GRAMMAR - PASSIVE AND ACTIVE TENSE - EXERCISES

GRAMMAR – PASSIVE TENSE

Passive tense is often used in newspaper reports, in formal writing and technical writing.

The passive is formed by using tenses of be + past participle, or modal verb + b + past participle. Look at these examples:

1.      The koala will be saved from extinction. (Future Simple Passive)

2.      The water over there is called Moreton Bay. (Present Simple Passive)

3.      The sailboat was used by the people on the island. (Past Simple Passive)

4.      The silly tune can be whistled any time you feel sad. (Modal Passive)

5.      The tin whistle has been found in parts of South America. (Present Perfect Simple Passive)

The opposite of Passive is Active Tense

1.     Read the following article about the history of the mobile phone. Decide if the verbs need to be active or passive, then put them in the right form so they make sense in the sentence.

The first public telephone call on a portable radio-telephone (make) …………………………… on April 3^rd, 1973 by Martin Cooper, one of a team of engineers in Motorola’s Communications Systems Division. Previously, people could only phone someone from a building or a car. Martin Cooper says, “As I (walk)…………………………….down the street talking on the phone, New Yorkers (look)………………………… amazed at the sight of someone actually moving around while making a phone call.”

The phone that Cooper (use)……………………. looked like a large brick. In 1983 the 28-ounce ‘DynaTAC’ phone, the world’s first commercial handheld cellular phone (introduce)………………………………… by Motorola. Each phone (cost) …………………………… the consumer $3,500. Today there (be) ………………………………. more mobile subscribers than landline phone subscribers in the world, and mobiles (weigh)…………………………….. very little and (can buy) …………………………………. for as little as $35.

Mobile phones today (use) …………………………….. to send photos and receive e-mails, use the Internet, text message, as well as for making phone calls. In the future, who knows what else mobile phones (use) …………………………………………… for? Certainly, most people (not seem) ……………………………………….. able to leave home without one.

2.     Complete these sentences using the verb in brackets in the right form of the passive tense:

EXAMPLE: My phone (make) ……was made …in the USA.

1.      It (think)……………………………that more text messages (send) …………………………………….by girls than boys.

2.      Bill Gates (say) ………………………………….to be the richest man in the world today.

3.      One mobile phone (steal) ……………………………………………….every three minutes in the UK.

4.      Mobile phones (should/switch off) ……………………………………………….in the cinema.

5.      Yesterday, Helen (tell) ……………………..to switch her phone off during lectures.

6.      When mobile phones (first design) ………………………………………………, security was a big issue.

7.      Text messaging (often use) …………………………………………because it is cheaper than phoning.

8.      I (just call) …………………………………………by an old friend I haven’t seen for ages.

9.      Mobiles (carry) ……………………………………………..by virtually everyone in the near future.

10.   The photos (take) ……………………………………………….at the party last night using Alex’s mobile.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR EXERCISES - CORRECTING MISTAKES IN SENTENCES (with ANSWERS)

Correct the mistake in each sentence below, without adding any more words: 

1. The amount of informations available nowadays is too much for any one person to learn.
2. The population of different areas of the world are increasing dramatically.
3. The goverment could increase the amount of cheap social housing constructed.
4. Education is improving gradually, but situation is not happening fast enough.
5. Television has had as much consequence on the way we live as the internet has. 
6. People always spend too much times accessing the internet in their leisure time.
7. More money needs to be invested in infrastructure, but it depends of the funds available.
8. The government needs to increase funding to solve the traffic modern problems in major cities.
9. Office accommodations sometimes makes the centre of cities and towns soulless.
10. Music has a grand impact on people's lives, as it affects their mood.

ANSWERS:

1. information (an uncountable noun, never add an 's'.)
2. is ('population' is the subject, an uncountable  noun, so it is classed as singular, so needs a singular verb.)
3. government (spelling)
4. progress (wrong word)
5. impact (wrong word)
6. time (need the singular noun as 'people' is the subject which is classed as singular)
7. on (wrong preposition)
8. modern traffic problems (wrong order of phrase - 'modern' is the adjective, so goes before 'traffic' which describe the problems.)
9. accommodation (an uncountable noun, no 's' EVER!)
10. huge (wrong adjective.)

THE BOOK THIEF - MARCUS ZUSAK - NOVEL - VOCABULARY

Vocabulary Study Sheet

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

(cover the right side of the sheet to quiz yourself)

alleviate alleviate the pain to lessen something that is bad -- especially to lessen pain amiable She seemed an ideal candidate--attractive, amiable, intelligent and energetic. friendly and kindly audacious It was an audacious act of piracy. bold and daring (inclined to take risks) -- especially in violating social convention in a manner that could offend others castigate She praises and castigates without hesitation. to criticize severely contempt -- as in: feels contempt towards him Familiarity breeds contempt. lack of respect -- often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust daunt a challenge that would daunt a lesser diplomat to discourage or intimidate deride Critics derided her as unprofessional. laugh at or make fun of--while showing a lack of respect deter Tax uncertainty deters investment. try to prevent; or prevent disdain She tries to be polite, but cannot hide her disdain for authority. a lack of respect -- often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority or: to reject as not good enough diverse The college wants a diverse student body. varied (different) -- especially with regard to ideas or members of a population group dubious She was dubious about agreeing to come with us. doubtful; or suspicious; or full of uncertainty eccentric The home was built and then abandoned by an eccentricbillionaire. unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits emulate It wasn`t just that she copied her older sister`s hairstyle. She tried to emulate her in every way. imitate (copy) futile a futile effort doomed form the start effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful Hitler -- as in: Adolf Hitler Hitler killed disabled children as his first action of "racial hygiene." He pretended to end the program when the public protested. German Nazi dictator during World War II; murdered millions of Jews and others who were not of the Aryan race (1889-1945) immutable immutable laws of physics not subject or susceptible to change incessant a child`s incessant questions continuous -- often in an annoying way indulgent indulgent parents risk spoiling their children treat with extra kindness or tolerance or: enjoy excessively inevitable It is as inevitable as death and taxes. certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it) innate She has an innate musical talent that cannot be taught. of a quality: present at birth; or arising from within rather than having been learned or acquired innocuous She made some innocuous comments while being careful not to hurt anyone`s feelings. unlikely to harm or disturb irony -- as in: situational irony the irony of acting like the father he detested when what happens is very different than what might be expected -- especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence irony -- as in: verbal irony She was being ironic when she said she couldn`t wait to see you again. saying or writing one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else -- usually as humor or sarcasm Judaism Jerusalem is a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam. the oldest of the three major monotheistic religions -- having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmud morose She drank alone in the corner, looking morose. unhappy -- often with a withdrawn personality Nazi There are still racists who call themselves Nazis today. a member of the National Socialist German Workers` Party -- typically in reference to the fanatical party during Adolph Hitler`s reign who thought they were superior to all others or more rarely: derogatory term for a person who is fanatical in their belief of superiority and their determination to control others prudent She was promoted to manager because she is so prudent. sensible and careful scrutiny She scrutinized her reflection in the mirror. careful examination of something stoic She suffered quietly, courageously, with a stoic acceptance of her illness. seeming unaffected by pleasure, pain, or emotions trepidation She began her first day at the new school with sometrepidation. fear or anxiety about what will happen