We use the passive voice to say what happens to the subject.

The Present Simple to be (am, is are) + Past Participle

Houses are always built in our country.

I am asked at the lessons.

He is often invited to the parties.

The Past Simple to be (was, were) = Past Parti ciple

The castle was built in the 17^th century.

The pupil was sent to the conference.

The Future Simple will/shall be + Past Participle

We shall be informed about the meeting tomorrow.

He will be laughed at in this situation.

Co mplete the sentences using one of these verbs in the correct form: cause damage hold include invite mate overtake show translate write

1 Many accidents ...are caused by dangerous driving.

2 Cheese...................................................from milk.

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

4 There's no need to leave a tip. Service...................................................in the bill.

5 You...................................................to the wedding. Why didn't you go?

6 A cinema is a place where films...................................................

7 In the United States, elections for President..................................every four years.

8 Originally the book.............in Spanish and a few years ago it,...............into English.

9 We were driving along quite fast but we....................................by lots of other cars.

Write questions using the passive. Some are present and some are, past.

1 Ask about the telephone, (when/invent?)... When was the telephone invented ?.,.

2 Ask about glass, (how/make?) How...................................................................

3 Ask about Australia, (when/discover?)....................................................................

4 Ask about silver, (what/use for?)...........................................................

5 Ask about television, (when/invent?)..................................................................

Put the verb into the correct form, present simple or past simple, active or passive.

1 It's a big factory. Five hundred people... are employed... (employ) there.

2 Water...................................................(cover) most of the Earth's surface.

3 Most of the Earth's surface...................................................(cover) by water.

4 The park gates...................................................(lock) at 6.30 p.m. every evening.

5 The letter...................(post) a week ago and it......................(arrive) yesterday.

6 The boat.............. (sink) quickly but fortunately everybody..........................(rescue).

7 Ron's parents....................(die) when he was very young. He and his sister.............................. (bring) up by their grandparents.

8 I was born in London but I......................(grow) up in the north of England.

9 While I was on holiday, my camera.............................(steal) from my hotel room.

10 While I was on holiday, my camera.....................(disappear) from my hotel room.

11 Why.................................................. (Sue/resign) from her job? Didn't she enjoy it?

12 Why.......................................(Bill/sack) from his job? What did he do wrong?

13 The company is not independent. It....................(own), by a much larger company.

14 I saw an accident last night. Somebody...............(call) an ambulance but nobody...........................(injure) so the ambulance.......(not/need).

15 Where................ (these photographs/take)? In London?................(you/take) them?

Rewrite these sentences. Instead of using 'somebody/they/people' etc. write a passive sentence.

1 Somebody cleans the room every day. ... The room is cleaned every day...

2 They cancelled all flights because of fog. All.......................................................

3 People don't use this road very often.......................................................................

4 Somebody accused me of stealing money. I..................................................

5 How do people learn languages? How............................................................

6 People advised us not to go out alone................................................................

 

 

Unit 18

 

Before you read

Discuss these questions with your partner

-What do you think it means to be wealthy?

-Why are some people wealthier than others?

 

A Vocabulary

Match the words and phrases with the definitions.

 

1. valuable.

2. invest

3. pension scheme

4. static

5. belongings

6. flow

7. distribution

8. interest

9. savings

10. inequality

11. extent

12. stocks and shares

13. store

 

A. To lend money to a company or bank in order to earn more money.

B. How large or important something is.

C. The way in which a supply of something, like money, is shared among people.

D. Money put somewhere for later use, for example in the bank.

E. Immobile, not moving.

F. Unfairness.

G. A way of having money for when you get old and stop working.

H. Things someone owns, but usually things that can be moved.

I. If you save money in a bank, you get this extra money for keeping it there.

J. Movement like a river.

K. Important or worth money.

L. A collection or supply of things kept for later use.

M. Part of the value of a company – people buy and sell these.

 

Reading 1