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Question
Read the set of instructions below and underline the main verb in each
sentence.
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HOW TO MAGNETISE A SCREWDRIVER USING A COIL 1. Place a screwdriver inside a coil carrying a direct current. |
When we write a description of this experiment, which tense do we use?
Complete the description of the experiment using the information in B 1, by writing the verbs in the correct form. One example has been done for you
A screwdriver (place) is placed inside a coil carrying a direct current. The
screwdriver (become)____________ magnetised. It (removed) _____________carefully and
(place)_______________- in iron filings. It (attract) _____________the fillings.
Solution
Main verbs to be underlined in each sentence are :
- place
- becomes
- remove
- place
- attracts
When we write a description of this experiment, which tense do we use?
::- We use passive voice when we write a description of an experiment.
A screwdriver is placed inside a coil carrying a direct current. The
screwdriver becomes magnetised. It is removed carefully and
placed in iron filings. It attracts the fillings.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
When do we use the passive voice?
Example: Look at the following sentences:
a) My grandfather established this steel factory in 1940.
b) This steel factory was established in 1940 by my grandfather.
We use the passive voice when we are more interested in the action than the
person who does it or when we do not know the active subject .
Read the following sentences and, using the given clues, find out the reason for
the use of the passive construction as in the Example above.
1. He was killed in the World War II.
Clue: Who must have killed him? Is it obvious?
______________________________
2. The Bank was looted last night.
Clue: Have the police caught the culprits?
_______________________________
3. Sachin Tendulkar is looked upon as a sport icon.
Clue: Bywhom?
_______________________________
4. This sort of road-side restaurants can be seen everywhere in this city.
Clue: How will you write it in active voice?
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5. When he arrived at the airport, he was arrested.
Clue: Rewrite the sentence in active voice. Is it a little awkward?
_________________________________
6. Employer: On account of tight financial condition, bonus will not be paid this
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Clue: If it is some good news, what voice will the employer use?
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7. I got my hair cut.
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_________________________________
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We must remember that all active constructions cannot/ should not be transformed Example: a) He is drinking water. Though sentence (b) is grammatically correct, we do not write or speak such a Hence it is necessary to keep in mind that the passive voice has certain legitimate |
Match the excerpts below with the text types given in the box.
Excerpts
1. The tea leaves are picked and left to dry in the sun.
2. 20 ml of the salt is taken in a test tube and heated over the flame of a Bunsen
burner.
3. Many villagers were adversely affected by the flash flood. It is estimated that
nearly half of the standing crop has been submerged in water.
|
Text Types a) Newspaper (and formal) report _______________ b) Description of processes __________________ c) Academic writings including reporting of scientific experiments ______________ |
What are the text types in which we can expect to find frequent use of the
passive?
Read the following excerpt from a news story and answer the questions
given below the excerpt.
74 killed in Myanmar quake.
MAESAI (THAILAND). At least 7 4 people were killed in a strong earthquake that struck Myanmar, state media said on Friday, while a series of aftershocks have caused panic but only limited damage in Thailand and Laos. The death toll from Thursday's 6.8 magnitude tremor was expected to rise slightly in Myanmar after 225 homes and nine government buildings were destroyed. Over 100 people were injured, according to state television.
The quake sparked panic, but no major damage in other countries across southeast Asia has been reported. An aftershock of an estimated magnitude of 5.5 rattled Thailand on Friday but caused limited damage, although residents living in properties close to the epicentre were advised to leave their homes.
- Hindustan Times - March 26, 2011
1. Are all the verbs in the passage in passive voice? What do you infer from this?
____________________________
____________________________
2. Underline the passive constructions in the passage and comment on why the
passive is more appropriate than the active in these.
____________________________
____________________________
3. Rewrite the second paragraph, keeping all the verbs in active voice. Begin like
this ...... .
Authorities expect the death toll_____________
_____________________________
_____________________________
4. Does the re-written paragraph read well or is it a little awkward? Give reasons
for your answer.
_______________________________
_______________________________
In two places in the incomplete sentence there has been some reduction,
in order to avoid repetition.
1. What are the two words missing between if and found?
| 'If ( l found guilty', she will be given a life sentence. |
And what are the three words missing between 'if and 'innocent'
| 'If ( _____ ) innocent', she will use the police for wrongful arrest. |
Read the following paragraph, which contains some repetition. Edit and
rewrite the sentences so that you have one improved sentence.
a. The policeman, having been injured by the angry crowd, was lifted up by two
Arun College students. He was carried to a nearby ambulance. Then he was
taken to the city hospital.
______________________________________
Now give the sentence you have written a headline. Some of it has been done for you.
| Policeman _________ students |
b. Suppose you wish to focus attention on the kindness or bravery of the students
who helped the policeman, rather than on the policeman himself. Rewrite
passage a. above so that the focus is on the students, and give your passage a
headline.
What is the difference between the verb forms you used in 'a' above and
those you used in 'b'?
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____________________________________
Look at the picture below. At present this room is in a terrible state. Suggest what should be done to make it fit for a student to live and work in. Use different modals in the Passive voice, as in the example.
| The Walls | should/ ought to/ must | be painted. |
__________________________
__________________________
_________________________
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An architect is speaking at a special meeting of the Town Council. She is presenting her proposals for improving one area of the town. Using the notes below, write down what she will say to the Town Council. You may start the report as given below.
"Firstly, the polluted slum settlements will be cleared and replaced with lowcost
housing ... "
Now Future
slum settlement/ people build low cost housing
sleeping on streets
six cinemas/ no theatre turn one cinema into a theatre
open sewers cover sewers
only one old primary setup/ establish two more
school (overcrowded) primary schools, and one
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no parks or open spaces create small parks between
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Answer the following questions using 'to have something done'. The first one has been done as an example.
1. Why did you go to the garage? To have my car serviced.
2. Why did you go to the doctor? ___________________________
3. Why did you go to the bank? ___________________________
4. Why did you go to the tailor? ____________________________
5. Why did you go to the photo studio? ___________________________
6. Why did you go to the dentist's? ___________________________
Match the items from A and B to make meaningful sentences. There is sometimes more than one sensible combination.
| A | B |
| 1. Who will be 2. She likes 3. They ought 4. They are going 5.She 6. ltwill 7. You will 8. He hates 9. What has 10. Has Sita |
a. be informed b. been done to stop it? c. been told? d. was given the money. e. to get hurt. f. have been done by them. g. asked to come to the party? h. being asked to parties. i. being looked at. j. to be punished for what they did. |
Rewrite the paragraph below by changing these sentences into the passive; include the agent only if necessary.
Last year Mckiney Company built two new apartment buildings in the city centre. Recently one of the buildings was damaged by an earthquake. The earthquake also destroyed the company offices in the other building. The owners of the apartments of the buildings will receive the insurance money to fix the damages. Nobody will lose the money paid for the apartments.
Two new apartment ___________Recently one of the buildings was damaged by an earthquake. The company offices in__________The insurance_______Money.
Shahin, a newspaper reporter, visited the World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan. Suddenly he saw a stall in flames. He jotted down a few notes in his notepad. Using the cues and your own ideas, write a newspaper report in the space provided. Use Active or Passive, depending on what you wish to focus on.
|
-Pragati Maidan -controlled by noon |
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
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