Reading and Speaking: Health Care

Focus on Grammar:

Passive Forms

Grammar Training

1. Study Grammar Reference p. ... And analyze the following examples.

1. The government allocates a lot of money for health care every year. – A lot of money is allocated for health care every year.

2. Local authorities are still considering the problem. – The problem is still being considered.

3. The speaker has outlined the plan. – The plan has been outlined.

4. They picked these apples early in the morning. – These apples were picked early in the morning.

5. When the guests arrived Mary was still preparing the food. – When the guests arrived the food was still being prepared.

6. It was the first time that the authorities had done something about the problem. – It was the first time that something had been done about the problem.

7. They will transport the goods by rail. – The goods will be transported by rail.

8. You needn’t hurry. When you arrive they will still be typing your report. – When you arrive your report will still be typed.

9. Hurry up, or they’ll have sold the best things when we arrive. – Hurry up, or the best things will have been sold when we arrive.

10. The shop owner promised us a 10% discount. – We were promised a 10% discount. A 10% discount was promised to us.

11. They showed us the shortest way to the city. – We were shown the shortest way to the city. The shortest way to the city was shown to us.

12. They sent us the latest issue of ‘The Times’. – We were sent the latest issue of ‘The Times’. The latest issue of ‘The Times’ was sent to us.

13. The manager explained the problem to the customer. – The problem was explained to the customer.

14. The manager explained to the customer how to solve the problem. – It was explained to the customer how to solve the problem.

15. They described to us the layout of the house. – The layout of the house was described to us.

16. They described to us how the house was redecorated. – It was described to us how the house was redecorated.

17. Max suggested a new idea to the participants of the conference. – A new idea was suggested to the participants of the conference.

18. Max suggested that we should have a hike in the countryside. – It was suggested that we should have a hike in the countryside.

2. Change the following sentences into Passive. Give two passive constructions if possible. Do the back translation of the sentences.

1. These entrepreneurs are building a huge trade centre in the area thus they are creating job opportunities for the locals.

2. They are already recruiting personnel for the new trade centre.

3. They must stop the production of such chemicals. It is causing too much damage to the environment.

4. They gave George a discount because he was a regular customer.

5. The personnel manager gave me a hard time during the interview.

6. We couldn’t conclude the deal yesterday, as they were still estimating production costs.

7. I couldn’t find out everything since they hadn’t reached agreement yet and were still considering the issue.

8. We complained that the hotel staff were not taking proper care of us.

9. We left the hotel dissatisfied because the management had ignored our complaint.

10. They didn’t know what to do as the hotel hadn’t confirmed their reservation.

11. Local authorities haven’t allocated enough money for education and now they are subsidizing local schools from the federal budget.

12. Newspapers report that the authorities have been concealing information about the recent accident at the nuclear power station.

13. Environmentalists have been issuing calls for the investigation of the accident.

14. The police have banned the demonstration on the grounds that the situation in the city is too unstable.

15. Does everybody share your views? – I’m afraid, not. Our counterparts have taken an opposite approach to the problem.

16. They are going to close down the plant next year. – Yes, but by that time the plant will have caused too much damage to the environment.

17. I hope they will have confirmed the information by the time we release this issue of the newspaper.

18. Don’t worry. Our partners are dead sure they will have carried out the task by the end of the week.

19. When Jack applied for the job they promised him a good rate of pay.

20. The management will give a reward to the one who finds the lost documents.

21. They offer a postgraduate course to every student who graduates with honors.

22. They explained to us the consequences of our actions.

23. They explained to us that our problems stemmed from the mistake we had made in the beginning.

24. They explained to us how to take the matter in hand.

25. The dean announced to the students that their tests would be properly evaluated.

26. They haven’t announced the date of the conference to the participants yet.

27. The speaker pointed out to the reporters that such chemicals caused irreparable damage to the health of the people.

28. They pointed out the head of the delegation to me.

29. The official repeated to her the sum of the down payment for her apartment.

30. The media report repeats that the authorities have been covering up the case.

31. They suggested a master plan to the local council.

32. They suggested that we should take an opposite approach.