots.
EN: Direct speech reporting clause with 'says'. When quoting someone directly, the reporting verb (e.g., 'says') can be placed after the quote. In this case, the subject 'Sarah' follows the verb 'says' for stylistic balance, which is common in written English.
"I love this city," says Leo.
EN: Present Simple Passive Voice: Used to describe general facts or ongoing situations where the action is more important than the doer. Formed with 'am/is/are' + past participle (V3).
These smartphones are designed in California.
EN: Adverbial Modification with 'partly': The adverb 'partly' is used to modify the verb phrase to show that something is not completely or fully done, but only to some degree.
The project was partly funded by the government.
EN: The passive voice is used to focus on the action or the receiver of the action (the design) rather than the doer. It is formed with 'be' + past participle (was created). The agent (the doer) is introduced with the preposition 'by'.
The cake was baked by my sister.
EN: Direct speech reporting clause. In English, when quoting someone, we can place the reporting verb and subject (says Ryan) after the quote. In present tense, 'says' is commonly used for general reporting of statements.
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 'are shipped', 'are' matches the plural subject 'These goods'.
The letters are delivered every morning.
EN: The preposition 'across' is used to describe movement from one side of something to the other, or to indicate that something is on the other side of a limit or stretch of water/land.
They swam across the river.
EN: Passive Voice with Modal Verbs: When using a modal verb (like 'can', 'should', 'must') in the passive voice, the structure is 'modal verb + be + past participle'. This is used to show that an action is possible, necessary, or permitted to be done to the subject.
This rule can be understood easily.
EN: The preposition 'into' indicating transformation: The preposition 'into' is often used after verbs of change or creation (like 'recycle', 'turn', 'change') to show the result of a transformation or transition from one state to another.
The ice turned into water.
EN: The Passive Voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than who performs it. In this sentence, 'is tested' and 'is sold' are both present simple passive forms.
The letters are delivered every morning.
EN: The conjunction 'before' is used to connect two clauses, indicating that the action in the main clause happens prior to the action in the adverbial clause.
Please wash your hands before you eat.
EN: The passive voice is formed with 'be + past participle' (is saved). It is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action (energy), rather than who performs the action.
Water is conserved when we take shorter showers.
EN: Adverbs of manner (smartly) describe how an action is performed. They are typically formed by adding '-ly' to an adjective and usually follow the verb they modify.
The system works efficiently to reduce waste.
EN: The phrase 'run smartly' reflects the modern trend of 'smart' technology (like smart grids, smart homes, and AI), where efficiency and automation are key to environmental sustainability.
EN: The passive voice is used to focus on the action or the receiver of the action (the package) rather than the doer. It is formed with 'be' verb + past participle (V3). Here, 'was delivered' is in the past simple passive voice.
The letter was written by Sarah.
EN: The preposition 'within' is used to express that something happens inside a specific limit of time, meaning 'no later than' or 'before the end of'.
Please reply to the email within three days.
EN: Passive Voice with Modal Verbs (should be + past participle): This structure is used to express obligation or recommendation when the focus is on the action and its receiver, rather than the doer. 'Should' is the modal verb, followed by the base form 'be', and the past participle 'recycled'.
Plastic bottles should be washed before they are recycled.
EN: Ellipsis in Parallel Structures (not thrown away): In English, repeated elements are often omitted to avoid redundancy. Here, 'not thrown away' is a shortened form of 'not be thrown away', sharing the modal verb 'should' from the first part of the sentence.
The homework must be completed, not forgotten.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, electronic waste (e-waste) recycling is highly encouraged or mandated by local laws. The phrase 'thrown away' usually implies sending waste to a landfill, which is increasingly viewed negatively due to environmental concerns.
EN: The Present Continuous Passive (am/is/are + being + past participle) is used to describe an action that is currently in progress, emphasizing the receiver of the action rather than the doer.
A new bridge is being built over the river.
EN: The reporting verb 'says' is used in the simple present tense to quote someone's statement directly, often placed after the direct quote in written English.
"I love reading," says 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. The agent (the doer) is introduced with the preposition 'by'.
The classroom is cleaned by the students every afternoon.
EN: The reporting verb 'says' is used in the present tense to report direct speech. When the quote comes first, the subject and verb can be inverted (e.g., 'says Sarah'), which is a common literary style in English storytelling.
EN: The Present Perfect tense ('have you ever wondered') is used with 'ever' to ask about life experiences up to the present moment. It is formed with 'have/has' + subject + 'ever' + past participle.
