The Language of Control
Grammar: Passive Voice
A Business English English lesson exploring business.
What's in this lesson
A Business English ESL lesson on business, practising passive voice. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Language of Control
Laws do not shout. They whisper. Read the EU AI Act and you will notice something immediately. Almost nothing happens. Things are prohibited. Systems are classified. Obligations are established. The passive voice dominates. No one acts. Actions occur. This is not an accident. It is a choice — and it is worth understanding.
Vocabulary
- due diligence
- high-risk
- redress mechanism
- regulatory framework
Grammar: Passive Voice
- Passive — agent
- The algorithm was deployed across all branches. — focus on action, not actor
- Modal passive — hedged
- Bias must be monitored continuously. — obligation without naming who
Discussion questions
- Would you rather read a law written in plain English or one written in formal legal register?
- Which is more powerful in a meeting: 'I decided this' or 'It has been decided'?
- Would you rather use AI to write a compliance report or to read and summarise one?
The Language of Control
Grammar: Passive Voice
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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