RSSTHE USE OF TENSES IN THE PASSIVE VOICE
FORMATION
The Passive voice is formed with the help of the auxiliary be in the appropriate form and the Past Participle of the main verb (see Table 13).
|
Tense |
Structure |
Example |
|
Present Simple |
am/are/is + Past Participle |
English is spoken here. |
|
Past Simple |
was/were + Past Participle |
His leg was hurt in an accident. |
|
Future Simple |
shall/will + Past Participle |
The matter will be discussed tomorrow. |
|
Present Cont. |
am/are/is being + Past Participle |
She is being interviewed now. |
|
Past Continuous |
was/were being + Past Participle |
I felt I was being watched. |
|
Present Perfect |
have/has been + Past Participle |
My brother has never been beaten in tennis. |
|
Past Perfect |
had been + Past Participle |
The bridge had been built by winter time. |
|
Future Perfect |
will have been + Past Participle |
Everything will have been done by Tuesday. |
Note 1: Future Continuous Passive (will be being + Past Participle) and Perfect Continuous Passive (have been being + Past Participle, etc.) are unusual and are not normally used. Note 2: Passive Infinitives are used with 'to' or without 'to' in the same way as Active Infinitives: e.g.
The pupils must be warned about the change in the time-table. The letter doesn 't have to be sent
tomorrow.
USAGE
The use of the verb-tenses in the passive voice is determined by the same principles as in the active voice. Yet a passive construction is not merely a transformation of the active one. It is made to show that the subject of a sentence is not the
doer of the action but the receiver of it. Hence the passive
voice has its own uses marked by the shift of focus from the doer of the action to the action itself which is typical of more formal speech.
Customers are requested to ask for a receipt. When were you told about the new rules? The floor is filthy. It must be scrubbed.
PRACTICE
Exercise I. Open the brackets using the appropriate passive forms.
1. The Tower of London formerly (use) as a prison.
2. Progress (make) every day in the world of science.
3. He saw that the table (push) into the corner.
4. Empty bottles must (throw away), the sooner the better.
5. Photographs (take) after the ceremony.
6. I never (speak to) like that before.
7. Ann (show) how to bath a baby by her elder sister.
8. A big battle (fight) here 200 years ago.
9. These books must not (take) away from the reading-room. 10. Milk (use) for making butter and cheese.
I1. In some countries women still (deny) the right to vote.
12. My uncle recently (make) a captain.
13. She fell into the water because she (push).
14. We (suppose) to take your remark seriously?
15. They say she (interview) for the job tomorrow.
16. The newspaper (deliver) before I got up this morning.
17. Milk can (buy) at the shop on the corner.
18. We (tell) there (be) a private bathroom for every room.
19. Next week we (tell) who will be in charge of the department.
20. I phoned the police when I found out that my passport (steed).
21. A new plug for the television must (buy).
22 Smoking (not/allow) in this part of the building.
23 I (tell) that fifty people (invite) to the reception.
24' The National Gallery (restore) at the moment.
25 During the Gulf War many oil wells in Kuwait (damage).
26 He (arrest) by a security guide, who later admitted he had made a mistake.
27 When I entered the room Richard still (examine).
28. I wonder who else is going (to invite).
29. Oranges usually (treat) with wax and then (store) in large boxes.
30. We can't take the car yet: it still (repair).
31. The windows are really dirty: they (not/clean) for years,
32. Do you need (wake) up in the morning?
33. The local cinema (close down) three years ago.
34. Very few typewriters (sell) these days.
EXERCISE 2. MISCELLANEOUS PRACTICE ON THE USE OF THE VARIOUS TENSE-FORMS IN THE ACTIVE/PASSIVE VOICE
1. Bernard and Francis Bashet (be) brothers. They (live) in Paris and (work) with new sounds and shapes for making music. But they always (not/do) this, though; for a long time Bernard (manage) a factory and Francis (run) a business in Argentina. Then about 30 years ago they (take) their savings and (begin) the work they (do) now. First they (learn) about how classical musical instruments (make). And since that time they (begin) inventing their own musical instruments. Now their lives (be) quite varied. They still (invent) new instruments; but Bernard recently (start) working with children as well. He (help) them to discover music without having to read written notes. He and Francis sometimes (travel) too giving concerts on their instruments or setting up exhibitions. Bernard's main complaint? The telephone. 'When an artist (work) ', he said, 'and he (have) to run to the telephone,
something (break) inside. I (agree) with the sculptor who once (say) that freedom for an artist (mean) having a secretary'.
