August 20, 2021

Lesson 38. Passive Voice. Part I.

Watching and discussing

https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world

Grammar

Пассивный залог употребляется, когда исполнитель действия очевиден или несуществен, или когда действие или его результат более интересны, чем исполнитель.

This building will be demolished next month.
Это здание будет снесено в следующем месяце.
My dog has been stolen.
Мою собаку украли.
He has not been seen anywhere.
Его нигде не видели.

Дополнение в предложении с глаголом-сказуемым в пассивном залоге употребляется с предлогом by или with. Это дополнение соответствует русскому дополнению в творительном падеже без предлога.

Дополнение с предлогом by выражает действующее лицо или действующую силу:

The fish was caught by the seagull.
Рыба была поймана чайкой.
Shafts are turned with cutters.
Валы обтачиваются резцами.

Which sounds better?

There’s going to be a big art exhibition.

a) A lot of visitors will be attracted to it

b) It will attract a lot of visitors.

Telephone is an apparatus with which people can talk to each other over long distances.

a) The telephone was invented by A. Bell.

b) A. Bell invented the telephone.

Alexander Bell is a British inventor who went to live in Canada and then in the USA.

a) The telephone was invented by A. Bell.

b) A. Bell invented the telephone,

We’ve bought a new computer.

a) It can do the job much more quickly.

b) The job can be done much more quickly.

Task 1. Choose the correct option.

  1. The news programme ( is watched / watched ) by millions of people every day.
  2. The Mona Liza ( painted / was painted ) by Leonardo da Vinchi.
  3. The new cinema ( be built / will be built ) next year.
  4. New pop groups ( are much spoken / is much spoken ) about among teenagers.
  5. Alexander Pushkin’s first poem ( was written / written ) when he was fourteen.
  6. The letters (be sent / will be sent ) by post tomorrow.
  7. The translation (was finished / were finished ) two hours ago.
  8. London ( visited / is visited ) by hundreds of tourists every year.
  9. The dinner ( be / will be ) ready in an hour (через час).
  10. The dogs (were taken out/ was taken out) three times yesterday.

Task 2. Put the verbs in the brackets into Passive.

1. My question (to answer) yesterday. 2. Hockey (to play) in winter. 3. Mushrooms (to gather) in autumn. 4. Many houses (to burn) during the war. 5. His new book (to finish) next year. 6. Flowers (to sell) in shops and in the streets. 7. St. Petersburg (to found) in 1703.8. Bread (to eat) every day. 9. The letter (to receive) yesterday. 10. Nick (to send) to Moscow next week. 11. I (to give) a very interesting book at the library last Friday. 12. Many houses (to build) in our town every year.

Task 3. Translate the following sentences in English using Passive Voice.

1. Я часто посылаю письма друзьям. 2. Меня часто приглашают в кино. 3. Моей сестре всегда помогают в школе. 4. Я иногда забываю взять проездную карточку. 5. Он пишет много писем. 6. Собаки любят кости. 7. Собак любят много людей.

Homework

Task 1. Put the verbs into Passive.

The College 1______ officially _________ (open) last week. The college campus 2_________ (build) around a main square. This is the heart of the college as all the paths and walkways lead out from this point. Car parking 3____________ (limit) and, in fact, students 4_________ (not encourage) to come by car as the college 5______________ (serve) by a new bus service. The college 6 _______ (situate) outside the city that’s why it 7________ (be) necessary to include major facilities like banks, shops and post office.

There 8______ (be) already two open days and a third open 9______ (plan) for next week. So whether you want to start studying or not why don’t you go out to Hardacre and see everything it has to offer.

Task 2. Translate the following sentences in English using Passive Voice.

8. Когда в вашей семье пьют чай? 9. Почему эти правила всегда забывают? 10. Почему вы всегда забываете эти правила? 12. Где живут ваши друзья? 13. Где покупают хлеб? 14. Когда задают вопросы?