Особенности перевода и употребления страдательных оборотов с формальным подлежащим it.

Если подлежащим страдательного оборота является местоимение it, то предложение переводится неопределенно-личным оборотом типа: it is said that … - говорят, что; it was expected that … - ожидали, что; it is believed that … - полагают, что. Такие обороты употребляются в тех случаях, когда неизвестно или не имеет значения от кого исходит информация, или когда есть необходимость не называть источник информации.

 

It is expected thatprices will rise again this month.

Ожидают, что цены снова вырастут в этом месяце.

 

It has been decided that salaries will be reduced by 10%.

Было решено, что зарплата будет сокращена на 10%.

 

К глаголам, которые наиболее часто употребляются в страдательных оборотах такого типа относятся: agree, allege, announce, assume, believe, claim, consider, decide, demonstrate, discover, estimate, establish, expect, fear, feel, find, hope, know, prove, report, reveal, say, show, suggest, suppose, think, understand.

Exercise 15. Which of the verbs can complete the sentence. Underline one or both.

 

1. It has been ….. that spiders are able to travel across the sea. (discovered/feared)

2. It is ….. that another Moon landing will take place next year. (assumed/thought)

3. It has now been ….. that the bus driver was responsible for the accident. (supposed/revealed)

4. It was ….. that Mrs Johnson would chair the meeting. (hoped/explained)

5. It has been ….. that the crash was the result of pilot error. (proposed/shown)

6. It has not yet been ….. that he was responsible for the error. (proved/explained)

7. It has now been ….. that the president broke the law in sending troops into the city.

(established/revealed)

8. It has been ….. that a mechanical fault caused the problem. (calculated/discovered)

 

Exercise 16. Translate the following sentences into English, using passive constructions with it as subject.

 

1. Было решено, что он вернется через неделю.

2. Хорошо известно, что он признал свою ошибку.

3. Говорили, что ему нелегко было сделать это.

4. Было решено, что закон был нарушен.

5. Сообщается, Лох-Несское чудовище якобы поймано.

6. Есть надежда, что экономическая ситуация изменится.

7. Существуют опасения, что эта зима будет очень холодной.

8. Было доказано, что подпись была подделана.

9. Говорят, что цены понижаются, но я этого не заметил.

10. Ожидали, что премьер-министр подаст в отставку.

 

General training exercises.

 

Exercise 1. Translate the following sentences into English using passive constructions.

 

А.

 

1. Ниже на этой улице строится новая гостиница.

2. Об этом будут много говорить.

3. Машина была отремонтирована к 5 часам.

4. Мне показали, как это делается.

5. Его нигде не видели в течение всей недели. Он болен?

6. Когда я приехал в Петербург, этот дом ещё строился.

7. Я уверен, что вам помогут в вашей работе.

8. Ему посоветовали больше времени проводить на свежем воздухе.

9. Он надеялся, что его совет будет правильно понят.

10. Мы расстроились, когда узнали, что наш багаж украден.

11. Я оглянулся и понял, что за мной следят.

12. Он утверждает, что окно разбили, когда его в классе не было.

13. Третья серия этого фильма еще снимается.

14. Не закрывайте окно, его только что открыли.

15. Если я не сдам этот экзамен, меня отчислят. (to expel)

16. Он сказал, что ему предложили хорошую работу.

17. Сюжет этого фильма основан на реальных событиях.

18. Его ошибка была прощена и забыта.

19. Я живу у брата, пока мою квартиру ремонтируют.

20. Когда мы вошли в дом, стол уже был накрыт.

 

В.

 

1. Этот вопрос могут задать.

2. Вам предложили что-нибудь поесть?

3. Никаких объяснений мне не дали.

4. Как только он позвонил, проблема была решена.

5. Эти новости также были переданы по радио.

6. Эта книга уже распродана.

7. Мост будет отремонтирован в следующем месяце, часть работы уже сделана.

8. Его спросили, кто живёт в этом доме.

9. Боюсь, что замок нельзя починить.

10. Почему мне об этом сразу не сказали?

11. Никто не знает, что было сказано при этой встрече, но она с ним с тех пор не разговаривает.

12. Здание музея сейчас реставрируется. Говорят, что реставрация будет закончена через год.

13. В этот момент обсуждался очень важный вопрос, и все внимательно слушали. Он обсуждался уже более двух часов.

14. В этом районе почти все старые дома уже снесены и построено много новых. Много других домов ещё строятся.

15. Когда мы вернулись, комнаты уже были убраны и проветрены.

16. На все ваши вопросы ответят после лекции.

17. Я заблудился, потому что мне не показали дорогу.

18. Этот фильм можно посмотреть сегодня вечером по телевизору.

 

С.

 

1. Нам объявили, что лекция начнётся в 8 часов.

2. Его везде искали, но так и не нашли.

3. Им объяснили, что эксперимент опасен?

