🌍 English Learning Course (From Basic to Advanced)
📘 Parts 21 – 25: Voice, Speech, Modals, Paragraphs & Conversations
💙 Part 21: Active and Passive Voice
🎯 What Is Voice?
In English, the voice of a sentence shows whether the subject is doing the action or receiving it.
- Active Voice: The subject does the action.
- Passive Voice: The subject receives the action.
Both express the same idea but from different points of view.
🧩 1. Active Voice
Structure:
👉 Subject + Verb + Object
Examples:
- Ram eats an apple.
- The teacher teaches English.
- They built a house.
Here, the subject (Ram, teacher, they) performs the action.
🧩 2. Passive Voice
Structure:
👉 Object + “be” form + Past Participle (V3) + by + Subject
Examples:
- An apple is eaten by Ram.
- English is taught by the teacher.
- A house was built by them.
Here, the object becomes the focus.
🧠 Why Use Passive Voice?
- When the doer is unknown or unimportant:
The window was broken. (We don’t know who broke it.) - To sound more formal or polite:
Your request has been approved.
💡 Active → Passive Conversion Rules
| Tense | Active Example | Passive Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | She writes a letter. | A letter is written by her. |
| Present Continuous | She is writing a letter. | A letter is being written by her. |
| Simple Past | She wrote a letter. | A letter was written by her. |
| Past Continuous | She was writing a letter. | A letter was being written by her. |
| Present Perfect | She has written a letter. | A letter has been written by her. |
| Future | She will write a letter. | A letter will be written by her. |
🏋️ Practice:
Change to passive:
- He cleans the room.
- She is cooking food.
- They built a bridge.
- She has finished her work.
- He will open the door.
Answers:
- The room is cleaned by him.
- Food is being cooked by her.
- A bridge was built by them.
- Her work has been finished by her.
- The door will be opened by him.
🗣 Speaking Tip:
Use active voice in daily speech — it’s more direct.
Use passive voice in formal writing or when the doer isn’t important.
Example:
✅ Active: “I submitted the report.”
✅ Passive: “The report was submitted.”
💙 Part 22: Direct and Indirect Speech
🎯 What Is Reported Speech?
When we tell what someone said, we can use:
- Direct Speech – exact words.
- Indirect Speech – our own words.
🧩 1. Direct Speech
We use quotation marks (“”) for the exact words spoken.
Example:
- He said, “I am tired.”
- She said, “I like coffee.”
🧩 2. Indirect Speech
We report the speech without quotes and often change the tense.
Example:
- He said that he was tired.
- She said that she liked coffee.
💡 Rules for Changing Direct → Indirect Speech:
- Remove quotation marks.
- “I am happy.” → He said that he was happy.
- Change pronouns.
- She said, “I am ready.” → She said that she was ready.
- Change tenses (usually one step back in time).
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| am/is → was | I am tired → He said he was tired |
| are → were | They are busy → He said they were busy |
| have → had | I have finished → He said he had finished |
| will → would | I will go → He said he would go |
- Time and Place Words Change:
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| today → that day | “I will come today.” → He said he would come that day. |
| tomorrow → the next day | “I’ll go tomorrow.” → She said she would go the next day. |
| yesterday → the previous day | “I met her yesterday.” → He said he had met her the previous day. |
🏋️ Practice:
Change to Indirect Speech:
- She said, “I am reading.”
- He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
- They said, “We played football yesterday.”
- She said, “I have done my homework.”
Answers:
- She said that she was reading.
- He said that he would call me the next day.
- They said that they had played football the previous day.
- She said that she had done her homework.
🗣 Speaking Tip:
- Use direct speech for storytelling and dialogues.
- Use indirect speech for formal communication and reports.
Example:
Direct: “I’m late,” he said.
Indirect: He said he was late.
💙 Part 23: Modal Verbs – Power Words of English
🎯 What Are Modal Verbs?
Modal verbs are helping verbs that show ability, possibility, permission, or necessity.
They are used before the main verb.
Common Modals: can, could, may, might, must, should, shall, will, would
💡 1. Can
Used for ability or permission.
- I can swim. (ability)
- You can use my pen. (permission)
💡 2. Could
Used for past ability or polite request.
- I could run fast when I was young.
- Could you help me, please?
💡 3. May
Used for possibility or permission (formal).
