Transforming and relating information

A passive clause usually makes the receiver of an action its subject. Form it with the appropriate tense of be and a past participle. A by-phrase can identify the agent, but it is often omitted when the agent is unknown, obvious or unimportant. Changing active to passive should preserve the original tense and meaning. Not every verb has an object that can become a passive subject.

The passive is useful in notices, reports and descriptions of processes when the result or procedure matters more than the person acting. It should not hide responsibility when naming the agent would make the message clearer. First identify subject, verb and object in the active sentence, then choose singular or plural agreement for the new subject. Keep a process in a consistent time frame unless the meaning requires a change.

During Grade 11 revision, recognise the purpose of the language before selecting a form or structure. The models illustrate useful decisions without guaranteeing a particular examination task. Check both accuracy and relevance, then correct the features which affect the message most.

වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්‍ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.

Reported speech communicates another person's message without necessarily reproducing every original word. Pronouns, time expressions and place references change according to the reporting situation. With a past reporting verb, a tense often shifts back, but a statement which remains true does not always require that shift. Say normally introduces the reported content, while tell normally needs the person who received the message.

A reported question uses statement word order after ask, not the order of a direct question. Yes-or-no questions commonly begin with if or whether; other questions retain an appropriate question word. Commands and requests can use an object plus a to-infinitive. Keep the original message accurate and do not invent an intention that the speaker did not express. Reporting well is a meaning task as much as a grammar task.

During Grade 11 revision, recognise the purpose of the language before selecting a form or structure. The models illustrate useful decisions without guaranteeing a particular examination task. Check both accuracy and relevance, then correct the features which affect the message most.

වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්‍ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.

The second conditional commonly uses if plus a past form with would plus a base verb. It describes an imagined or less likely present or future situation rather than a simple finished event. Were can be used with all persons in a formal hypothetical clause, especially in the useful phrase if I were you. The third conditional uses if plus past perfect with would have plus a past participle to imagine a different past.

Separate the time of the condition from the time of the result. An imagined past event cannot actually be changed, but discussing it can clarify a lesson or consequence. Avoid mixing patterns accidentally, although deliberate mixed conditionals are possible when the times differ. When giving advice, explain why the imagined choice would help. Do not use an elaborate pattern if a clear direct sentence expresses the intended meaning better.

During Grade 11 revision, recognise the purpose of the language before selecting a form or structure. The models illustrate useful decisions without guaranteeing a particular examination task. Check both accuracy and relevance, then correct the features which affect the message most.

වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්‍ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.