1. THE PASSIVE VOICE
1.1 The Use of the Passive Voice
* when the person who carries out the action (the agent) is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the context.
* when the person who carries out the action (the agent) is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the context.
My car was stolen last night, (unknown agent)
The plants are watered every evening, (unimportant agent)
The house was burgled, (by a burglar-obvious agent)
* when the action itself is more important than the agent, especially in news headlines, newspaper articles, formal notices, instructions, advertisements, etc.
The new wing of the hospital was opened by the President yesterday morning.
* when we want to emphasize the agent.
The town library was built by my great-great-grandfather in 1874.
* when we want to make statements more polite or formal.
My new CD player is broken, (more polite than You've broken my new CD player.
1. Form the Passive from the verbs.
Example: to take - to be taken
to ask, to read, to write, to invite, to drink, to eat, to smoke, to drive, to see, to send, to inform, to build, to publish, to help, to advise, to give, to bring, to speak
2. Translate the sentences paying attention to the Present Simple Passive.
1. Many books are published in Russia. 2. The machines are tested by the police. 3. I am always driven to work by my neighbour. 4. The machines are tested before use. 5. The car is polished once every three months. 6. Concrete is made of cement, sand and gravel. 7. A picnic is arranged once a month by our club. 8. These gates aren't painted every year. 9. I'm not invited to my uncle's every weekend.10. He isn't asked at every lesson.
3. Translate into English using the Present Simple Active or Passive
1. Я приглашаю - Меня приглашают.
2. Он присылает - Ему присылают.
3. Она рассказывает - Ей рассказывают.
4. Они сообщают - Им сообщают.
5. Рабочий строит - Дом строится.
6. Писатель пишет книгу - Книга публикуется.
7. Студент пишет упражнение - Упражнение выполняется.
8. Студенты помогают - Студентам помогают.
9. Мы задаем вопросы - Нам задают вопросы.
10. Я советую - Мне советуют.
4. Translate the sentences paying attention to the Past Simple
Passive.
1. The best machine was chosen. 2. My bike was stolen last week. 3. The police were called. 4. The book was finished yesterday. 5. The meeting was held on Monday. 6. He was not invited to the party. 7. They were introduced to my friend. 8. I was visited by the teacher last week. 9. Many questions were given to us at the lesson. 10. The letters were brought by thepostman.
5. Put the verbs in brackets into the Future Simple Passive.
Example: The delegation .. will be met.. (meet) tomorrow.
1. This program ... (show) again tomorrow. 2. Your room ... (clean) in a week. 3. I ... (introduce) to the director soon. 4. The gates ... (paint) again next year. 5. My pets ... (not feed) until six o'clock. 6. You ... (not bother) by that man again. 7. You ... (invite) to Betty's party? 8. I ... (allow) to go to Europe. 9. Many questions ... (ask) to the lecturer. 10. The letter ... (write) next week.
6. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present, Past or Future Simple Passive.
1. Moscow ... (found) in 1147. 2. Football ... (play) in summer. 3. Her new article . (finish) next year. 4. The letter . (receive) tomorrow. 5. That bone ... (give) to the dog today. 6. The chair ... (break) two days ago. 7. An interesting fairy-tale . (tell) tonight. 8. The boy . (take) to the zoo last month. 9. The book ... (publish) in three months. 10. Many letters and telegrams ... (send) every day.
7. Translate the sentences paying attention to the passive forms.
Identify the tense.
1. A new underground station is being constructed in our street. 2. The device was being tested when you entered the laboratory. 3. This question is not connected with the problem which is being discussed now. 4. Many various machines are being produced for our industry by this plant. 5. The art exhibition of young artists is being widely commented by the press. 6. The machines produced by this plant are being used in agriculture. 7. Masterpieces from our museum were being exhibited in different cities in
June last year. 8. He is being waited for. 9. While the experiment was being carried out, nobody left the laboratory. 10. The speaker was being listened to with great interest.
