Grammar Structures and Practice A. The Passive Voice with Continuous Tenses * The passive voice of verbs in the present and past continuous tenses is formed in this way: be (am, is, are, was, were) + being + past participle (+ by + agent) = Adverbs of frequency generally come after the first auxiliary verb. _ The Passive Voice with Continuous Tenses Structures | Examples Focus Active Many cities are using computers to | many cities help regulate traffic. Passive Computers are being used in many | computers Cities to help regulate traffic. Active ‘Ten years ago, cities were using cities traffic officers to regulate traffic. Passive ‘Ten years ago, traffic was being traffic regulated by traffic officers. #& The future continuous tense (will be + verb + éng) and the present and past perfect continuous tense has, or had been +verb + ing) are not used in the passive voice. — [J Practice working in pairs, take turns asking questions and forming answers using the present continuous tense, passive voice. Make up some other examples. Example A: Why are you wearing your black suit? B: (brown suit / cleaned) My brown suit is being cleaned. A B 4. Why is the traffic so slow today? Main Street / repaired Becasue the moin street Is being repaired. 2. Why don't you practice piano today? piano / tuned Becasue my plano is being tuned. 3. Why is your office closed? new computer system / installed k Becasue anew covputer system is being installed. 4. Why can't we go into the cafeteria? floor / washed Becasue the foalr is being washed. 5. Why are they staying in a hotel? their house / painted Because their house is being painted by Mr Hassen. 6. What is happening to that bus? it /towed away 7. Where is your new suit? it/altered 8. Why are you taking the bus to school today? my car / repaired 9. Why are you writing your essay longhand? —_my printer / fixed 10. Why are you walking to school today? my bike / tuned up 201example, —emplayed —_in microwave ovens and digital clocks. In just ea half a century, microelectronic technology Se it possible to produce practical devices for everyday life. High-speed cameras with automatic focusing havebeencreated Compact disc players _ave been developed _ sien 3 veep) Remote control devices owebeen procuced _ for televisions and video recorders and for telephone answering machines. Fifty years ago, none of these devices _€xis ted = — because microelectronic _ technology had nay yet been invented 4.1 microelectronic devices Mavebeen constructed yeh 9 (ot vented /yed TO construct similar types of components, which are smaller, cheaper, and more reliable than components of the past. This explains why some devices, such as VCRs, answering machines, and especially home computers, St a much less now than they did when they first appeared __ on the 12 appeal) market. It also explains why the average home today contains _ 15 (Contry more than 40 machines and electronic devices! UES a iad oe eee Discussing What Gadgets You Own make alist of all the gadgets that are ‘mentioned in this section. Put a check mark next to each device that you own or have ‘owned and count the number of check marks. Then talk with your classmates to see which student has the largest number of these gadgets. Next, make a list of gadgets that you have in your home but that were not mentioned in these activities. Again, com- are with your classmates to see who has the largest number of gadgets. Ti writing about a Useful Gadget choose one gadget that you absolutely Could not live without and write a paragraph about it. Include the following When was the item invented? By whom was it invented? How is it made? How is it used today? How was it used in the past or what was used instead of it? How has this item been modified or changed in recent years? m= High Tech, LowTech 199Ml Practice The following list shows “old” inventions and the newer inventions that have replaced or improved upon them. Form sentences using the present perfect tense, passive voice. If possible, add information to make the sentences interesting. Example typewriters / word processors word processors. In many offces and homes, typewriters have been replaced by 1. shoelaces and zippers / Velcro ‘On many clothing items shoelaces and zippers have been replaced by Velcro. 2. records and turntables / CDs and CD players ‘Inmany music stores records and turntables have been replaced by CD's and Cd players. 3. brooms / vacuum cleaners Inmany home the use of brooms for cleaning carpets has been replaed by vacuum cleaners. 4. electric fans / central air conditioners In most offices electric fan coaling has been, replaced by air conditioners. 5. conventional ovens / microwave ovens Conventional ovens have been replaced by micrawaive ovens. 