Business English Grammar = Грамматика английского языка. Часть 1. Практикум для СПО

23. PASSIVES

Exercise 116. Complete the sentences using the Present Simple Passive.

Example: 1. Our headquarters are based (base) in Barcelona.

2.This website _____ (update) every week.

3.Unfortunately, these disks _____ (not, produce) any more.

4.The WWW Consortium _____ (fund) by a number of corporate members.

5.VAT _____ (not, include) in the price.

Exercise 117. Write the sentences using the Past Simple Passive.

Example: 1. The contract / signed / yesterday afternoon — The contract was signed yesterday afternoon.

2.The letters / not / deliver / this morning

3.Thousands of orders / generate / the advertising campaign

4.The itinerary / organize / the administrator

5.All my files / corrupt / the virus

6.Last year’s conference / not / hold / in Amsterdam

Exercise 118. Write Passive questions for the following answers.

Example: 1. How is the document sent? — The document is sent as an email attachment.

2.When _____? — The sales figures were published in January.

3.Where _____? — The printers are manufactured in Japan.

4.What _____? — The company is called Arabesque.

5.How often _____? — We’re given appraisals once a year.

Exercise 119. Complete the text with the verbs in brackets using the Present Simple or Past Simple Passive.

Example: 1. He was allowed (allow) by the owners to leave his business card as an IOU.

2.Soon after, he _____ (inspire) to invent the charge card.

3.The Diners Club Card _____ (launch) in 1950 with only 200 members.

4.They _____ (not oblige) to pay cash at 27 New York restaurants but could use their charge card instead.

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5.The restaurant bill _____ (pay) by the Diners Club, then the cardholder paid the Diners Club at a later date.

6.These days, Diners Club Cards _____ (hold) by about eight million people ...

7.... and _____ (accept) in over 200 countries.

Check your answers to exercises 116–119 here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFx5rtC_-KAZ2- ooFhTSJcFGHHntSuckgfupwP7FKFVryItA/viewform?authuser=0

Exercise 120. Reorganize the words to make correct sentences.

Example: a) June / was / at / the / contract / the / signed / end / of — The contract was signed at the end of June.

b)sacked / slowly / Sheila / was / working / too / for

c)damaged / fire / the / the / in / was / office

d)workers / accident / injured / were / the / in / some

e)measures / announced / the / have / new / been

f)staff / employed / new / no / year / this / be / will

g)redesigned / corporate / is / image / being / our

h)salaries / increased / year / have / this / been / our

Exercise 121. Rewrite the sentences in the passive.

Example: a) They have cancelled the order. The order has been cancelled.

b)They haven’t finished the new building.

c)Someone told him about the meeting.

d)Someone stole the plans for the new engine.

e)Someone will pick you up at the airport.

f)They didn’t ask him if he wanted the job.

g)Did anyone tell you about what happened at the meeting?

h)They hold a sales conference every year.

Exercise 122. Answer the questions using a sentence in the passive and ‘by’.

Example: a) Who was the inventor of the light bulb? (Thomas Edison) —

The light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison.

b)What currency was the replacement for the peseta, franc and lira in 2002? (the euro)

c)How many countries form the United Kingdom? (four)

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d)Who is the author of this book? (Simon Clarke)

e)Who is the owner of this book? (Anna)

f)What type of heating have you got in your office — oil, gas or electric? (electric)

g)Who was the director of the film Avatar? (James Cameron)

h)Which company was the original manufacturer of the PC? (IBM)

Check your answers to exercises 120–122 here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBjwye6jKNOP8qtVlo0U7oXPUzJJB8 Xum9IC1prFtxoHgVTA/viewform?authuser=0

Exercise 123. Look at the examples of active and passive sentences. Choose the best alternatives in italics in the rules below.

Example: 1. The passive is formed by using the correct tense of the verb to be with the past participle of the verb (e. g. found, stolen).

2.We more commonly use the active / passive form of the verb when it is important to say who performed the action, or what was responsible for the event.

3.The active / passive form of the verb is usually used when we don’t know who or what was responsible.

4.When passive sentences include information about the agent (who or what was responsible for the action), we use by / for with the agent.

Exercise 124. Rewrite the sentences below using the correct form of the passive.

Omit the agent if it isn’t important.

Example: 1. Howard Baines set up the company in 1978. The company was set up by Howard Baines in 1978.

2.To begin with, Baines and his directors divided the company into three departments.

3.Since then, they have restructured the company into five departments.

4.A manager heads each department.

5.The company now employs 4,000 people.

6.They are building a new head office for 2,000 staff.

7.They will complete the new building next month.

Exercise 125. Complete the article with the appropriate passive form of the verbs in brackets.

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Example: 1. Low paid manual workers are charged (charge) 10 to 20 per cent more for their motor insurance than high-earning professional people, according to data from the Automobile Association.

2.One man _____ (quote) £713 for car insurance when he gave his job as IT consultant.

