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Analyzing LANGUAGE How is it formed? - Pronunciation - Writing/ spelling- Grammar rules- Order of words & grammar unitsWhat does it mean?When and why is it used?Deciding what to teach and how to teach it

FORMMEANINGUSEExistential There (is/ are )Analyzing FMUThere in subject positionUsually followed by be verbThe logical subject (usually without the)follows the verb and governs its numberA prepositional phrase often follows the subject

ExistenceLocation

To introduce new information(new information is typically introduced at the end of sentences in English and this facilitates this)MAY (It may rain tomorrow.)Analyzing FMUPreceded by subjectFollowed by the base form of a verb

There is possibility (approx. 50% chance) of the verb event happeningCompared/ contrasted with other modals such as must, might with varying degrees of probability

Used to make a predictionMAY (You may leave now.)Analyzing FMUPreceded by subjectFollowed by the base form of a verb

Youre allowed to leave

To give permission Slightly formalUsually used by a person in higher authority to a person in lower authorityPassive voiceAnalyzing FMUWith auxiliary verb be or getFollowed by past participleAdd by before agent

puts focus on what happened and defocuses the agent

agent is unknownagent is redundantagent should be concealedagent is new information (thematic)to provide objectivity (scientific voice)Learning challengeDeciding what to teach and how to teach it= what aspect of Form, Meaning, Use will be the most challenging for the studentsPASSIVE VOICETeaching Language, D Freeman, Thomson Heinle

Consider these examples:

Some of the Olympic athletes from the smaller countries, such as Korea and Romania, were truly remarkable. In fact,the Romanians won three gold medals in gymnasticsthree gold medals in gymnastics were won by Romanians.

Many medals were awarded to athletes from smaller countries. In fact,the Romanians won three gold medals in gymnasticsthree gold medals in gymnastics were won by Romanians.

Whats the Learning Challenge for Passive Voice? (Form, Meaning or Use?)

Learning challengeDeciding what to teach and how to teach itWhats the Learning Challenge for ? There (There is a book.) may (It may rain tomorrow.) may (You may leave now.) present perfect (I havent finished my homework.) tag questions (Its hot today, isnt it?) reported speech (She told me that she would do it when she had time.)

IMPLICATIONS FOR TEACHING GRAMMARTeaching Language, D Freeman, Thomson HeinleHow do you teach passive voice?

Often passive voice is introduced by transforming active to passive. For example:i. Romanian athletes won three gold medals.ii. Three gold medals were won by Romanian athletes.

But this implies that (ii) derived from (i). Or implies that they are interchangeable. This is not true. Use of them is motivated by very different reasons. So why mislead the students. It also leaves impression that by is common. But actually it is only used in about 15% of passive sentences.

So, be clear about THE learning challengeTeaching Language, D Freeman, Thomson HeinleHow could you teach (present and practice) passive voice with the Learning Challenge in mind?How can you(a) present(b) practiceThere (There is a book. [vs. It is a book.]) may (It may rain tomorrow.) may (You may leave now.) present perfect (I havent finished my homework.) tag questions (Its hot today, isnt it?) reported speech (She told me that she would do it when she had time.)