6. telephone operators / pagers and voice-mail system 7. eyeglasses / contact lenses 8. orchestras / music synthesizers 9. home-movie cameras / video cameras “10. letters / email Practice Imagine that you work in a recording studio and you are going to video- tape a TV commercial. In pairs, go over your final checklist before you begin recording. Ask questions using the present perfect tense of the Passive voice. Give short answers using the past participle, as in the example. Example call the actors A: Have the actors been called? B: Called! 1. test the microphones 5. test the loudspeakers Has themic been tested yet? Have the loudspeakers been checked? 2. check the lights 6. adjust the sound Have the lights been checked? Has the sound been alusted ? 3. clean the camera lenses 7. load the film Has the camera lense been cleaned? Has the film been loaded into the camera ? 4. focus the camera 8. close the doors Has the camera been focused ? Have the doors been clased ? 197it without really thinking about it. In the beginning, Tse) ih ever, many people = _________ the telephone by some that the telephone 6 (believe) T (bey and laws _______________ by a few to prohibit telephones in bedrooms) 2 (euagest) order to prevent secret conversations. (Telephones would allow private ro: lic conversations, and this would corrupt people, especially young girls!) the demand for teleph these ideas and fears = - grew. At first in the United States, young boys to ope’ Toei ‘the telephone switchboards, but because of their bad language and tricks of them their jobs. Soon, in September 1878, Emma i Wosey ‘Nutt __________as the first woman telephone operator. In Francs.’ 6 women —______from the beginning. This was in part because 73 tempioyy 8 7 7 boys and young men —______ to serve in the army. More impor Fequite) tant, the female voice —_____ much clearer over early telephone. ¥5 Gound) lines. In the late 1800s, the telephone, together with the typewriter saining thousands of women to work in offices. New fashions ir to suit the needs of female workers, and “appropriate” 17 (ereatey The shirtwaist dress and the blouse clothing for work 7a tnroduee 7 soom) for women “going to business.” The telephone, obvi Teese ously, —a begin the social revolution thea] today, Today, the telephone —____ so DF teontinush Be much a part of our lives that we —__ it _umless i 23 (nat notice} Ta out of order. In fact, with hundreds of millions of telephones worldwide, no other invention —_______so much. Bw 194 chapters‘The Impact of the Telephone a =6 High Tech, LowTecn 193 Many new inventions _ore used every day, but the telephone _became use) (become) an everyday item faster than almost any other invention in history. In May 1877, six telephones __were__ in commercial-use. In November 1877, Tear there ss — 3000, and by 1881, 133,000. Today, people every- where —areattected by the telephone, although most of us a it without really thinking about it, In the beginning ever mang tt peoale! ee the telephone. was, belleved by some that the telephone os and laws —Wwere suggested _ by a few to prohibit telephones in bedroo: order to prevent secret conversations. (Telephones would allow private ro: tic conversations, and this would corrupt people, especially young girls!) these ideas and fears were overcome as the demand for telephy grew. At first in the United States, young boys —_wereemployed to ope: TO erp) the telephone switehboards, but because of their bad language and tricks m of them ost _hadlost__ their jobs. Soon, in September 1878, Emma Nutt i] as the first Woman telephone operater. In France, women were employed __ from the beginning. This was in part because ail boys and young men —Hereregited _ to serve in the army. More impor tant, the female voice —Saunded ——=§$——— much clearer over early telephome lines. In the late 1800s, the telephone, together with the typewriter ‘bought or had bought_ thousands of women to work in offices. New fashions: rin reated — to suit the needs of female workers, and “appropriaze” clothing for work —Has_soon_ Introduced | ‘The shirtwaist dress and the blouse —Was designed —_ for women “going to business.” The telephone, obvi 19 aesia ously, ‘helped _padhelped begin the social revolution thas has continued today. Today, the telephone 6m 7 (cont) PE teaI much a part of our lives that we don'tnotce it unless it s aE out of order. In fact, with hundreds of millions of telephones worldwide, no other invention __Isused_____so much. 25 use) 194 Chapters ==Ce ae ee SoM based on ‘be mivolved in Cwinhy ‘conmected t0 be located in (xt, om) Verba ‘covered with bemade of (om) he with Cus) Be made up of be ralnted to ‘Be used for Gs, wath) be toed + 20rd et Ed Practice Complete the following sentences by adding appropriate forms of the verbs in parentheses. Use past, present, or future tenses. Then add appropriate prepositions in the spaces provided. Include adverbs when indicated, Example Today, magazines and newspapers are filled cay with stories about the Intemet. 