2. It (rain) when we (arrive) at the coast but by midday the rain (stop).'We (think) the rain (last) all day and we (be) very glad it (not/do) because we (want) to do swimming. We (find) a cafe where we (offer) a nice meal. By the time we (finish) lunch the sun (come) out and the temperature (rise) to 30 degrees. We all (run) down to the beach and after we (change) into our swimming things we (dive) in the sea.
3.1 remember going on holiday abroad for the first time. I just (leave) school. I (study) very hard for my final exams. And I (feel) that I (need) a holiday. A friend of mine (want) to come as well so we (look) at some brochures from the travel agent's. We (read) for about an hour when my friend (find} the perfect holiday - two weeks in Hawaii. We (be) very excited about it. Finally the day of our holiday (arrive). We just (leave) the house when the phone (ring). I (run) back into the house, but the phone (stop) by the time I (reach) it. When we (arrive) at the airport we (learn) that our flight (delay) for six hours. We (get) up very early and rushed to the airport, all for nothing.
4. As soon as little Michelle (take) to hospital her ankle (X-ray) and the X-ray plates (give) to the doctor. He (examine) her ankle thoroughly and (decide) that it (have) to be put in plaster at once. Although her ankle (be) painful, she (not/cry) and everybody (say) how brave the girl (be). Now Michelle's ankle gradually (get) better and the doctor just (tell) her mother that he (be) able to take off the plaster next Monday. Then she (send) home if everything (be) all right.
5. One morning last week I (realize) that my bike (steal) from my garden. I (phone) the police and two officers (come) to my house the next day. I (ask) if I (see) or (hear) anything. I (tell) them I (be) out that evening, and (not/notice) anything suspicious when I (return) home.
Before the policemen (leave) they (tell) me that I (inform) as soon as the bike (find). However, there (be) a happy ending to this story. In the evening I (phone) by a friend of mine. «By the way,» she (say), «if you (need) your bike, I (bring) it back this afternoon. I (borrow) it a couple of days ago.»
6. Dear Mum and Dad,
Just a quick note as I (be) in a tearing hurry. Guess what -I just (interview) by a journalist who (ask) me lots of questions about how I (get) on here in America. There (go) to be an article about me in the local paper. Fame at last! I (send) you a copy as soon as it (come) out. Anyway, the journalist (wonder) if I (enjoy) my stay and how long I (be) in the States. He also (ask) me a rather embarrassing question: 'You (like) American food?' You know I can't stand it! He also (want) to know why I (come) to the States and what I (remember) most and best about the country when I (come) back home. I (find) those questions difficult to answer as I only (be) here two weeks. Don't forget to show the article to everyone!
Love,
Andrej
7. With about 200.000 words in current usage, English (regard) as the richest of the world's languages. Few other languages can match this word power. English (owe) its exceptionally large vocabulary to its ability to borrow and absorb words from outside. Atomic, jeans, khaki and sputnik (be) just a few of the many words that (come) into use quite recently. They (take) or (adopt) from Italian, Hindi, Greek and Russian.
This process of borrowing words from other languages (go) on for more than 1000 years. When the Normans (cross) over from France to conquer England in 1066, most of the English people (speak) Old English, or Anglo-Saxon - a language of about 30.000 words. The Normans (speak) a language that
(be) a mixture of Latin and French. The Normans (give) us 'mansion, city, place', the Anglo-Saxons - 'king and town'. Latin and Greek (be) a fruitful source of vocabulary since the 16th century. The Latin words mini, maxi and the Greek word micro (become) popular adjectives to describe everything from bikes to fashions.
