I. The Passive Voice in the Present Continuous Tense  

The Formula:

Active: Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing + Object

Example: The chef is preparing the signature pasta.

Passive: Object + am/is/are + being + Verb 3 (Past Participle) + (by Subject)

Example: The signature pasta is being prepared by the chef.

A. Now rewrite the following sentences in passive voice.

1. She is taking a beautiful sunset photo.
2. I am writing an email to the manager.
3. The architect is designing the modern villa.
4. The barista is making a "secret menu" drink.
5. I am editing a cinematic vlog for my TikTok.

B. Change these sentences into active voice.

1. The new Blackpink album is being streamed by everyone.
2. A peaceful protest is being held by students.
3. Hundreds of protesters are being detained by the police.
4. Free nutritious meals are being distributed by the BGN.
5. Crops are being purchased directly from village farmers by KDKMP.

II. The Passive Voice in the Past Continuous Tense  

The Formula:

Active: Subject + was/were + Verb-ing + Object

Example: My brother was playing Valorant in the next room..

Passive: Object + was/were + being + Verb 3 (Past Participle) + (by Subject)

Example: Valorant was being played by my brother in the next room.

A. Now rewrite the following sentences in passive voice.

1. My friends were eating bananas.
2. Denise was speaking Chinese.
3. That brand was sponsoring the famous YouTuber.
4. Jack was taking Rita to a zoo.
5. The committee was investigating the corruption scandal.

B. Change these sentences into active voice.

1. Basic necessities (sembako) were being sold by the KDKMP at low prices.
2. Millions of new workers in rural areas were being absorbed by the KDKMP.
3. Old palm oil trees were being replanted by farmers.
4. A speech on climate change was being delivered by the president.
5. A new "Sekolah Rakyat" campus was being built in Papua.

 Happy Prince

In a city square, a very beautiful statue of the Happy Prince was standing." He was a very handsome statue. His eyes were two sparkling sapphires. He was covered with the finest gold. On his sword, there was a sparkling ruby. The citizens of the city admired him very much. 

One morning, the Town Councilors gathered to admire the statue. "He is as handsome as a weathercock," exclaimed one of them. He wanted others to think he knew a lot about art. However, he didn't want them to think he was unpractical. He said, "But he is not as practical, of course."

A short time later, many people gathered in front of the statue. A very sad-looking man mumbled, "It's good someone is happy in this city." A mother said to her crying boy, "I wish you were like the Happy Prince. The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything." Several children came out of the cathedral. They said to their teacher, "We think he looks exactly like an angel." The teacher said, "But you have never seen an angel." "Oh! But we have in our dreams." the children exclaimed. Their teacher was unhappy. He did not like children dreaming.

Many days later, a small Swallow flew over the city," He was flying to Egypt to meet his friends. They had left many weeks earlier. The Swallow had stayed behind. 

A. Write A (Active) or P (Passive).

1. The homework is done by the students.
2. The teacher explains the lesson.
3. The classroom is cleaned every day.
4. They play football after school.
5. The test was given yesterday.

B. Change Active → Passive.

1. The teacher checks the homework.
2. Students use smartphones in class.
3. They built the bridge last year.
4. She writes a story.
5. The police caught the thief.

C. Change Passive → Active.

1. The book is read by the students.
2. The classroom is cleaned by Ani.
3. The song was sung by them.
4. The homework is finished by Rudi.
5. English is spoken by many people.

D. Fill in the blanks with the correct passive form.

1. The classroom ______ (clean) every morning.
2. The homework ______ (finish) yesterday.
3. A new mall ______ (build) in this city now.
4. The lesson ______ (explain) by the teacher.
5. The book ______ (read) by many students.

E. Find and correct the mistake:

1. The homework is finish by me.
2. The classroom are cleaned every day.
3. The book was wrote by him.
4. English is speak in many countries.
5. The cake was eat by them.

1. The Simple Past

The Simple Past is used for actions that are completely finished at a specific point in the past. It often answers the question "When?"

• Finished Time: The action happened in a time period that is over (e.g., yesterday, last year, in 1995).
• Specific Details: We use it to tell stories or give specific information about a past event.

Examples:

• I baked a cake yesterday.
• They visited Japan in 2018.
• She wrote three emails this morning (and the morning is now over).

2. The Present Perfect

The Present Perfect is used for actions that happened at an unspecified time or have a connection to the present.