4. Нам только что продиктовали новое расписание.

5. О нем ничего не слышно с тех пор, как он уехал.

6. Оратора слушали очень внимательно.

7. На все ваши вопросы ответят после лекции.

8. Не рассказывай об этом, а то над тобой будут смеяться.

9. Не понимаю, почему об этом фильме так много говорят.

10. Можно ли положиться на эти данные?

11. Я попытаюсь еще раз, но не думаю, что меня выслушают.

12. Нам ее так хорошо описали, что мы ее сразу узнали.

13. Мне объяснили, почему еще ничего не было сделано.

14. Адвоката заинтересовали факты, на которые ссылался свидетель.

15. Не беспокойтесь, за вашими вещами присмотрят.

16. На его решение стать психологом оказал влияние его старший брат.

17. Со мной еще никто никогда так не разговаривал.

18. Мне много раз повторяли, что мне надо бросить курить.

19. На следующий день к нам присоединилась ещё одна группа туристов.

20. Его перевод был настолько хорош, что к нему нельзя было придраться.

 

 

General revision.

 

Exercise 1. Using the verbs in brackets, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses. There is an example at the beginning.

 

THE CAR THIEF.

 

My cousin and her husband live in Hanwell, one of the suburbs of London. One morning they woke up (wake up) to find to their dismay that their car … (steal) from outside their house. They immediately … (phone) the police to report the theft, before … (leave) for work by bus.

When they … (return) home later the same day, they … (find) to their surprise that their car … (bring back) and was parked in its usual place outside their house. Under one of the windscreen wipers … (be) a small envelope.

They quickly … (open) it and … (find) a note … (apologize) profusely for ‘borrowing’ their car. The man who … (write) it explained that he … (not have) a car himself, and his wife … (go) into labor in the middle of the night with their first baby. So he … (hope) they … (not mind) too much that he … (take) their car without their permission in order to run her to the hospital, as it was something of an emergency.

By way of compensation, he … (enclose) two tickets for the West End show Sunset Boulevard on Saturday evening. They … (be) both delighted as they loved Lloyd Webber’s music and … (try) for ages to get tickets for this particular musical.

It was a perfect evening. They … (have) front row seats and the show itself was every bit as good as they … (expect). They … (be) in such a good mood after it that they … (decide) to go for a meal at their favorite Italian restaurant. When they eventually … (get) home just after midnight, a new shock … (await) them. While they were away, their house … (burgle)! Everything of value … (steal). They … (know) immediately who the thief was because … (lie) on the kitchen table was a note in a handwriting they … (recognize), … (say): HOPE YOU … (enjoy) THE SHOW.

 

Exercise 2. Choose the correct item.

 

1. One morning last week I realized that my bike ………. from my garden.
A. had stolen B. had been stolen C. was stolen D. has been stolen

 

2. As soon as you ………. what you’re doing I’d like a word with you.
A. are finishing B. will finish C. will be finished D. finish

 

3. You’ve got three sisters, ……….?

A. have you got B. don’t you C. isn’t it D. haven’t you

 

4. None of my letters ………. to Vera since her change of address.

A. were delivered B. are delivered C. is delivered D. has been delivered

 

5. He ………. to find a job but he had no luck.
A. had hardly tried B. tried hardly C. hardly tried D. tried hard

 

6. We ………. by a loud noise during the night.
A. woke up B. are woken up C. were woken up D. were waking up

 

7. They ………. for half an hour when the doctor came.
A. have waited B. waited C. had been waiting D. were waiting

 

8. We’ve been very busy ………..
A. late B. lately C. later D. later on

 

9. By the time we came to the park the park gates ………. already.
A. were locked B. were being locked C. had been locked D. would be locked

10. Our work ………. last night so we can relax this morning.
A. had been finished B. finished C. was finished D. had finished

 

11. Let’s go to theatre tonight, ……….?

A. will we B. do we C. won’t we D. shall we

12. Pat ………. by her parents for two years before she was awarded a scholarship.

A. was supported B. had been supported C. supported D. has been supported

 

13. When we were younger, we ………. go dancing every Saturday.
A. would to B. used C. would D. had used

 

14. Although Shakespeare was a great dramatist, ………. that as an actor, he was only able

to play minor roles.
A. it is thought B. it thought C. it thinks D. thinking

 

15. The ambassador heard that ………. at his post a year longer.

A. he be staying B. he will have stayed C. him to stay D. he would be staying

 

16. Although she was listening, she didn’t hear ………. because there was so much noise.
A. what said B. what did he say C. what he was saying D. what said he

 

17. The family has been in America ………..
A. in last year B. for a last year C. after last year D. since last year

 

18. She ………. catch the bus every morning, but now she rides with her fiancé.
A. used to B. is used to C. use to D. was used to

