In the following sentences the subject is either not important or too obvious to be necessary. Put each sentence into the passive to make it sound more natural.

Example

Men were decorating my house all last week.

My house was being decorated all last week.

a Archaeologists discovered a medieval temple underneath the new housing estate.

A medieval temple_____________

b The sports officials held the races indoors because it was raining.

The races ________________

c Burglars had broken into our house and stolen all my jewelery.

Our house ________________

d. They won't recognize her in those dark glasses.

She _____________

e. Someone had booked the leisure centre for a children’s party on Saturday

The leisure centre ________________

f. The plumber was fixing the dishwasher so I couldn’t leave the house

The dishwasher ________________

g. When we returned to our hotel room, the chambermaid still hadn’t cleaned it

Our hotel room_______________

h. The chef hadn’t cooked the fish for long enough. It was still raw.

The fish _______________

i. Workmen were putting up new traffic lights at the crossroads.

Exercise 2.

Put these sentences into the passive ;

a. The postman delivers the letters at 8.00.

b. Someone built this hotel two years ago.

c. They use a lot of preservatives in food these days.

d. Has anyone answered your question?

e. Somebody found your keys on top of the photocopier.

f. People should not take reference books out of the librarv.

g. They have increased the rate of taxation to forty per cent.

h. A scientist discovered penicillin in 1928.

i. They don't make Volvos in Norway.

j. They built our house in the 17th century. .

k. Has someone decorated your bedroom?

l. Someone's decorating my bedroom at the moment.

e We moved out of our house while they were building the extension.

We arrived home from holiday to find someone had burgled our house.

Exercise 3.

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense active or passive.

a .The robbers (catch) as they (leave) the bank.

b. Jo (arrive) home to find feathers everywhere. Her cat (catch) a bird.

c. Our dustbins (empty) on a Monday.

d. Mr. Taylor was furious with the newsagent because his Sunday newspaper (not deliver).

e. It's a very upsetting time for Aunt Mary. Her budgie (miss) for three days now.

d. We (drive) down a quiet country lane when suddenly we (overtake) by a police car.

Exercise 4.

Put the verb in brackets in the correct form, active or passive, and also in the correct tense.

Last night a man was arrested (arrest) outside Buckingham Palace. Police saw (sec) him climbing the walls.

A: Have you heard the news today?

B: No, why?

A: Well, the police (a) (arrest) Ronald Bloggs.

B: Who's he?

A: He was one of the men who (b) (rob) a train in Britain about thirty years ago.

B: Good Lord! I remember that. It was one of the biggest robberies ever. How much money (c)

(steal)?

A: Millions. And it (d) (never find). Bloggs (e) (send) to prison but he (f) (escape). Anyway, he (g) (arrest) yesterday. He (h) (live) in Brazil for the past fifteen years, and the British police have been trying all this time to bring him back, but they can't, because Britain doesn't have an extradition treaty with Brazil.

B: So who (i) (arrest) him the British police or the Brazilian police?

A: The Brazilian police. Apparently he (j) (catch) shoplifting. He put some-thing in his pocket, and he didn't know that a store detective (k)(watch)him.

B: But why is this in all the press. It's not very important, is it?

A: Because now he will have a criminal record, and under Brazilian law he could (1) (send) back to Britain. If that happened, he would (m) (imprison) here to finish his sentence.

Exercise 5. Translate the sentences into English using the Passive Voice

1. Ему только что предложили хорошо оплачиваемую работу.

2. Я думаю, что кино будет постепенно вытесняться телевидением и компьютерами в следующем веке.

3. Некоторые фильмы не следует показывать по телевидению до 22 часов.

4. Посмотри на тех мужчин в темных очках! Мне кажется, что за нами наблюдают!

5. Премьер-министру задали много вопросов на вчерашней конференции.

6. Все товары были распроданы к концу февраля.

7. Согласно отчету, сотни людей подвергаются нападению на улицах каждый день.

Exercise 6.Translate the text into English putting verbs in the correct tense in the active or passive voice.

Две картины Моне украдены из музея в Бостоне. Вчера днем воры, одетые в полицейскую форму вошли в музей и попросили охранника показать им работы Моне. Они сказали, что картины в опасности. Охранник дал им осмотреть картины. Воры заставили его выключить сигнализацию и заставили лечь его на пол. Они связали ему руки и ноги. Они работали быстро и когда собрали картины, ушли.

Директор музея сказал: «Воры унесли наши лучшие картины. Я работаю здесь 12 лет и не могу проверить, что это случилось. Как они сумели сделать это так легко? Их будет трудно продать. Мы решили нанять больше охранников, и мы уже установили новую сигнализацию. Я уверен, что полиция найдет воров и картины, но боюсь, что это займет много времени.

MODULE 6. REPORTED SPEACH

Reported statements

Exercise 1.

Sally went to see a landlady called Mrs Mawby about a flat. Now she is telling her friend, Paul, about it. Report the sentences.

Example

'The rent is £50 a week.'

The landlady said the rent was £50 a week.

a. 'It's a quiet flat, and the neighbors are nice.' Mrs. Mawby said_________

b. 'The rent includes gas and electricity.' She told me that_________________

c. 'I need £100 deposit.' Then she said_______________

d. 'I decorated the living room recently.' She told me that_________________

e. 'Other people have been to see the flat.' She said _______________

f. 'You'll have to make up your mind soon.' She told me_______________________

g. 'The previous occupants looked after it very well.' She said that___________

h. 'I've replaced all the carpets.' She told me that____________

i. ' You can move in immediately.' She told me________________

j. ‘I will give you a ring soon,' said Sally. I told Mrs. Mawby that___________

Reporting questions with question words

Exercise 2.

Mrs. Mawby and Sally both asked a lot of questions. Sally also told Paul about them. Report the questions.

Example

'Where do you live?' Mrs.Mawby asked.

She asked me where I lived.

a. 'How many bedrooms are there?' Sally asked. I asked her____________

b. 'When do you want to move in?' Mrs. Mawby asked. She asked me_________

c. 'What sort of heating is there?' Sally asked. I asked her______________

d. 'How often do you want the rent?' Sally asked. I asked her_________________

e. 'How far is it to the shops?' Sally asked. I asked her_________________

f. 'What do you think of the flat?' Mrs. Mawby asked. She asked me _________

Reporting yes/no questions

Report the following questions. You need to use if.

Example

'Are you a student?'

She asked me if I was a student.

a. 'Do you smoke?' She asked me ________________.

b. 'Is there a phone?' I asked her______­­­­­­­______

c. 'Do you have a car?' She asked me____________

d. 'Can I move the furniture around?' I asked her_____________

e. 'Is there a fridge in the kitchen?' I asked her _______________

f . Does the flat have central heating?' I asked her ____________

Exercise 4. Rewrite each of these sentences in reported speech. Start with the word given, and make any additions you need.