Page 442 - Grammar Explorer 2 - demo

Connect the Grammar to Writing

1 READ & NOTICE THE GRAMMAR.

A Can you remember a special event that happened to you when you were a child? Tell a
partner about the event. Then read the text.

My Grandfather’s Gift

When my grandfather was a boy in Poland,
fountain pens were used for writing. All of
1
his school work was done with a fountain pen.
His first short story was written with a special
silver fountain pen that his mother, my great
grandmother, gave him for his tenth birthday.
2
His name was engraved on the pen. Sadly, his
mother was killed in a car accident soon after
this birthday. He was raised by his father. In an
old photograph, my grandfather is dressed in a
school uniform, and his fountain pen can be seen
through the front pocket of his shirt. It seems he was rarely without his pen.

No one was really surprised when Grandpa became a writer. Now, most of his work has
been translated from Polish to English. His stories can now be enjoyed by people all over the
world, including me.

When I was ten, my mother and I went to Poland to visit him. It was an exciting time
for me. He showed me his writing desk, and I remember deciding then that I wanted to be a
writer, too. On the last day of our visit, my grandfather asked me to close my eyes. He gently
placed his pen in my hands. I was stunned and incredibly happy. I will never forget the
3
connection I felt with my grandfather that day. It is one of the most important memories of
my life.

1 fountain pen: a type of pen that is filled from an ink bottle
2 engraved: carved into; names or initials are often engraved in jewelry or other metallic items
3 stunned: surprised or shocked

GRAmmAR FOCUS
In the text in exercise A, the writer uses the passive voice without the by phrase to
focus on objects or events, not the agents.
When my grandfather was a boy in Poland, fountain pens were used for writing.
All of his school work was done with a fountain pen.

The writer uses the passive voice with the by phrase when the information about the
agent is necessary.
He was raised by his father.

422 P A S S I V E V O I C E A N D P A R T I C I P I A L A D J E C T I V E
422 PASSIVE VOICE AND PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVESS
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