Grammar A15 Past simple passive

1 Read the task and the student’s response and label the diagram.

Writing task 1
The diagram below shows an experiment in which iron was extracted from flakes of breakfast
cereal. Write a report explaining the stages of the experiment for a university tutor.

The diagram shows the stages of an experiment for

removing iron from flakes of breakfast cereal. Firstly,
a beaker was filled with water and some cornflakes
were put on top. After that, a magnet was put in the
water and the cereal moved towards it, showing that
there was iron in it. At the next stage, some cereal
was crushed into a powder with a mortar and pestle.
The powder was spread on a piece of paper, and the
paper was moved over a magnet. Specks of iron in
the powder were attracted to the magnet, which
could then be removed from the cereal.

Past simple passive

We use the past simple passive
• to describe a process which took place in the past
• when we are more interested in the stages of the process than in who was doing the actions.

Form
Affirmative
Object + was / were + past
participle
A beaker was filled with water.
Some cornflakes were pu t on top.
The powder was spread on a
piece o f paper.
Negative
Object + was / were not (n ’t) +
past participle
The experiment was not (wasn’t)
conducted in a laboratory.
Question
Vies / No questions
Was / Were + object + past
participle
Was the experiment conducted in
a laboratory?
W h- questions
Question word + was / were +
object + past participle
Where was the experiment
conducted?

2 Read the passage in Activity 1 again and underline the past simple passive verbs.

3 Complete the passage using the verbs from the box. Use past simple or past simple passive.

Writing task 1
The diagrams below show a simple experiment in which salt was extracted from a sand and salt
mixture. Write a report of the stages of the experiments for a university tutor.

42 | Achieve IELTS Grammar

 pass pour allow place (x2) heat evaporate mix remain use put leave

In the first part of this experiment, filter paper ( 1 ) ......................to separate sand from a mixture of
sand and salt. First, a few grams of salt and sand ( 2 ) ..................... with water in a beaker, then a filter
funnel with filter paper inside it ( 3 ) ......................on top of a conical flask. When the salt and sand
solution ( 4 ) ......................through the funnel, the sand ( 5 ) .......................on top of the filter paper, but
the salt solution (6) ......................through. After that, the salt solution ( 7 ) .......................into an
evaporating basin, which (8) ..................... over a Bunsen burner on a tripod. When the solution
(9) ..................... , the water ( 10) ...................... into the air and ( 11) ....................... the salt in the basin.
Finally, the salt (1 2 )......................to dry.

4 Rewrite the sentences in the passive. Do not include the agent if it is not necessary.
1 The students took care when they mixed the chemicals.
C a re ....................................................................................................................................................................
The teacher showed the class how to use a Bunsen burner.
The c la ss...........................................................................................................................................................
All the boys chose science as their favourite subject.
Science..............................................................................................................................................................
You have to describe an experiment in the Chemistry exam.
An experim ent..................................................................................................................................................

5 (§) Play Track 7. Listen and complete the report. Use past simple or past simple passive.

In this experiment, glue ( 1 ) ..................... from milk.

First, a cupful o f milk ( 2 ) ..................... with some
vinegar in a beaker. Then the mixture ( 3 ) ......................
and ( 4 ) ......................until it ( 5 ) ................ ...... into curds
and whey. The whey (6) ..................... into a flask,
leaving the curds in the funnel. After that, the curds
(7 ) ..................... with a paper towel, and some water
(8 ) ......................The curds and water (9) .......................
again. The glue (1 0 ).................... by sticking pictures
in notebooks.
>*"*» Now check your answers. p170

Achieve IELTS Grammar I 43