On the platform

The train [to stop] at a small station. A passenger [to look out] of the window and [to see] two women who [to sell] cakes. The man [to want] to buy a cake. The women [to stand] rather far from the carriage. The man [to call] a boy, who [to walk] on the platform near the carriage and [to ask] him: “How much does the cake cost?” “Three pence, sir,” – [to answer] the boy. The man [to give] him sixpence and [to say] to him: “Bring me a cake, and with the other three pence buy one for yourself.” Some minutes later the boy [to return]. He [to eat] the cake. He [to give] the man three pence change and [to say]: “There was only one cake, sir.”

Ex.19. Read and translate the following sentences. Pay particular attention to the tense form of the predicate and to the prepositions in bold type.

1) You are being looked for. Go home. 2) The speaker was being listened to very attentively and nobody noticed me. 3) The new exhibition is being talked about a lot. 4) She can’t dance when she is being looked at. 5) I was asked what was being built in that street. 6) He suddenly realized that he was being laughed at. 7) When she entered the classroom, the last students were being examined there. 8) He knew he was being watched. 9) The mail is being looked through. There may be something for you there too. 9) The examination papers are being checked at the moment. 10) I don’t have my car today because it is being repaired. 11) When I came to Leningrad in 1957, the first underground line was still being built. 12) Are they ready with the parcel? – No, it is still being packed. 13) A new railway line is being constructed across the desert now.

Ex.20. Answer the following questions, using the Passive Voice and the word combinations in brackets.

What was happening

at the booking-office (to buy tickets; to sell tickets) on the platform (to carry things into the luggage-van) in sleeping car (to sweep the compartment; to fix the upper berth; to serve tea, coffee; to check the tickets) at the post-office (to fill in the forms; to send off parcels; to make out money orders) in the shop (to show fashionable dresses; to sell shoes and other things) in the office (to discuss an agreement; to translate articles; to prepare documents for the conference; to sign the contract)

when you got there?

Ex.21. Read and translate the following sentences. State the voice and tense form of the predicates.

1) The bridge, which is being built now, will be used for the movement of both road and railway traffic. 2) The car was moving very fast and the traffic cop stopped it for speeding. 3) Newspaper correspondents arrived at the aviation plant when the new passenger airplane was being tested. 4) The trains that go to and from London are very crowded at the times when people are traveling to work, since about a million people work in London but live in its suburbs. 5) The business day was in high gear [to be in high gear – быть в полном разгаре]: the mail was being looked through, the documents were being typed, letters were being answered, and talks were being hold. 6) The construction of this high-speed line is being actively supported by the government because the development of heavy industry in this region requires reliable and speedy railway traffic. 7) Automobiles were rushing in both directions and it was impossible to cross the street. 8) The train is being delayed because of track repair work. 9) The policeman stopped a man and asked: «Why are you crossing the street in the wrong place? » 10) As we were going along the track, we saw a group of workers who were discussing something. 11) The media, such as radio and television, tell us what is happening in the world. 12) If passengers want something to eat or drink while they are waiting for their trains they can go to the «Refreshment Room». 13) The program of railway reforms is being implemented now in Russia. Under this program suburban and regional passenger services will be financed from local budgets. At the same time the government promised to fund inter-city passenger service.

Ex.22. Put the verbs in brackets into the required tense forms.

1) We [to arrive–Past Indefinite Active]at the railway station when the train[to approach– PastContinuous Active]the platform. 2) The overall control of the system[to do–Present Continuous Passive]by computers. 3)Can you tell me who [to sit – Present Continuous Active] next to you? 4) He[to drive–Past Continuous Active]home when he[to hear–Past Indefinite Active]the news on the radio. 5) A lot of people[to wait–Past Continuous Active]for the bus arrival at the stop. 6) At present 2,500 km of high-speed lines[to construct–Present Continuous Passive]in Europe and Asia. 7) You[to catch–Future Indefinite Active]the train, if you[to hurry–Present Indefinite Active]up. 8) Steel rails[to use–Past Indefinite Passive]in the USA for the first time in 1863. 9)The experiment [to be – Past Indefinite Active] very interesting, it [to watch – Past Continuous Passive] with great attention. 10) Competition between transport modes[to intensify–Present Continuous Active]now. 11) The guide[to speak – Present Indefinite Active] English, German and Spanish, but he[to speak – Future Continuous Active] Spanish this afternoon because most of the visitors [to be – Present Indefinite Active] from Spain.

Ex.23. TEST. Choose the correct variant of the predicate.

1) When I came to Baku in 1962, the first Metro line ___ there.

a) was building b) was built c) was being built d) will be built

2) The bridge ___ the island to the mainland.

a) is joining b) joins c) is joined d) was being joined

3) The movement of trains is restricted on that section of the line because it ___.

a) is being repaired b) will repair c) was being repaired d) repairs

4) Such materials as reinforced concrete [железобетон] and steel ___ widely for the construction of modern bridges.

a) are used b) were being used c) will be used d) use

5) In the compartment passengers usually ___ their suitcases into a special box under the lower berth.

a) are put b) are putting c) put d) will be put

6) The train ___ Moscow; let’s start packing.

a) approaches b) is approaching c) will approach d) was approaching

7) Evidently the car ___ at a high speed so at this steep turn the crash was inevitable.

a) was going b) went c) is going d) will go

8) Last year many valuable minerals ___ by geologists in the North.

a) are discovered b) were discovering c) were discovered d) discover

9) Look! Somebody ___ to open your car.

a) will try b) tries c) is trying d) is being tried

10) He ___ to buy a car but first he must learn to drive.

a) want b) wants c) will want d) wanted

11) When he came into the office the secretary ___ a crossword puzzle.

a) is doing b) was doing c) did d) was being done

12) At the end of May the students ___ for their examinations.

a) will be preparing b) prepares c) are preparing d) shall be prepared

13) In Spain first class train passengers ___ with free newspapers and at-seat meals.

a) are provided b) provide c) are being provided d) was being provided

14) A beautiful bridge ___ in our city. It will be finished next year.

a) is being built b) was built c) is building d) will built

15) Someone ___ you. Will you answer the phone?

a) calls b) called c) is calling d) will be calling

*The results of the test: If your score is 14-15 correct answers, you are doing just great; 11-13 stand for good knowledge; 8-10 mean you have some problems; if the number of your correct answers is less than 8, go and learn the rules.

Ex.24. Put questions to the underlined words.

1) The “Repin” train departs from St. Petersburg’s Finlandskyterminal.[What…?] 2) The cars may be parked hereafter 5 p.m. [When…?] 3) Long steel bars on which the trains run are calledthe rails.[What…?] 4) The accident happenedon the bridge.[Where…?] 5) Our train is standing at the platform№4ready to leave.6) Express trains stop only atlargestations on their way.[What…?] 7)Wewere goingto the railway stationalong the railway track.[Who…? Where…?] 8) The plant will produce a new model of the carnext year.[When…?] 9) Telegraph cables are usually laidunder the ground. [Where…?] 10) The plane was flyingso lowthat we could see the pilot.[What height…?] 11) There are discounts only forreturntickets.[What…?] 12) No planes took off on that daybecause of low clouds.[Why…?] 13)In Britainpeople drive on the left-hand side.[What country…?] 14) Passengers should keep their ticketstill the end of the trip.[How long…?] 15) Automobile companies are working now atthe development of an electric super car.[What…?] 16) Fares are being collected bya driver himself.[Whom…?]

TEXT A.

Read and translate the text using a dictionary if necessary.