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Lesson 4: Going to the Police
My passport was stolen!

I can report an incident to the police.

INTRODUCE

When something bad happens, it’s important to report it to the police.

PRESENT

STEP A VOCABULARY

I. Listen and repeat.

steal

mug

rob

kidnap

hit

overcharge

II. Which of the problems above have you experienced? Which of the problems have your family and friends experienced?

III. Practice reading the words.

/h/

/p/

hit

pit

hat

pat

hill

pill

STEP B GRAMMAR TIP

Use the passive voice when you want to focus on the person or object that receives an action, not the person or object that does the action.

ACTIVE VOICE

PASSIVE VOICE

A pickpocket stole his wallet.

His wallet was stolen by a pickpocket.

To form the passive voice, use be + (past participle).

  • The store was robbed over the weekend.
  • Many people were overcharged because of a computer error.

To say who or what did the action, use the preposition by.

  • The new security device was tested by the company.
  • These paintings were done by Leonardo da Vinci.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Sho is talking to a police officer in São Paulo.

Sho:

Officer, officer!

Officer:

Sir, please calm down. What’s the problem?

Sho:

My name’s Sho Iwasaki. I’m from Japan. I’m traveling here in Brazil with my coworker, Tim, and my passport was stolen! I need to fly back to Japan this afternoon.

Officer:

Don’t panic, Mr. Iwasaki. When did you discover that your passport was missing?

Sho:

I was bumped into by a strange-looking man this morning, but I didn’t notice that my passport was missing until an hour ago.

Officer:

Hmm, that sounds like a pickpocket. I’m sorry, sir, but you won’t be able to fly back to Japan today.

Sho:

Oh, no…

Tim:

Do you want me to stay in Brazil with you, Sho? I can change my flight.

Sho:

Don’t worry – I think I’ll be okay here alone. I’m a big boy. (laughs)

Tim:

Well, I’m sorry about your passport, but it’s nice that you get a few more vacation days!

TRIVIA

The terms big boy and big girl don’t always mean a large boy or girl. Sometimes they are used to mean that a person is responsible. Children, for example, say that they are a big boy or big girl to express that they can already do things by themselves.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Change the verbs in parentheses into passive voice.

  1. The man (mug) by gang members.
  2. Two children (kidnap) at the park, but they (find) safe the next day.
  3. I think I (overcharge) by $10.
  4. The bus (hit) by another bus, but no one was hurt.

STEP B EXERCISE

Change the sentences into passive voice.

ex. A young man snatched my purse. → My purse was snatched by a young man.

 

  1. The suspect returned the jewelry yesterday.
  2. A street performer entertained the tourists.
  3. A police officer took the family members to the hospital.
  4. Three men robbed the bank last night.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You are on a trip abroad. When you got back to your hotel room this afternoon, you saw that your suitcase was open and some of your things were missing.


Call the police and report what happened.

Today's grammar tip

  • passive voice

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

MAKING A POLICE REPORT
2

ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS
3

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
1

MAKING A POLICE REPORT

  1. What kind of accidents do you usually report to the police?
  2. What’s the fastest way to contact the police (ex. by phone, on social media)?
  3. What information do you need to give when reporting something to the police?
  4. After they receive a report, what do police officers do?

2ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS

  1. Have you ever witnessed an accident before?
  2. What kind of accidents or incidents are common in your city (ex. fires, robberies)?
  3. If you saw a robbery, what would you do?
  4. If you saw a car accident, what would you do?

3EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

  1. Do you stay calm or panic in an emergency situation?
  2. Is it better to be passive or active in an emergency situation?
  3. Do you practice for emergency situations?
  4. Other than the police, who can you contact during an emergency?

FEEDBACK

I can report an incident to the police.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK