Images: Police tape Holiday apartment Missing child poster Questions (pair discussion) What do you think happened? How are crimes usually reported in the media? Do news reports focus more on actions or on people?

Students read silently (2–3 min). Google Forms Question: Why has this case remained internationally significant? A) Because a suspect was convicted B) Because it remains unsolved C) Because new DNA was found D) Because the parents confessed Correct: B Pair check brief feedback.

ss spot all passive verb forms in the text, we answer in the slide. Answer: Is the focus on the action or the person? Why might journalists choose this structure? Google Forms short answer: “Most verbs are in ______ voice.” “The focus is on the ______.” ANSWERS: Passive Action

1. It is widely believed that Madeleine was taken from the apartment. Meaning Do we know who believes this? → No. Is this presented as a proven fact? → No. Is it a general opinion? → Yes. Is the focus on who believes it or on the information? → The information. Do we know who took her? → No. Form It + be (present) + adverb + past participle + that + clause It + is + widely + believed + that + Madeleine + was + taken Two passive structures: is believed was taken Pronunciation Phonemic transcription: /ɪt ɪz ˈwaɪdli bɪˈliːvd ðət ˌmædəˈleɪn wəz ˈteɪkən/ 1. Weak forms is → /ɪz/ (unstressed) that → /ðət/ was → /wəz/ 2. Stress pattern Main stress: WIDE-ly be-LIEVED TA-ken Sentence stress falls on: widely – believed – taken 3. Linking is_widely believed_that Madeleine_was 4. Rhythm Content words stressed, function words reduced: It is WIDE-ly be-LIEVED that MADEleine was TAken. Appropriacy Formal journalism (yes) Academic writing (yes) Crime reporting (yes) Informal conversation (no) 2. A German suspect is said to have been in the area. Meaning Is this confirmed information? → No. Do we know who says it? → No. Is it reported information? → Yes. Did this happen before now? → Yes. Is the speaker distancing themselves from the claim? → Yes. Form Subject + be + past participle + to have + past participle A German suspect is said to have been Reporting passive + perfect infinitive Pronunciation Phonemic transcription: /ə ˈdʒɜːmən ˈsʌspekt ɪz sed tə həv bɪn ɪn ði ˈeəriə/ 1. Weak forms a → /ə/ to → /tə/ have → /həv/ been → /bɪn/ 2. Contraction in connected speech is said to have → /ɪz sed təv/ Often heard as: “is said to’ve been” 3. Stress Main stress: GERman SUSpect SAID AREA Infinitive part is unstressed. 4. Connected speech suspect_is said_to have_been Smooth consonant-vowel linking. Appropriacy Formal reporting (yes) News discourse (yes) Documentaries (yes) Casual spoken English (yes) 3.New evidence has been reviewed. Meaning Did this happen in the past? → Yes. Is it relevant now? → Yes. Do we know who reviewed it? → No. Is the focus on the action or the agent? → The action. Form Subject + has + been + past participle New evidence has been reviewed Present perfect passive Pronunciation Phonemic transcription: /njuː ˈevɪdəns həz bɪn rɪˈvjuːd/ 1. Weak forms has → /həz/ been → /bɪn/ 2. Rhythm grouping New EVI-dence | has been re-VIEWED 3. Elision tendency has been → /həz bɪn/ → often sounds like /həzbɪn/ 4. Stress Main stress: EVI-dence re-VIEWED Auxiliaries unstressed. Appropriacy Formal updates (yes) Official reports (yes) Academic writing (yes) 4. A German suspect is currently being investigated. Meaning Is the investigation finished? → No. Is it happening now? → Yes. Do we know who is investigating? → No. Is the focus on the action or the police? → The action. Form Subject + is + being + past participle A German suspect is being investigated Present continuous passive Structure: be + being + past participle Pronunciation Phonemic transcription: /ə ˈdʒɜːmən ˈsʌspekt ɪz ˈkʌrəntli ˈbiːɪŋ ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪd/ 1. “being” clarity /ˈbiːɪŋ/ → two syllables Common learner issue: reducing to one syllable. 2. Stress pattern GERman SUSpect CURrent-ly BEing inVES-tiGA-ted Main stress: investigated. 3. Linking suspect_is currently_being being_investigated 4. Rhythm Function words weak: is currently being Content words stressed: suspect – currently – investigated Appropriacy Formal news reporting (yes) Crime reports (yes) Official statements (yes) Legal or institutional contexts (yes)

PART A Instructions: Rewrite the sentences using the word given. Do not change the meaning. People believe that Madeleine was taken from the apartment. (It…) _______________________________ People say the suspect was in the area. (The suspect…) _______________________________ Investigators have reviewed new evidence. (New evidence…) _______________________________ Police are currently investigating a German suspect. (A German suspect…) _______________________________ Answers: It is widely believed that Madeleine was taken from the apartment. The suspect is said to have been in the area. New evidence has been reviewed. A German suspect is currently being investigated. PART B – Controlled Gap Fill Instructions: Complete using the correct passive form of the verb in brackets. It is widely ______ (believe) that new witnesses have come forward. The suspect is said to ______ (leave) the country. New evidence has been ______ (review). A man is currently being ______ (question). Answers: believed have left reviewed questioned

Press Conference Roleplay Roles: Journalist Police spokesperson Police spokesperson MUST use passive structures when answering. Example questions: What do investigators know so far? Has any evidence been found? Is anyone being investigated? What is believed about the suspect? Students speak for 5–7 minutes. Teacher monitors for target language