• Unfinished Time: The action happened in a time period that is still continuing (e.g., today, this week, so far).
• Life Experience: We use it to talk about what we have done in our lives without saying exactly when.
• Present Result: The action happened in the past, but the result is important right now.

Examples:

• I have baked a cake. (It is on the table now; you can eat it.)
• They have visited Japan three times. (In their whole lives, up until now.)
• She has written three emails today. (The day is not over; she might write more.)

Comparative Examples

Simple Past: I lost my keys yesterday. (I’m telling you about a past event. I might have found them by now.)

Present Perfect: I have lost my keys. (I don't have them right now. Help me look!)

Simple Past: I saw that movie on Friday. (A specific point in time.)

Present Perfect: I have seen that movie. (I know the plot; I don't need to see it again.)

Simple Past: He lived in London for five years. (He doesn't live there anymore.)

Present Perfect: He has lived in London for five years. (He still lives there.)

Now read the text below and answer the questions that follow.

The Unfinished Journey

Last summer, Adam traveled to Italy for a two-week vacation. He visited the Colosseum, ate authentic gelato, and walked through the narrow streets of Venice. It was a specific trip with a clear beginning and end. However, Adam is a traveler at heart, and his journey through life is far from over.

Since that trip, he has started a travel blog to share his experiences. He has uploaded dozens of photos and has connected with thousands of readers worldwide. While his trip to Italy finished months ago, the impact of that journey has shaped his new career. He has already planned his next adventure, but he hasn't booked the tickets yet. Adam loved his time in Rome, but he has discovered that he loves sharing his stories even more.

Part 1: True or False

Decide if the statement is True or False based on the text.

1. Adam traveled to Italy last summer.
2. He has visited the Colosseum many times this year.
3. The trip to Italy is still happening.
4. Adam has started a blog since he returned.
5. He has already booked his next flight.

Part 2: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct tense to complete the sentence.

1. Adam _______ (ate / has eaten) authentic gelato during his vacation last year.
2. He _______ (uploaded / has uploaded) many photos since he started the blog.
3. The trip to Rome _______ (was / has been) a specific two-week event.
4. Adam _______ (connected / has connected) with many readers so far.
5. He _______ (walked / has walked) through Venice when he was in Italy.

Part 3: Answer correctly.

1. Why is "traveled" used in the first sentence instead of "has traveled"?
2. Find one sentence in the text that uses the Present Perfect to show a life experience.
3. Which tense is used to describe the "narrow streets of Venice," and why?
4. Does the phrase "has already planned" imply the action is finished or part of an ongoing process?
5. Rewrite this sentence in the Simple Past: "He has discovered that he loves sharing stories." (Hint: Use "Last year" to start).

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks.

Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Look for "time markers" (like yesterday or since) to help you decide.  

1. I __________ (lose) my keys yesterday.
2. I __________ (lose) my keys! Can you help me find them?
3. She __________ (live) in Paris for three years when she was a child.
4. She __________ (live) in Paris for three years, and she loves it there.
5. We __________ (not/see) that movie yet.
6. We __________ (not/see) that movie when it was in theaters.

Exercise 2: Find the Mistake

Each sentence below has one error. Can you find it and fix it?

A: I have gone to the grocery store two hours ago.

B: She has been a doctor since ten years.

C: Did you ever eat sushi before?

D: I worked here since 2022.

E: My brother has broken his leg last summer.

Exercise 3: The "Interview"

Complete the dialogue using the verbs in the box. Use either Simple Past or Present Perfect.

Verbs: be, start, travel, visit, meet

Anna: So, tell me about your travels. __________ you ever __________ to Asia?

Ben: Yes, I __________ Japan last year.

Anna: Wow! How was it?

Ben: It __________ amazing. I __________ a lot of interesting people while I was there.

Anna: I __________ never __________ to Japan, but I __________ learning Japanese three months ago.

Andi: What do you think about war between countries?

Sinta: In my opinion, war causes more harm than good. Many innocent people suffer.

Andi: I agree. War destroys homes and schools. Education is often interrupted.

Sinta: Yes, and the economy becomes unstable. People lose their jobs.

Andi: Some people argue that war is sometimes necessary to defend a country.

Sinta: I understand that point, but I believe diplomacy should always come first.

Andi: That’s a good point. Negotiation can prevent violence.

Sinta: Exactly. I think peace is always the best solution for long-term stability.

Andi: So, we both agree that war should be the last option.

Sinta: Yes, countries should prioritize dialogue and cooperation.

Choose the best answer!