8. It (be) last May while we (take) our annual holiday in Brighton that our house (break) into. All our TV and video equipment (steal), but the worst thing of all (he) that the final draft of my husband's latest novel (tear) into pieces. Of course you (hear) about people who (have) their properties vandalized and whose priceless possessions (take), but it (be) a terrible shock, when it (happen) to you, when you know that your home (invade) and that your most intimate belongings (examine) by strangers.
9. Case notes of a nurse
Ward Sister Sarah Browne is responsible for the welfare of 28 patients on two wards at the London hospital where she (work) for the last 6 years. She (direct) a staff of 12 working in three shifts. There are also as many as 15 student nurses who (assign) to the ward at any one time. It (calculate), she says, that 200 people - doctors, nurses, visitors, students -(move) through her general and acute medical ward in a day. Sister Browne, who is 39, (qualify) as a nurse 20 years ago. She (work) as a clinical teacher and (do) research into psychotherapy for former smokers. Her working week easily (exceed) the 37 hours she is supposed to work. 08.45 The morning report (just/end) and Sister Browne (listen) as a qualified nurse (explain) the insulin injection she is about to give to a diabetic patient. 09.38 Sister Browne (chat) by the bedside of an 85-year-old woman who (wait) for a place in a home for two and a half years.
11.33 Sister Browne (just/interrupt) by a telephone call. Whatever she (do), she finds herself being summoned to deal with queries and occasional emergencies. Whenever she (enter) a room, she (switch) on a light by the door to show staff and patients that she (arrive). All the nurses (wear) flat white shoes which are essential to lessen the strain of being on their feet virtually all day. The floors are hard but Sister Browne says she (get used) to them and hardly (notice) her aching feet any more.
12.18 Sister Browne (have) a kind word with an elderly patient who (recently/admit) and is very concerned about her dog and four cats. Pets are a particular problem for elderly patients who (live) alone for some time.
15.01 Sister Browne (joke) with a patient who is about to (take) to another part of the hospital for an X-ray. The ward (specialise) in chest diseases and Sister Browne (ban) smoking.
15.55 Now that her shift nearly (finish) Sister Browne (snatch) a moment's rest before driving home. She will be up again at six tomorrow to do the same shift.
LEXICAL-GRAMMAR TEST 1
1. Раскройте скобки, употребив глаголы в нужном времени:
A LETTER FROM LONDON
Dear Alice,
Hi! I'm on holiday in London. I (stay)__________ with my friend, Jane.
She (live)__________ in the centre of London, near Hyde Park.
I (be)__________ here since Saturday and I (already, do)__________ lots of things. I visit)__________ the Tower of London, the British Museum and Madam Tussaud's.
I (go)__________ to Madam Tussaud's on Monday. It (be)_________ terrible. When I (enter)_________ the Chamber of Horrors, I (scream)__________ .
Yesterday Jane and I (go)__________ shopping. I (want)_________ to buy some souvenirs. But while I (pay)_________ for a T-shirt, someone (steal)__________ my bag. Luckily, I (spend, already)
nearly all my money.
There (be)__________ a lot of things I (not, do)__________ yet. I (not, be)__________ on a boat trip down the Thames yet, I (not, see)___________ the Millennium Dome.
If the weather (be)__________ fine tomorrow, I (go)___________ on a boat trip. I hope Jane (can)__________ keep me company.
I (like)_________ London very much. I (never, see)_________ such a beautiful city. You (must)__________ visit it some day.
I (be)_________ back in a week, so I (call)__________ you than.
Love,
Ann.
2. Задайте 5 вопросов к тексту "A Letter from London ":
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Из четырех вариантов (А), (В), (С), (D) выберите единственно правильный:
1. There's no doubt that computers have______________ our lives easier.
(A) done
(B) got
(C) become
(D) made
2. The journalist asked me___________ .
(A) what was my favourite pastime
(B) what is my favourite pastime
(C) what my favourite pastime was
(D) what my favourite pastime is
3. You'll be here tomorrow,____________ ?
(A) isn't it
(B) won't you
(C) will you
(D) will you be
4. There was__________ to eat and drink after the party.
(A) many
(B) lot of
(C) a lot
(D) lots of
5. __________that strange man sitting over there?
