UNIT 12 PRODUCTS

• We make passive verb forms with the verb be + past participle.

Passives I The Cosio G-Shock GW-5000 is made in Japan.
• We often choose a passive structure when we are not interested in, or it is not
necessary to know, who performs an action.
This lens is often used in skateboarding photo shoots.
• I f we want to mention who performs an action, we can use by.
The professional photography market is dominated by Canon and Nikon.
• We can use the passive to describe a process, system or procedure.
Finally, all Cosio products are tested before shipping.

Grammar reference page 152

a Use this chart to make passive sentences. Then make similar sentences
about products from your own country.
EXAMPLE: Diamond> are mined in South Africa.

Diamonds Microchips produce Poland Kuwait Japan

Semiconductors manufacture the United States
Electronic goods Coffee make Finland Switzerland
Leather goods Oil Rice refine Malaysia Brazil
Watches Coal grow Spain South Africa
Mobile phones mine Zambia China

I] Change these active sentences into the passive so that they sound
more natural.
1 Somebody opened the Channel Tunnel in 1994.

The Channel Tunnel ltJa> opened in 1'J'fll.

2 They have chosen the new design.
3 Thousands of people see this website every day.

4 The employers asked the staff for their opinions.

5 A mechanic is repairing my car at the moment.

6 Somebody has found the missing file.

7 Somebody made this watch in Switzerland.

D This article describes how a glass-making company produces some

of its products. Complete it with passive forms of the verbs in brackets.

Our first glass products . . . ! (launch) 30 years ago, and for the last 20 years, our
. . . . . . . .

production 2 (controO by computers. Some of the operations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ? (perform) . . . . . . ..

by robots. This keeps our prices competitive, because unit costs • (reduce), as . . .. . . . . . . . .

we gain from economies of scale. In the last five years, some of our products 5 . . . . . . . . . . . .

(manufacture) in China.

We produce a special type of glass, which 6 (design) to have a fire-polished finish

. . . . . . . . . . . .

and to be distortion-free. At the start of the process, the raw materials such as sand, soda,
ash and limestone . . 7 (weigh). Then they
. . . . . . . . . . . . .8 (blend) and . . . . ? (feed)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

continuously into a melting furnace. Recycled glass . . . . 10 (also feed) into the furnace . . . . . . . .

in order to reduce waste.

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12
The raw materials . . . . . . . . . . .1 1 (melt) inside the furnace. The molten glass . . . . . . .
. . . .
.
.

(cooO and then it . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 (test) for stress. Customer orders . . . . . . . . .1'' (feed) into the
. . . . .

computer, and sizes . . . . . . 1 5 (modify) to suit the needs of the customers. Finally, the
. . . . . .

glass . . . . 16 (cut) , the panes of glass . . . . . . 1 7 (load) into lorries and then they
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18 (distribute).
. . . • . . . . • . . .

O u r new self-cleaning glass . . . . 19 (promote) recently by some of the biggest names

. . . . . . .

in the building industry at the recent Wonderful Homes exhibition.

SKIL�g
B �l)) CD2.66 Listen to a sales manager presenting a product to some buyers.
Presenting Which of these adjectives does she use?
a product attractive elegant energy-saving fashionable flexible high-quality popular
practical reliable robust sturdy stylish user-friendly versatile well-designed

I] �l» CD2.66 Listen again to the presentation. How does the sales manager
describe the product? Com plete these words and phrases with between one
and three words in each gap.
1 It has several special . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2 As you can see, it's stylish, . . . . . . . . . . . . and elegant.

3 It's made of . . . . . . . . . . . . and is very sturdy.

4 It weighs approximately 12 kilos, but it's very strong and . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5 What about its main . . . . . . . . . . . . ?

6 Well, it's very . . . . . . . . . . . . in terms of power and exceptionally quiet .. .

7 Now, a word or two about its . . . . . . . . . . . . for the user.

8 And because the machine's so . . . . . . . . . . . . , it can make cubes of different sizes.

9 It's fairly . . . . . . . . . . . . compared with other models. The . . . . . . . . . . . . is around €320.

10 It comes with a full five-year . . . . . . . . . . . . on parts and labour.

II Work in small groups.

1 Think of an innovative new product you would like to launch. (You can use the product
you discussed in Reading Exercise D.) Prepare a short presentation about the product.
Consider its main features and benefits for the user. Use the headings in the Useful
language box below to help you structure your talk.
2 Form new groups and present your products to each other. Answer any questions that
you are asked about them.

U S E F U L LANGUAGE

INTRODUCING THE PRODUCT STATING THE PRODUCT'S USES REFERRING TO BEN EFITS

This is our new product. It's ideal for travelling. It saves people time/money.
I'm going to tell you about our It's designed to be used with any type It's easy to use.
new product. of material. It makes the user look good/
It's for people who like giving parties. professional.
DESCRIBING THE PRODUCT It's perfect for making different sizes
Let me tell you about its special of ice cubes. INVITING QUESTIONS
features. Does anyone have any questions?
It's made of leather /wood/ steel/ LISTING SELLING POINTS Would anyone like to ask a question?
aluminium. What about its main selling points? Any questions?
It weighs approximately 16 kilos. It has several special features.
Its dimensions in centimetres/metres It has a unique design.
are: ...... high ...... wide ...... deep.
It's economical/ quiet/ energy-saving.
It comes in a wide range of colours.
It's great value for money.
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GRAMMAR REFERENCE

m Passives

Form
+ It's done. It's being done. It was done. It has been done. It will be done.
- It's not done. It's not being done. It wasn't done. It hasn't been done. It won't be done.
? Is it done? Is it being done? Was it done? Has it been done? Will it be done?
Passives can also be formed with modal verbs.
Can it be done?
It can't be done.
It should be done.
It would be done.
It might be done.

Uses
1 We choose a passive structure when we focus on the action itself rather than who
performs the action.
Tea is grown in Sri Lanka.
Our quality procedures are strictly monitored.
The new machine has been installed.
2 We can use by to mention who performs an action.
All her clothes are designed by Armani.
The first computer was invented by Alan Turing.
G-Shock is a brand of watch which is manufactured by Cosio.
3 We often use the passive to describe a process, system or procedure,
as in the extract below.
Naming a new product
Before a product is launched, focus groups are set up and a name is chosen.
Potential consumers are asked to give their impressions, and these are matched
against the desired brand image. Once the name has been decided, it must be
registered so that it cannot be used by other manufacturers.
4 We often use the passive in impersonal constructions beginning with it.
These constructions are frequently found in reports and the minutes of meetings.
It was agreed that the budget should be increased.
It was decided to implement the new policy immediately. (or It was decided that
the new policy should be implemented immediately.)
It was felt that an early decision had to be made.

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