3.But when the same person, with the same car and address gave his job as factory worker, he _____ (offer) cover for a cost of £793.

4.The highest rates _____ (attract) by high-earning sportsmen, because they often drive fast, expensive cars.

5.Nightclub staff _____ (see) as high risk because they park their cars in areas of high crime at night.

6.At the other end of the scale, the lowest premiums _____ (pay) by accountants.

7.They _____ (believe) to be careful people who take few risks when driving.

Exercise 126. Which of the underlined verbs are passive? Choose all the possible variants.

a)is being introduced

b)is adopting

c)have been used

d)have not been chosen

e)are asked

f)are shortlisted

g)have found

Exercise 127. Find and correct the errors in these passive sentences.

Example: 1. A leading London accountant was elect to a senior post within the industry. elected

2.An established insurance firm, which locates to the north of Warsaw, has gone bankrupt.

3.MK Vehicles has taken over by its rivals.

4.It is expect that staff at R Media will receive a pay increase of 4%.

5.A project aimed at helping companies become more competitive have been launched by SMT Finance Group.

Exercise 128. Which sentence in each pair is more formal?

1. a) Employees are not required to do overtime.

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b) We don’t require employees to do overtime.

2.a) Someone will deal with the complaints straight away. b) The complaints will be dealt with straight away.

3.a) All delegates are requested to check in between 9 and 11 a.m. b) Please could all delegates check in between 9 and 11 a.m.?

4.a) A decision was expected yesterday.

b) Everyone expected a decision yesterday.

Exercise 129. Which sentences use the passive?

1.a) Employees are not required to do overtime. b) We don’t require employees to do overtime.

2.a) Someone will deal with the complaints straight away. b) The complaints will be dealt with straight away.

3.a) All delegates are requested to check in between 9 and 11 a.m. b) Please could all delegates check in between 9 and 11 a.m.?

4.a) A decision was expected yesterday.

b) Everyone expected a decision yesterday.

Exercise 130. Use the prompts to write passive sentences, adding ‘by’ where necessary.

Example: 1. the meeting / cancel / last Tuesday / the Regional Manager The meeting was cancelled last Tuesday by the Regional Manager.

2.the applicants / interview / the HR manager / next week

3.the seminar / currently / organize / the Training Director

4.the presentation / give / Jon / yesterday

5.£1,000 / already / spend / on software / the IT Assistant

6.an eco-friendly taxi / might / develop / a Coventry company / in the next two years

Exercise 131. Complete the description of a recruitment process using the words in the box.

1.All new jobs _____ advertised in the local paper.

2.Applicants are _____ a comprehensive application pack in the post.

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3. Once completed forms have _____ received, a meeting is arranged to shortlist candidates and ...

4. ... to decide when interviews _____ be held.

5. After the interviews _____ been arranged and have taken place, ...

6. ... the successful candidate _____ sent a letter offering him / her the position. 7. All unsuccessful candidates are _____ feedback on their application and

interview.

Exercise 132. Rewrite the sentences so that they mean the same. Omit the agent.

Example: 1. The company has promoted two members of staff. — Two members of staff have been promoted.

2.Someone else will sign off the invoice while Jack is on leave.

3.The organization launched the new Inspire me DVD yesterday.

4.People send in their timesheets to Finance every Friday.

Exercise 133. Find and correct the errors in the passive sentences in the article.

Example: Exhibitors from around the world have invited to take part in the country’s largest flooring trade show. been invited

a)Over 140 firms have already booked space at the Big Floor Fair, which being organized by Erkki OY.

b)‘Last year’s show attended by over 1,000 delegates ...’

c)‘... but I think that record will be broke this year!’

d)An advert for the show placed in a national newspaper three weeks ago, ...

Check your answers to exercises 123–133 here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvyKDX2poA_nNeKRilx3OqmsMKby 2RHb07-WhpmXWGUF69ng/viewform?authuser=0

Exercise 134. A Bad Journey. Complete this story about a journey, using the past simple passive or past continuous passive form of the verbs in brackets. You will need to use one past continuous passive form and one negative form.

Example: I was driven (drive) there in a taxi ...

1. ... but my taxi got stuck in traffic because the road _____ (repair).

2. When I got to the airport, I _____ (tell) that there was a problem ...

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3. ... and the flight _____ (delay).

4.Then I _____ (put) in a seat on the plane next to some very loud children.

5.During the flight, we _____ (give) a really horrible meal.

6.When we landed, my bags _____ (search) and this took a long time.

7.Everything _____ (take out) of them.

8.I had to get a taxi and I _____ (charge) a lot of money for the journey.

9.I _____ (show) to my room and I had to find it myself.

Exercise 135. Tonight’s News. Complete these news stories, using the passive form of the correct verbs in the box. In each paragraph, use the same verb tense as the example.

leave create announce complete build choose show name

Example: New bridge planned for north. — A new bridge is going to be built in the north of the country next year.