(A) Whose
(B) Which
(C) Who's
(D) Who
6. A kangaroo has such strong legs_________ it can jump over a car.
(A) so
(B) so as
(C) as
(D) that
7. Is there_________ in the room?
(A) somebody
(B) something
(C) anybody
(D) anywhere
8. The telephone was__________ by Alexander Graham Bell.
(A) discovered
(B) invented
(C) explored
(D) studied
9. This programme__________ me a lot of money.
(A) cost
(B) costed
(C) had costed
(D) was cost
10. It happened__________ our way home.
(A) in
(B) on
(C) for
(D) about
11. By the time we arrived at the station, the train__________ .
(A) left
(B) has left
(C) had left
(D) was left
12. Mount Everest is___________ mountain in the world.
(A) high
(B) highest
(C) the higher
(D) the highest
13. What do you want__________ ?
(A) me to do
(B) that I'll do
(C) I do
(D) for me to do
14. If he lived in the country he__________ happier.
(A) was
(B) is
(C) will be
(D) would be
15. Rome is famous for its__________ archaeological sites.
(A) ancient
(B) old
(C) old-fashioned
(D) modem
16. ___________ operate a computer is not as difficult as many people think.
(A) To learn
(B) To learning
(C) Learning
(D) Learning to
17. When did he arrive__________ Moscow?
(A) at
(B) on
(C) in
(D) for
18. Nobody________ why people walk or talk in their sleep.
(A) know
(B) knows
(C) knew
(D) is knowing
19. There is oxygen on this planet! We_________ to breathe!
(A) can
(B) will can
(C) be able
(D) will be able
20. What will_________ be like tomorrow?
(A) the weather
(B) a weather
(C) weather
(D) the weathers
21. Where__________ you last night at the time of the burglary?
(A) were
(B) was
(C) did
(D) have you been
22. John_________ a new job.
(A) have offered
(B) has been offered
(C) has offering
(D) was been offered
23. People use__________ words and gestures to express their feelings.
(A) both
(B) either
(C) neither
(D) also
24. You'd better_________ there alone.
(A) not to go
(B) don't go
(C) not go
(D) go not
25. John F. Kennedy was the youngest president of the United States and________ to be murdered.
(A) four
(B) the four
(C) fourth
(D) the fourth
4. Переведите следующие предложения на английский язык:
1. В пятнадцатилетнем возрасте Джек Лондон стал моряком.
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Анна всегда опаздывает на занятия. Вчера она на десять минут опоздала на урок английского языка.
____________________________________________________________________________
3. В воскресенье я не смогу пойти с тобой в театр. Приезжает моя двоюродная сестра, и я должна буду ее встретить.
____________________________________________________________________________
4. Не могли бы вы объяснить мне это правило еще раз?
____________________________________________________________________________
5. Когда мы вышли на улицу, дождь уже прекратился и снова ярко светило солнце.
____________________________________________________________________________
6. Ничто не заставит меня выйти из дома в такую мерзкую погоду.
____________________________________________________________________________
7. Что ты собираешься делать сегодня вечером? — Я иду с Линдой на выставку.
_____________________________________________________________________________
8. Тебе понравился фильм? — Нет. — Мне тоже.
_____________________________________________________________________________
9. Попроси его позвонить мне сегодня вечером.
_____________________________________________________________________________
10. Волга гораздо длиннее Темзы.
_____________________________________________________________________________
LEXICAL-GRAMMAR TEST 2
1. Раскройте скобки, употребив глаголы в нужном времени:
A FRIGHTFUL NIGHT
One dark night a young man (go)_________ home from the railway station. It (be)__________ very late and there (be)__________ very few people in the streets.
The young man (be)__________ very nervous because he (return, never)__________ home so late. Suddenly he (feel)__________ that somebody (follow)__________ him. The young man (think)__________ that it (be)__________ a robber and (decide)_________ to walk as quickly as he
(can) ____________ .
When he (look)__________ back he (see)__________ that the man (follow, still)__________ him. The young man (turn)_________ into another street. The man (turn)__________ into that street too. Now the young man (be)__________ quite sure that the man (be) a robber.