19. The roof of the building ………. in a storm a few days ago.

A. has been damaged B. was damaged C. is damaged D. was being damaged

20. I’m the worst student in our class, ………. I?
A. aren’t B. amn’t C. isn’t D. don’t

21. This is the first time the painting ………. to the public.
A. is shown B. is being shown C. has been shown D. was shown

 

22. I have ………. to the USA.
A. never gone B. never been C. not gone D. not never been

 

23. Hurry up! We haven’t got much time. The train ………. at 5.30.
A. is leaving B. leaves C. has left D. has been leaving

 

24. They ……….. a beautiful house in the country years ago.

A. would have B. were having C. used to have D. have had

 

25. The children ………. to the seaside for a day.

A. were took B. were taking C. were being taken D. were taken

 

26. George can’t use his car now. It ………. at the garage.

A. is being serviced B. has been serviced C. was serviced D. will be serviced

 

27. He looks terrible because he ………. well for weeks.

A. didn’t sleep B. hasn’t slept C. has been sleeping D. was sleeping

 

28. I’ll give you the money as soon as I ………..

A. be paid B. am pay C. am paying D. get paid

29. The office ………. cleaned when I left.
A. has still B. was still being C. was still D. still being

30. ………. he wrote his first book when he was sixteen.
A. It is said that B. It is said to C. He is said that D. He is said to

 

31. Don’t drive too fast, ……….?

A. don’t you B. do you C. shall you D. will you

 

32. He ………. his talk when he was interrupted.
A. had hardly begun B. hardly begun C. hardly had begun D. began hardly

 

33. Vitamin C must be taken daily, as it cannot ………. by the body.
A. store B. stored C. be stored D. be storing

 

34. Fred ………. that they had moved to London.

A. said me B. told me C. told D. told to me

 

35. An election ………. in the autumn, the government announced this morning.

A. is held B. will be held C. will have been held D. is being held

 

36. I’ve bought two tickets to Paris. Alex and I ………. tomorrow.

A. to leave B. will leave C. leave D. are leaving

 

37. She didn’t use to work here two years ago, ……….?
A. did she B. used she C. didn’t she D. did she use

 

 

38. I’m terribly sorry, I had no idea you ………. deputy director.

A. are appointed B. were appointed C. had been appointed D. has been appointed

 

39. No one was surprised at the change in Bank Rate. It ………. by the investors.

A. was expected B. had been expected C. is expected D. was being expected

 

40. He refused to go to the theatre because he ………. an exam in a few days.

A. was having B. had C. will have D. has had

 

41. You’ll never forgive him, ……….?

A. won’t you B. will you C. will you not D. you will

 

42. Dan Brown’s books ………. in any bookshop.

A. you can buy B. will buy C. can buy D. can be bought

 

43. Many interesting books ………. by the company this year.

A. are published B. have been published C. were published D. will have been published

 

44. The Gregorian Calendar ………. all over Europe at the same time, since Italy adopted

it in 1582, England in 1752 and Russia not until 1918.

A. introduced B. was introducing C. wasn’t introduced D. wasn’t introducing

 

45. ………. that five people died in an explosion.

A. They are reported B. It has reported C. It’s reported D. It’s reporting

 

46. How long ………. Susan?

A. you know B. are you knowing C. do you know D. have you known

 

47. I ………. three more days to decide if I want to accept their offer.

A. gave B. have given C. have been given D. will give

 

48. Kate ………. most of her money by the time she goes back home.

A. will spend B. will be spending C. will have been spent D. will have spent

 

49. I’ll see you in August when I ………. back.

A. will come B. come C. came D. will have come

 

50. How long did you say you ………. these pills?

A. take B. are taking C. have taken D. have been taking

 

51. I ………. busy since we last met.

A. am B. have been C. was D. had been

 

52. Did he say whether ………. lend you the money or not?

A. could he B. can he C. he could D. he

 

53. Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America,. ………. in 1607.

A. was established B. it was founded C. founded D. colonists arrived there

 

54. I’m not hungry. I’ve eaten three sandwiches ………..

A. yesterday B. two hours ago C. at two o’clock D. today

 

 

55. Oh, there’s no tea? OK then. I ………. some orange juice.

A. am going to have B. will have C. will be having D. am having

 

56. If we don’t hurry, all the tickets ………. by the time we get there.

A. are sold B. will sell C. will be sold D. will have been sold

 

57. For the past few days I have been working in Jack’s office, as my own office ………..

A. was redecorated B. is redecorated C. is being redecorated D. has been redecorated

 

58. That’s Christine’s mother over there, isn’t ……….?

A. that B. her C. she D. it

 

59. We ………. by Mrs. Jones for five years before she returned to her own country.

A. taught B. have been taught C. had been taught D. were taught

 

60. The entire coastline will be covered by smog tomorrow unless something ……….

to clean up the air.

A. will be done B. is done C. is being done D. will have been done