- It may rain today.
- May I come in?
💡 4. Might
Used for less sure possibility.
- It might snow tomorrow.
💡 5. Must
Used for strong necessity or rule.
- You must wear a helmet.
- Students must study hard.
💡 6. Should
Used for advice or suggestion.
- You should drink water regularly.
- We should respect our parents.
🧠 Quick Comparison Table
| Modal | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| can | ability | I can dance. |
| may | permission | May I go out? |
| must | necessity | You must attend class. |
| should | advice | You should sleep early. |
| could | polite request | Could you open the door? |
🏋️ Practice:
Fill in the blanks:
- You ___ (should/must) wear a seatbelt.
- It ___ (may/can) rain today.
- I ___ (can/might) play guitar.
- ___ I come in? (May/Should)
- You ___ (could/should) take an umbrella.
Answers:
- must
- may
- can
- May
- should
🗣 Speaking Tip:
Use modal verbs to sound polite and confident.
Example:
- “Can you help me?” → simple request.
- “Could you help me, please?” → more polite.
💙 Part 24: Rules of Writing Paragraphs
🎯 What Is a Paragraph?
A paragraph is a group of related sentences about a single topic or idea.
It usually has:
- A topic sentence – introduces the idea.
- Supporting sentences – explain with examples or facts.
- A concluding sentence – ends or summarizes the idea.
🧩 Example Paragraph:
Topic: Importance of Reading
Reading is a wonderful habit that helps us gain knowledge and improve our imagination. It allows us to learn about different cultures, ideas, and experiences. People who read regularly develop better language skills and strong thinking abilities. Reading also reduces stress and keeps the mind active. Therefore, we should make reading a daily habit to become more intelligent and creative.
🧠 Tips for Writing a Good Paragraph:
- Focus on one main idea.
- Use simple, clear sentences.
- Connect ideas with linking words: also, because, therefore, however.
- Avoid repetition.
- Always revise before finalizing.
🏋️ Practice:
Write a paragraph on “My Favorite Season” or “The Importance of English.”
Example Start:
English is one of the most important languages in the world today…
💙 Part 25: Short Conversations for Daily Practice
Learning grammar is important — but speaking practice makes it real!
Here are easy conversations you can use daily.
🗣 1. At School
Teacher: Did you finish your homework?
Student: Yes, ma’am. I have done it.
Teacher: Good! You must always submit on time.
Student: I will, ma’am. Thank you!
🗣 2. At a Shop
Shopkeeper: What would you like to buy?
Customer: I need a notebook and a pen.
Shopkeeper: Sure. Anything else?
Customer: No, that’s all. How much is it?
Shopkeeper: Fifty rupees.
Customer: Here you go. Thank you!
🗣 3. Meeting a Friend
A: Hey! How are you?
B: I’m fine, thank you. How about you?
A: I’m doing great. Let’s go for coffee.
B: Sure, I’d love to!
🗣 4. Asking for Directions
You: Excuse me, can you tell me the way to the railway station?
Person: Go straight, then turn right. It’s near the post office.
You: Thank you so much!
Person: You’re welcome.
🗣 5. Job Interview Practice
Interviewer: Tell me about yourself.
Candidate: My name is Riya. I have completed my degree in Computer Science. I am hardworking, honest, and eager to learn new skills.
Interviewer: That’s great. Why do you want to join our company?
Candidate: Because your company values growth and teamwork, which match my goals.
💡 Speaking Tips:
- Practice short dialogues daily.
- Use polite words: please, thank you, excuse me.
- Speak slowly and clearly.
- Record your voice and listen to improve pronunciation.
🏁 Summary of Parts 21–25
| Part | Topic | Key Learning |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Active & Passive Voice | Express who does or receives an action |
| 22 | Direct & Indirect Speech | Report or quote someone’s words |
| 23 | Modal Verbs | Express ability, permission, advice |
| 24 | Paragraph Writing | Write meaningful and connected ideas |
| 25 | Short Conversations | Practice daily English speaking |
✅ Final Activity: Combine Everything
Write a short paragraph using:
- one modal verb
- one passive sentence
- one indirect speech
- one short conversation line
Example:
I can speak English fluently now. My teacher said that practice makes a person perfect. A new language is learned by patience and daily effort. Wow! I really enjoy improving every day.