The young man (turn)__________ round and (ask)__________ :
"What (want, you)__________ ? Why (follow, you)__________ me?" "I (go)__________ to see Mr Brown," (say)__________ the man, "and the porter at the station (tell)__________ me: 'If you (follow)__________ this young man, you (find)__________ his house easily, he (live)___________ next door to Mr Brown.'"
2. Задайте 5 вопросов к тексту "A Frightful Night":
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Из четырех вариантов (А), (В), (С), (D) выберите единственно правильный:
1. I__________ Michael for ages.
(A) didn't see (C) haven't seen
(B) don't see (D) saw not
2. I__________ get up very early now.
(A) must to (C) should to
(B) have to (D) ought
3. How much__________ to fly to New York?
(A) costs it (C) does cost
(B) it costs (D) does it cost
4. My brother Nick is very good__________ maths.
(A) for (C) about
(B) at (D) in
5. When did you discover that your car__________ ?
(A) was disappeared (C) had disappeared
(B) had been disappeared (D) disappearing
6. If he__________ hard, he'll fail his final exams.
(A) doesn't work (C) hadn't worked
(B) won't work (D) wouldn't work
7. Have you heard the__________ news?
(A) last (C) latest
(B) previous (D) latter
8. Which of you__________ to go on an excursion?
(A) wants (C) does want
(B) want (D) do want
9. I'd like to know__________ .
(A) where is my diary (C) where my diary is
(B) where it is my diary (D) my diary is where
10. I'm very busy at the moment. I__________ for my English exam.
(A) am preparing (C) have been preparing
(B) prepare (D) am going prepare
11. __________ you've given me!
(A) What a good advice (C) What the good advice
(B) What good advices (D) What good advice
12. Ann said that she__________ a new dress.
(A) had bought (C) will buy
(B) bought (D)buy
13. Christmas is__________ popular and colourful holiday in Great Britain.
(A) most (C) most of all
(B) the most (D) very
14. There is__________ noise in Moscow.
(A) so many (C) such much
(B) so much (D) a lot
15. Have you read any books__________ Oscar Wilde?
(A) from (C) by
(B) since (D) for
16. Are you__________ angry with me?
(A) yet (C) still
(B) else (D) while
17. This time tomorrow__________ in the Black Sea.
(A) I swim (C) I'll swimming
(B) I'll swim (D) I'll be swimming
18.1 have known Dr Simon__________ 1982.
(A) since (C) about
(B) for (D) from
19. Do you know__________ foreign languages?
(A) some (C) any
(B) some of (D) the
20. This book__________ into 14 languages.
(A) translated (C) being translated
(B) has translated (D) has been translated
21. If the weather__________ fine tomorrow, we'll go to the park.
(A) is (C) will be
(B) will (D) were
22. I'd like you to meet a very good friend of__________ , Robert White.
(A) us (C) our
(B) we (D) ours
23. My friend and I__________ go to the tennis court every Sunday.
(A) occasionally (C) usually
(B) ever (D) often
24. You'd better__________ .
(A) stop worrying (C) stop to worry
(B) to stop worrying (D) to stop worry
25. You have never been to Canada, __________ ?
(A) isn't it (C) haven't you
(B) is it (D) have you
4. Переведите следующие предложения на английский язык:
1. Нам пришлось вернуться домой, так как мы опоздали на последний поезд.
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Я не люблю фильмы ужасов. — Я тоже.
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. Перестаньте разговаривать! Я ничего не слышу.
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Твои родители заставляют тебя мыть посуду?
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Никто никогда мне ничего не говорит.
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. Какая сегодня погода? — Холодно, дует сильный ветер.
_____________________________________________________________________________
7. Интересно, кто из них солгал?
_____________________________________________________________________________
8. Сколько нам потребуется времени, чтобы добраться до Красной площади?
_____________________________________________________________________________
9. Это платье гораздо дороже, чем то.
_____________________________________________________________________________
10. Мы наблюдали, как дети наряжали новогоднюю елку.
_____________________________________________________________________________