Have you ever visited a factory in another country?
EN: An indirect question ('how a simple product reaches your hands') functions as the noun clause object of the verb 'wondered'. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions use normal statement word order (subject + verb) instead of inversion.
Do you know how they make these shoes?
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. It is commonly used in processes, scientific descriptions, or general facts.
The letters are delivered every morning.
EN: The adverb 'First' is a transition word used to sequence events or steps in a process. It is typically placed at the beginning of a sentence and followed by a comma.
First, we need to gather all the ingredients.
EN: Present Simple Passive Voice: Formed with 'am/is/are + past participle (V3)'. It is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer.
These cars are made in Japan.
EN: Adverbial of Place: Prepositional phrases like 'in large, busy factories' function as adverbials to indicate where the action takes place.
They study in a quiet library.
EN: Present Simple Passive Voice: Formed with 'am/is/are + past participle (V3)'. It is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer.
The letters are delivered every morning.
EN: The preposition 'by' to introduce the agent: In passive sentences, 'by' is used to show who or what performs the action.
This book was written by a famous author.
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, 'is tested' and 'is shipped' are passive verbs.
The letters are delivered every morning.
EN: The conjunction 'before' is used to connect two clauses, showing that the action in the main clause happens prior to the action in the subordinate clause. In time clauses, we use the present simple tense ('is shipped') to refer to future or general truths.
Please wash your hands before you eat.
EN: In modern global logistics and manufacturing, quality control (QC) is a standard procedure. Phrases like 'carefully tested' reflect the high standards expected in consumer electronics and goods production before they are distributed worldwide.
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 packed and sent' is a compound passive verb phrase where the auxiliary verb 'are' applies to both past participles.
The letters are written and posted every Monday.
EN: The preposition 'by' is used to express the method or means of transportation (e.g., by sea, by air, by train). Note that no article (like 'the' or 'a') is used between 'by' and the mode of transport.
The goods were transported by air to save time.
EN: The Present Passive Voice (am/is/are + past participle) is used to emphasize the action rather than the person or thing performing the action. In this sentence, 'are stored' shows that the subject 'they' (the goods) receives the action of being stored.
The letters are delivered every morning.
EN: Adverbial clauses of time introduced by 'when' are used to show when something happens. When the 'when' clause comes at the beginning of the sentence, a comma is used to separate it from the main clause.
When the bell rings, the students leave the classroom.
EN: The Present Simple Passive (am/is/are + past participle) is used to describe actions where the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than who performs it. It is commonly used in processes and factual descriptions.
The letters are delivered every morning.
EN: The transition word 'Finally' is an adverb used to introduce the last point, step, or item in a sequence or process.
Finally, add a pinch of salt to the soup.
EN: The passive voice with modal verbs is formed using 'modal verb + be + past participle (V3)'. In this sentence, 'can be recycled' indicates that the subject 'many materials' is capable of receiving the action of recycling.
Plastic bottles can be reused for gardening.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'into new things' uses 'into' to express transformation or change of state, showing what the materials become after the recycling process.
EN: The Passive Voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'is created' and 'are designed' are passive verbs.
New solutions are found when people work together.
EN: Adverbs of manner (like 'wisely') describe how an action is performed. They are often formed by adding '-ly' to an adjective and typically modify verbs.
The resources must be used carefully.
EN: Present Continuous Passive (am/is/are + being + past participle) is used to describe an action that is currently in progress, emphasizing the receiver of the action rather than the doer.
New houses are being built in our neighborhood.
EN: The infinitive of purpose ('to' + base verb) is used to explain the reason or goal of an action, answering the question 'why?'.
She saved money to buy a new laptop.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice (am/is/are + past participle) is used to focus on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'our daily lives' (plural subject) is followed by 'are shaped' (passive verb) to show that lives are influenced by design.
Many decisions are made by the manager.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'by + agent' is used in passive sentences to identify who or what performs the action. Here, 'by careful design' indicates that 'careful design' is the force shaping our lives.
The book was written by a famous author.
EN: Passive Voice in Present Simple Questions: The structure 'How + are + subject + past participle (V3)?' is used to ask about the process or method of how something is made or done, focusing on the action rather than the doer.
How are these smart devices used in daily life?