1. Electronic mail, which WaSCoMMonly KNOWN Crow / commonly) OS, email, is the fastest growing means of conmunication in the world. reconnected 2. Today, millions of people from all seven continents (connect) __t0__ each other through the Internet. 3. Today's Internet__ISbased (hase) on a network built for researchers in the United States during the 1970s. 4. The original network of the 1970s __was used (use) for communicating about research projects at different universities, 5, At that time, most of the research projects Were related (relate) the defense industry. 6, Today, the Internet _18 accutually made_ (make / actually) of hundreds of regional computer networks. 7. Today, networks __@ located oeate) in countries all over the world. are involed 8. Each year the number of eampanies that (involve) in Internet sales has increased. sms HighTech, LowTech 191Ei Practice read the following passive voice sentencés below and underline the bhnrase wit by in each sentence. Then decide whether each by + agent is necessary tal] the meaning of the sentence. Tell which phrases you would omit and why, Examples Before companies like Federal Express, airmail letters and packages were transported by commercial airlines, Do not omit the phrase because it tells who transported girray detters and packages. In those days, letters and packages were often lost. by people. The phrase can be omitted. It is obvious that mail was lost by people. 1, Federal Express, the first overnight package delivery company, was started by Frederick Smith in 1973 >< 2: Similar companies were created by people in the years that followed. 3, Before Federal Express was created by Smith, packages were always shipped XX ~ by air freight companies on regular commercial airlines. Y & Inthose days, fast delivery of packages was never guaranteed! by anybody, 5. Commercial airline flights were often delayed by bad weather or equipment problems. _/¢, & Packages were sometimes lost by the airlines Ve ,, 7+ Sometimes packages were delivered by the air freight companies weeks after Y * the mailing date, ‘Sx 8. At Federal Express, overnight delivery is guaranteed by the company. 7 % Federal Express planes and trucks are used by the company in order to guarantee service. 19. Currently, over three million packages are delivered worldwide by FedEx eact day. 190 Chapter 5 maw[Ell Practice tme following sentences are in the active voice, Some of the sentences have objects, but others, with linking verbs, do net. Decide which sentences can be changed to the passive voice. Label the subject (@), verb 02, and object () in each sentence. Then change the sentence to the passive voice. in sentences with a direct, and an indirect object. give both possibilities Example Philipp Rels whs a German inventor. cannot be chanasd : v 3 Reis designed an early telephone around 1861 An carly telephone wor designed by Rets around 1861 3 4. According to most history books, Alexander Grahaim Bell invebted the telephone. 7 ~ The telephone wasinventedby Alex G Bell, according to most history books “aa The true story is more dramatic, however. / s g J 3- In 1876, two invehitors cojapleted patent Sprications on the same day. ~ * “Tnigb,patent applications were completed by twolnventors on the same day. 4, Une was a schoolteacher named Alexander Graham Bell. ‘8. The other was a professional inventor named Elisha Gray. 6. Gray and Bell did not work together, / 7. The two intentors develdfed very similar telephones. Very simular telepnones were developed by the two inventors. 8, Gray finished first. ¢ ) / 9. However, the U.S. Patent Office received Bell’ application two hours before / Gray's. ed oo Vv aera Belts application was received two hours before Gray's by the US Patent Office. 7 / So 410, Thus, the Patent Office give the official patent to Alexander Graham Bell Alex G Bellwas gven the offical patent by the US Patent Office. 11. Elishié Gray took Bell to court. - / 12. Gray sued Bell forthe rights to the talking machine. Bellas sued by Gray for the rights to the taking machine. 43) Bell woi in Court. “14, The Patent Oifice awarded the patent to Bell Bell was awarded the patent by the Patent Office. 15. To this day, the whole world gives credit to Bell for inventing the telephone. To this day Bellis gen creat by the whole world for inventing the telephone. 188 Chapter 5 amsC. The Passive Voice in Sentences with Indirect Objects Passive voice sentences may be made from sentences with both a direct and indirect object. = Inactive voice sentences with both a direct and an indirect object, either object may become the subject of the corresponding passive sentence. ® Sentence focus is on the passive voice subject. 