The Passive Voice (Simple)

The Present Simple Passive: am/is/are + Past Participle (V₃):

The Marketing Department is run by Peter Franks.

The Past Simple Passive: was/were + Past Participle (V₃):

The letter was sent yesterday.

The Future Simple Passive: will be + Past Participle (V₃):

The new project will be launched next month.

Ex.15. Here are the sentences with verbs in the Present Simple Passive. Say that something was done and will be done making changes if necessary.

Example: The visitors are allowed to see the shop floor.

The visitors were allowed to see the shop floor.

The visitors will be allowed to see the shop floor tomorrow.

1. This job is well-paid. 2. Business letters are typed every day. 3. The Sales Department is headed by an experienced manager. 4. The Production Manager is assisted by a dynamic young Sound Engineer. 5. Many private companies are converted into public companies every year. 6. This service is rendered by a skilled dentist. 7. Complaints are sent to the head office. 8. Recruitment problems are easily solved by our Personnel Manager. 9. Everyone is offered to apply for this job. 10. We are given two days to make a decision.

Ex.16. Read this interview with a taxi driver. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Simple Passive.

A: ¹Areyou employed (you/employ) by a taxi company or is Pet Taxi your own business?

B: Pet Taxi is all mine - and I started it because there are lots of drivers who don't like it when ² …………………(they/ask) to drive cats and dogs in their cars.

A: Is that a problem?

B: Yes, it can be, because every time you have a cat or a dog, dust and hairs ³…………………(leave) behind. And these days there are lots of passengers who ⁴ ………………… (not/allow) to go anywhere near animals because of allergies.

A: So what does your taxi look like?

B: It's a bit like a van, but it ⁵…………………(fit) with a big cage where the animals ⁶…………………(keep), and in the roof there are vents so that the air ⁷ …………………(let) in – which is important for long journeys.

A: So what sort of animals ⁸ …………………(you/ask) to carry round?

B:. Well, mostly, ⁹ …………………(I/contact) by people who want me to take their cats and dogs to the hairdresser's or vet's. But I do some work for a film studio too, so sometimes ¹⁰ …………………(I/give) more unusual creatures – I once had a huge snake – a python!

Ex.17. Many of the following sentences sound unnatural because they are in the active. Rewrite them in the present simple passive, but do not mention the agent (e.g., by workers, by people).

Example: Workers in China make these telephones. –

These telephones are made in China.

1. Employers pay many manual workers weekly.

Many manual workers ……………………………………………

2. They keep a large amount of gold at Fort Knox.

A large amount of gold ……………………………..……………

3. Workers build a lot of the world's supertankers in South Korea.

A lot of the world's supertankers …………………………………

4. Farmers grow a third of the world's cocoa on the Ivory Coast.

A third of the world's cocoa ………………………………………

5. Countries store most nuclear waste underground.

Most nuclear waste ……………………………………………….

6. Scientists test most new drugs extensively before they go on sale.

Before they go on sale, most new drugs ………………………….

7. Printers print a lot of our books in Hong Kong.

A lot of our books ………………………………………………..

Ex.18. A person who works in the Personnel Department is explaining how they selected candidates in her company.

Complete the sentences below to give a general description of the recruitment process. Use the passive in your answers.

1. The vacancy was advertised in-house.

2. When there were no suitable in-house candidates, the job ………………….

3. Applicants ……………………………

4. Some candidates ……………………………

5. A shortlist ……………………………

6. Some applicants ……………………………

7. The best candidate ……………………………

8. The references ……………………………

9. The successful applicant ……………………………

Ex.19. Use these sentences in the negative and interrogative forms.

1. Royal Bank of Scotland was fined £28.6m ($43m). (The Economist, March 31^st, 2010).

2. The maximum profit will be made due to the expansion of the company in Eastern Europe.

3. You will be asked a lot of questions at the interview.

4. The goods are delivered from the warehouse within three days.

5. The new MD was appointed at the annual meeting.

6. Lunch will be served at 11.30.

7. The staff are permitted to accept tips.

8. The plant was sold in 1987.

9. This opinion is shared by most of my colleagues.

10. The meeting was postponed because of the Chairman’s illness.

Business Writing

Дата добавления: 2014-12-24