1. What is the main idea of the dialogue?
   A. War improves education
   B. War brings economic stability
   C. War has serious negative impacts
   D. War increases cooperation
   E. War is entertaining

1. Why does Sinta believe diplomacy is better than war?
   A. It is faster
   B. It is cheaper
   C. It prevents violence
   D. It increases power
   E. It creates fear

1. If a country chooses war as the first solution, what might happen based on the dialogue?
   A. Schools improve
   B. People feel safer
   C. Homes and schools are destroyed
   D. Jobs increase
   E. Prices decrease

1. The word “prioritize” in the dialogue is closest in meaning to …
   A. ignore
   B. delay
   C. consider first
   D. avoid
   E. cancel

1. Which statement reflects Sinta’s perspective?
   A. War is exciting.
   B. War should be avoided if possible.
   C. War always solves problems quickly.
   D. War is the best economic strategy.
   E. War improves relationships.

1. What value is promoted in the dialogue?
   A. Violence
   B. Competition
   C. Peaceful negotiation
   D. Revenge
   E. Isolation

1. If education is interrupted because of war, what long-term effect might occur?
   A. Increased literacy
   B. Better economy
   C. Decreased human resources quality
   D. More innovation
   E. Stronger international relations

1. Which sentence shows critical thinking about war?
   A. War is always fun.
   B. Everyone loves war.
   C. War should be used anytime.
   D. War has complex impacts on society.
   E. War has no effect on people.

1. Why do some people argue that war is necessary?
   A. To defend their country
   B. To make friends
   C. To improve tourism
   D. To reduce population
   E. To increase homework

1. Based on the dialogue, what conclusion can be drawn?
   A. War is the best solution.
   B. War has no disadvantages.
   C. Dialogue and cooperation are better than war.
   D. Violence should be encouraged.
   E. Education is not important.

Expressing opinion means saying what you think or feel about something.

In daily life, we give opinions about:

• School rules
• Social media
• Environment
• Homework
• Technology
• Public issues

Useful Expressions

Giving Opinions

• I think …
• I believe …
• In my opinion, …
• In my view, …
• From my perspective, …
• As far as I’m concerned, …
• It seems to me that …

Example:

• I think online learning is effective.
• In my opinion, students need more practical activities.

Asking for Opinions

• What do you think about …?
• What is your opinion about …?
• Do you agree with …?
• How do you feel about …?

Example:

• What do you think about school uniforms?
• Do you agree with the new school policy?

Agreeing

• I agree with you.
• That’s a good point.
• I think so too.
• Exactly!
• You’re right.
• We are on the same page.

Disagreeing

• I’m not sure about that.
• I don’t agree.
• I see your point, but …
• I have a different opinion.
• I don’t think so.

Language Features

• Use present tense.
• Use thinking verbs (think, believe, feel).
• Use polite expression.

Read the following dialogue and answer the questions.

Rina: What do you think about bringing smartphones to school?

Budi: In my opinion, students can bring smartphones for learning.

Rina: I’m not sure about that. They might use them for games.

Budi: That’s true, but teachers can control their use.

Rina: I agree that smartphones can help learning, especially for research.

Budi: Exactly. We just need clear rules.

Rina: Yes, I think rules are very important.

1. The purpose of expressing opinion is to …

A. tell a story

B. describe a person

C. say what we think

D. give instructions

E. ask permission

2. Which expression is used to give an opinion?

A. Thank you very much

B. I think it is useful

C. Excuse me

D. See you later

E. Congratulations

3. Which question is asking for opinion?

A. Where do you live?

B. What time is it?

C. What do you think about this rule?

D. How old are you?

E. Who is your teacher?

4. "I agree with you” means …

A. disagreement

B. asking

C. confusion

D. agreement

E. apology

5. "I don’t think so” shows …

A. agreement

B. happiness

C. disagreement

D. invitation

E. gratitude

6. From the dialogue, Budi thinks smartphones …

A. are dangerous

B. should not be used

C. are expensive

D. can help learning

E. must be banned

7. Rina is worried that students might …

A. study harder

B. use phones for games

C. call parents

D. read e-books

E. join competitions

8. The tense commonly used in expressing opinion is …

A. past tense

B. future tense

C. present tense

D. past perfect

E. present perfect

9. “From my perspective” has similar meaning to …

A. However

B. In my opinion

C. After that

D. Because of

E. Suddenly

10. Which sentence shows polite disagreement?

A. You are wrong!

B. That is stupid.

C. I see your point, but I disagree.

D. No!

E. Impossible!