Grammar focus

I. Focus on grammar. Study the following material on Present Simple Passive and Past Simple Passive. Illustrate these rules by your examples.

FORM

We form the passive with the verb to be and the past participle of the main verb.

to be + past participle (pp)

The passive forms are:

• present simple: am/is/are + pp

My car is serviced twice a year.

• past simple: was/were + pp

My car was serviced last month.

USE

The passive is used:

· when the person who carries out the action is unknown, unimportant or obvious from the context.

Mrs Archer’s ruby ring was stolen from her house last night. (We do not know who stole the ring.)

Rolls Royce cars are made in England (It is not important, to know who makes the cars.)

The cows are milked once a day. (It is obvious that the farmer milks the cows.)

· when the action itself is more important than the person who carries it out, as in news headlines, newspaper articles, formal notices, instructions, advertisements, etc.

Two teenagers were seriously injured in a car accident last night. (from TV news.)

· when we want to make statements more polite.

My new blouse is ruined. (more polite than saying, “You’ve ruined my new blouse.”)

NOTE

The passive is used more often in written English than in spoken English.

II. Grammar Activity

The following exercise presents you a short notice from newspapers. Open the brackets using Present Simple, Past Simple Tense or Present Simple Passive, Past Simple Passive. Translate the article into Russian.

Under Fire

Fire swept /was swept through a furniture warehouse yesterday afternoon. Most of the stock inside was damaged/damaged, but shocked workers were managed/managed to save a small amount of it. The police are investigated/ investigate the cause of the fire, but it is thought/thinks that it was an accident. The shop manager is looked/looks for another warehouse where stock can keep/be kept. “A lot of stock is lost/lost ”, said the manager. “I’m just glad no one hurt/was hurt. ”

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