Page 77 - BASIC GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Verbs

THE PASSIVE

55 The passive: Present Simple and Past Simple

FORM

noun/pronoun + to be + past participle
Someone washes the car every week.
The car is washed every week.

They make these televisions in Japan.
These televisions are made in Japan.

Someone painted the house last week.
The house was painted last week.
They taught the children to be polite.
The children were taught to be polite.

USE
• The passive is used to describe actions:
a) when we don't know who does, or did the action:
My briefcase was stolen last night.
(I don't know who stole it).
b) when it is not important to know who does, or
did the action:
The cars are taken to Europe every week.
(It doesn't matter who takes them).
These televisions are made in Japan. My briefcase was stolen
(It doesn't matter who makes them). last night.

Practice

55a Rewrite these sentences in the passive.
1 Someone broke this mirror last night.

This mirror was broken last night.
2 Someone washes the towels in the hotel every day.
The towels in the hotel are washed every day.

3 Someone built the house ten years ago.

4 They grow this fruit in very hot countries.

5 They pay the office workers weekly.

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