EN: Direct Speech with Reporting Verbs: When reporting what someone said directly, the spoken words are enclosed in quotation marks, and the reporting clause (e.g., 'asks Sarah') can follow. In English, the subject and verb in the reporting clause can be inverted (e.g., 'asks Sarah' instead of 'Sarah asks') for stylistic variety.
"Where is the meeting?" asks Ryan.
EN: The passive voice is used to focus on the action or the object receiving the action, rather than who performs it. It is formed with 'be + past participle'. In this sentence, 'are produced' indicates a present simple passive voice.
These cars are manufactured in Germany.
EN: The word 'overseas' can function as an adverb meaning 'in or to a foreign country, especially across the sea'. When used as an adverb, it directly modifies the verb phrase 'produced in a factory' without needing a preposition before it.
Many companies choose to expand their business overseas.
EN: Passive Voice in Questions (Past Simple): To ask a question in the passive voice about a past action, we use the auxiliary verb 'Was' or 'Were' followed by the subject and the past participle of the main verb (Was/Were + Subject + Past Participle).
Was the letter sent yesterday?
EN: Prepositional Phrase 'on time': This phrase functions as an adverb meaning 'at the planned or expected time' (punctual). It is different from 'in time', which means 'early enough' before a deadline or danger.
The train arrived on time.
EN: The passive voice in the past simple 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 (the package 'it'), rather than who performed the action.
The letter was written yesterday.
EN: The preposition 'within' is used to indicate that something happens inside a specific limit of time, meaning 'before the end of' that period.
Please reply to this email within three days.
EN: Passive Voice with Modal Verbs: When using modal verbs (like 'can', 'should', 'must') in the passive voice, the structure is 'modal verb + be + past participle (V3)'. In questions, the modal verb is placed before the subject.
Can this problem be solved quickly?
EN: Direct Speech with Reporting Verbs: In English, when reporting what someone said directly, the spoken words are placed in quotation marks, followed by a reporting verb (like 'asks' or 'says') and the speaker. In present tense narrative, 'asks' is used for questions.
EN: The passive voice in the present simple tense is formed using 'am/is/are' + 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, 'is turned' shows that the subject 'it' (the paper) undergoes the action of being transformed.
The trash is collected every morning.
EN: The phrasal verb 'turn into' means to change or transform something into something else. In the passive voice, 'be turned into' means to be transformed or converted into another form or object.
The old factory was turned into a modern art museum.
EN: The Passive Voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than who performs it. In 'are tested', 'are' is the auxiliary verb matching the plural subject 'These toys', and 'tested' is the past participle of 'test'.
These letters are delivered every morning.
EN: The preposition 'for' is used here to indicate purpose or the reason for an action. 'Tested for safety' means the testing is conducted for the purpose of ensuring safety.
The water was tested for chemicals.
EN: Present Continuous Passive (am/is/are + being + past participle) is used to describe an action that is currently in progress, focusing on the receiver of the action rather than the doer.
The house is being painted this week.
EN: Comparative adjectives (e.g., 'greener') are used to compare differences between the two objects they modify. Here, 'greener' means more environmentally friendly than before.
We need to find a cleaner source of energy.
EN: In English news and narratives, when reporting direct speech, it is very common to invert the subject and verb (e.g., 'says Ryan' instead of 'Ryan says'), especially when the subject is a proper noun. This adds a literary or journalistic rhythm to the sentence.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'is saved' is the present simple passive, showing a general fact. The doer of the action is introduced by the preposition 'by'.
The classroom is cleaned by the students every afternoon.
EN: Direct speech reporting clause. In English, when quoting someone, the reporting verb (e.g., 'says') can be placed after the quote. If the subject is a noun (like 'Hana'), the subject and verb can be inverted ('says Hana'), which is common in written stories or news.
"I am ready," says Leo.
EN: The passive voice is used to show that the subject is the recipient of the action. It is formed with 'be + past participle' (is shaped). The doer of the action is introduced by the preposition 'by'.
The classroom is cleaned by the students every day.
EN: The reporting verb 'says' is used to report direct speech. In English, when the direct quote comes first, the subject and the reporting verb can be inverted (e.g., 'says Leo'), especially when the subject is a noun rather than a pronoun.
"I am tired," says John.
EN: The quote reflects a core philosophy in modern design (such as User-Centered Design or Design Thinking), which emphasizes that products should be created based on solving actual human problems rather than just aesthetic appeal or technological capability.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To discard something that is no longer wanted or needed.
Basic substances in their natural state used to manufacture finished goods.
At the expected or planned time; punctual.