1. The plan _____ to the public in June ...

2. ... and the work _____ within three years.

3. Thousands of new jobs _____ in that part of the country.

Example: World Cup shock. — The national team for the World Cup _____

and it contains some surprises.

4. Several new players _____ for the squad for the first time, ...

5. ... a new captain _____

6. ... and a number of established players _____ out.

Exercise 136. Ordering Online. Complete the information and instructions from a company’s website, using the verbs in brackets and the passive forms given after each sentence.

Example: All our products can be ordered (order) online. (can)

1.Orders _____ (make) 24 hours a day. (can)

2.All major credit cards _____ (accept). (present simple)

3.Orders _____ (deliver) within 14 days. (will)

4.A delivery address _____ (provide). (must)

5.Please wait. Your order _____ (process). (present continuous)

6.Your order _____ (send). (present perfect)

Exercise 137. Harry’s Party. Complete this conversation between two friends, using the words below it and the correct passive forms. Choose one variant.

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Example: Where was this photograph taken?

1. And _____?

a)when was it taken

b)when has it been taken

c)when is it taken

2._____ to that. a) I wasn’t invited

b) I haven’t been invited c) I’m not invited

3._____ far in advance ...

a) The party wasn’t planned

b) The party haven’t been planned c) The party isn’t planned

4. ... and _____ about it.

a)lots of people weren’t told

b)lots of people hasn’t been told

c)lots of people aren’t told

5. _____?

a)How many people were invited

b)How many people have been invited

c)How many people are invited

6._____ in water and his friends are laughing. a) Harry is being covered

b) Harry is covered c) Harry was covered

7.Well, _____ if someone did that to me.

a)I wouldn’t be amused

b)I won’t be amused

c)I’m not amused

Check your answers to exercises 134–137 here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUMBY2p8vIounKdIZjKzB4sDbwcMXg57w78AL990pUZ3UHw/viewform?authuser=0

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Exercise 138. College Information. Complete the information from a college brochure by changing the active sentences into passive sentences.

Example: We offer excellent tuition at the college. — Excellent tuition is offered at the college.

1.You can find details of all our courses on our website. — _____ on our

website.

2.We do not give lessons on public holidays. — _____ on public holidays.

3.You must pay all course fees in advance. — _____ in advance.

4.We are introducing new courses at the college. — _____ at the college.

5.Students take tests at the end of every course. — _____ at the end of every

course.

Exercise 139. Short Story Competition. This is an announcement on a children’s TV programme about a competition. Rewrite the announcement, changing the active forms into passive forms with ‘by’.

Example: As you know, this programme runs a short story competition every year, ... — As you know, a short story competition is run by this programme every year, ...

1. ... and every year, children from all over the country send in stories for the competition. — ... and every year, _____ from all over the country for the competition.

2.And I know that many of you are creating fantastic stories right now. — And I know that _____ right now.

3.Last year a story called ‘Creeps’ won the competition ... — Last year _____

called ‘Creeps’ ...

4.... and Ellie Stone, aged 12, wrote that story. — ... and _____, aged 12.

5.The teenage magazine YLP published it ... — _____ YLP ...

6.... and many thousands of people all over the country read it. — ... and _____

all over the country.

7.This year the film director Marvin White is going to judge the competition. — This year, _____ Marvin White.

8.And this year, a film studio in London is offering the top prize — ... — And this year, _____ in London – ...

9.... Marvin will make the winning story into a short film after the competition. —

... _____ after the competition.

10.This channel will show that film later in the year. — _____ later in the year.

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Exercise 140. Crime Report. Complete this conversation in a police station by putting in the correct active and passive verbs in the box.

1.Someone _____ it while I was in a shop.

2.I _____ by an assistant and ...

3. ... suddenly it _____ by someone.

4.I shouted ‘I _____’ but it was too late.

5.In a few minutes you _____ by one of my colleagues.

6.You _____ to give a description of this person ...

7. ... and a report _____.

8.I don’t know what he looked like and the incident _____ by anyone else.

9.The thief simply _____ ...

10. ... and then he _____ away.

11. My colleague _____ you ...

12. ... and you _____ more that you think.

13.My bag _____ my passport but no money.

14.Perhaps the thief _____ it away ...

15. ... and it _____ by somebody.

16.Yes, it’s possible that it _____ to you by a member of the public.

17.That kind of thing _____ before.

Check your answers to exercises 138–140 here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1kLUa_R24Pdx_P1qLkUSEiAGX2C nQkU2bvALdq9uh18U9CQ/viewform?authuser=0

Exercise 141. Correct sentences 1–6.

Example: 1. Deliveries are make three times a week. made

2.The invoice sent yesterday.

3.Over a thousand guests was invited to the event.

4.The post collects at 10 a.m. every day.

5.The software is wrote by our engineers.

6.The meeting was cancel because of the strike.

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