Present Continuous Passive

1. Read and translate following examples.

1. The film is being much talked about. 2. The road is still being repaired. 3. An office block is being built near our school. 4. The scope of the research is being constantly widened. 5. A new machine is being tested in the laboratory. 6. This question is still being discussed. 7. This material is still being used, isn't it? 8. Do you know that your voice is being recorded? 9. Is the delegation still being taken round the production-plant? 10. The talks are still being held. 11. The opening ceremony is being televised throughout the world.

2. Respond to the following.

— Don't enter the room.

— Why? (paint the floor)

— The floor is being painted there.

1. Don't enter the work-shop. (carry out a test) 2. Don't enter the assembly-hall. (hold a scientific conference) 3. Don't ride this way. (widen the road) 4. Don't enter the kitchen. (install a gas-stove) 5. Don't switch on the light. (fix a lamp) 6. You can't use the computer. (repair) 7. Don't go to the library today. (remove the furniture)

— What's going on in that room? (pack the things)

— The things are being packed there.

1. What's going on in the sitting-room? (lay the table) 2. What's going on in the park? (cut the grass) 3. What's going on in the laboratory? (test new equipment) 4. What's going on in the garage? (repair the car) 5. What's going on in the lecture hall? (give a lecture) 6. What's going on in the office? (discuss the production plan )

— Can I have a look at the letter? (type)

— I'm afraid you can't. It is still being typed.

1. Can I take the documents? (sign) 2. Can I see the visitors? (show round the plant) 3. Can I have the contract-form? (prepared) 4. Can I use the photocopier? (repair) 5. Can I study here? (wash the floor)

— Have they settled the problem yet?

— No, it's still being settled.

1. Have they built the school yet? 2. Have they written the article yet? 3. Have they inspected the machines yet? 4. Has he transla­ted the text yet? 5. Have they repaired the machine-tool? 6. Have they packed the suitcases? 7. Have they cooked supper? 8. Have they negotiated the contract yet? 9. Have they built the commercial centre yet?

— They are widening our road.

— Oh, our road is being widened, too.

1. They are painting our bridge. 2. They are repairing our road. 3. They are widening our pavements. 4. They are changing our house numbers. 5. They are rebuilding our town hall. 6. They are re-opening our theatre. 7. They are closing down our local hospital. 8. They are moving our library. 9. They are replacing our street lights. 10. They are showing the machines in operation at their stand. 11. They are restoring our church. 12. They are servicing our car.

3. Ask your partner where the meeting is being held; what problems are being discussed at the meeting; if the documents are still being typed; what film is being spoken about; what contracts are being prepared; if the equip-ment is still being fixed; who is being examined at the moment; what the student is being asked about.

4. Choose active or passive verb forms in this news report about a storm.

Millions of pounds' worth of damage has caused/has been caused by a storm which swept/was swept across the north of England last night. The River Ribble burst/was burst its banks after heavy rain. Many people rescued/were rescued from the floods by fire-fighters, who received/were received hundreds of calls for help. Wind speeds reached/were reached ninety miles an hour in some places. Roads blocked/were blocked by fallen trees, and electricity lines brought/were brought down, leaving thousands of homes without electricity. 'Everything possible is doing/is being done to get things back to normal,' a spokesman said/was said.

5. Translate into English.

1. Что происходит в гостиной? — Там чинят телевизор. 2. В вестибюле никого нет. Гостям показывают институт. 3. Могу ли я взглянуть на контрольную работу? — Нет, ее еще печатают. 4. Комната в беспорядке. Вещи все еще упа­ковывают. 5. В нашем городе строится новый стадион. 6. Ваше предложение все еще обсуждается. 7. Почему здесь так холодно? — Зал проветривают. 8. Не входите в ту ком­нату. Там красят пол. 9. Пойдемте к нашему стенду. Сейчас наш новый станок демонстрируется в действии. 10. Вопрос цены сейчас обсуждается. 11. Ваш заказ сейчас доставляют. 12. Его картины выставляются в нашем музее. 13. Предстоящая ярмарка сейчас широко рекламируется. 14. Остальной товар сейчас отгружают.

6. Using the words from the box make sentences about what is being done at the airport.

SUBJECTS: baggage boarding passes business people cars departures passengers passports reservations tickets VERBS: announce check check in make meet park print sell x-ray