Exploring English:

language and culture

TRANSCRIPT
NICOLE: We watched Martin talking about English as a global language. Lets take a look at some
of the language he used. Watch this.
MARTIN: OK, well many people talk about English as being a global language. And the
reasons for that are the widespread use of English. Its used in education, its used in
science and technology and, importantly, English is also used in business.
NICOLE: Martin said English is used in education, its used in science and its also used in
business. Martin used the passive voice is used. Why? Well, he was talking about the English
language, not about the people who use it. English is also used in science and technology. Who
by? Lots of people! Its not important who uses English English is what were talking about here.
Lets listen to another example, this time in the past tense.
MARTIN: In the past, new words were coined by people - it might have been in a speech
or a newspaper article or in a book - they were written down and then other people
adapted them and used them.
NICOLE: Martin said New words were coined when you coin a new word or expression you
invent it and he said they were written down We dont know who coined the new words or who
wrote them down. Thats not important and thats why Martin used the passive voice. But lets
listen again to what Martin said at the end of that sentence.
MARTIN: In the past, new words were coined by people - it might have been in a speech
or a newspaper article or in a book - they were written down and then other people
adapted them and used them.
NICOLE: We heard Martin say they were written down and then they were (/w/.).. Then he
stopped and changed what he said he said other people adapted them and used them. He
changed from the passive voice they were adapted and used to the active other people
adapted them and used them. Why? Well, why not? Theres no grammatical reason. If you dont
want to use the passive too much you can use people or lots of people or everyone things
like that as the subject of the sentence. This makes the verb form active. Using a mixture of
active and passive sentences helps to add variety when we speak and write in English.

Exploring English
British Council 2014