3 The Passive Voice in Sentences with Indirect Objects Structures Active Passive Direct Object ‘The United States gave the patent The patent for the telephone was for the telephone to Bell. given to Bell by the United States. Indirect Object ‘The United States gave Bell the Bell was given the patent for the ‘patent for the telephone. telephone by the United States, EJ Practice sit in groups of three students. Student A should read the active voice. — sentences that follow. Students B and C should change them to the passive voice. Follow the example. Ex A: The school secretary gave Sam an important message, B: Sam was given an important message by the school secretary. C; An important message was given to Sam by the school secretary. 4. The phone company sent me information about new types of phone service. information about the new types of phone services were sent tome by the phone compnay. 2. Mrs. Jones will give the results of the test to the students within the next week. The students will be given the results of the tests within the next week (by Mrs. Jones). 3. The salesman showed Mr. Sanchez some computer software Mr Sanchez was shown some ‘computer: software by ‘tne salesman. 4, Bvery year, a rich businesswoman gives our town $100,000 to spend on the schools. Every year our town was given $100,000 by a rich bessiness women to spendon the school. 5. The judges awarded Joseph first prize in the essay contest. Joseph was awarded the frst prize in the essay contest by the Judge Joseph was awarded the first ‘the contes' 6. My father lent me Tat omni goon Cart ZekY the Judge the essay contest That beautiful sports cor was lent tome by my father. 7. Young-hoon gave Ali a cell phone. Allwas gen a cellphone by Young-hoon, 8. Martin will buy Camila a PDA. APDA willbe bought for Camila by Martin, — APDA willbe bought by Martin for Carvila 9. The school gave each student a new computer. Anew computer was given to each student by the school. 40. My children sent me an iPod for my birthday. ‘Twas sent an Pod by my children for my birthday. may High Tech, LowTech 187Practice Complete the following by using the past, present, or future tense off verbs in parentheses. Use the passive voice. Remember that singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs. Example Until the latter part of the 20th century, most day-to-day information was stored ina card filing system. Ll , ay \ . The first generation of computers __ (invent) in the eaillil] 1940s. . Today the computer Th ow (take) for granted by much of dll] world. . Ny w . Between 1980. and 2000, millions of personal computers: tasene Ol cA (sell) epeonsmes Cemputers Tine USe0 (use) by over 500 million people > throughout the world. { . Today, almost the entire world 16 conodeool (connect) by the Internet. a ue ON . In many offices, computers 24. (connect) to each other im a network. . Messages CLUS peu vol (reegived) via email Written documents “ins Luensualal (transmit) by computer and then Jj printed out on printers al . In the future, even faster computers tg nt) 40. Soon the telephone and personal wrote tll ca (replace) by a handheld communication device o oN ° 186 Chapter 5 ma1. pp ‘The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, 2, __{P__the phonograph was invented by Thomas Bidison in 1877484 chapters 3 I. Warner Brothers|introduced movies with sound in 1927, 4 Pac oredit ca rst fntroduced]by Bank of America in 1958. 5. Fer comorasion(aeaiad computers in 1971 he first microprocessor for 6. AL Martin Cooper fnvented]|the first cell phone in 1973. a FS ___ Microsoft/refeasedjWindows 1.0 in 1985. — apple the first version of Powerbook in 1989. 10.___f¢___ Computer companies released the first PDAs for sale in 1993 11,___A____ inthe 1990s the BlackBerry fvas developed] 12, _°_ The first Pod{was released)by Apple in 2001 B. The Passive Voice with Simple Tenses "= The passive voice of verbs in simple tenses is formed in this way: (will) be (am, is, are, was, were) + past participle (+ by + agent). * Adverbs of frequency usually come after the first auxiliary verb. ™ The verb be is singular or plural, depending on the passive voice subject. * The passive forms have the same general meanings and time frames as verbs in the active voice. 5.2 The Passive Voice with Simple Tenses Examples Focus ple Past Active A computer company installed anew ‘computer company * | computer network in our office. Passive | Anew computer network was installed anew computer network. ‘in our office (by a computer company). ple Present | Active Computer companies install new computer companies ‘computer networks every day. Passive | New computernetworksare installed new computer networks (by computer companies) every day. ' wwle Future | Active A-computer company will install a computer company new computer network next week. Passive | Anew computer network will be installed | anew computer network (bya computer company) next week. ‘ tm HighTech. lowTech 185 |