INTERMEDIATE

UNIT 4: THE KOALA WAS TAKEN TO

A SHELTER
Objectives:
At the end of this unit, students will be able to form
sentences in passive using different verb tenses.
 FORM
AFFIRMATIVE AFFIRMATIVE
ACTIVE VOICE VERB TENSE PASSIVE VOICE
Subject Verb Object -------- Subject Verb ---------
the photos every day Present simple The photos are taken every day
They take
the photos yesterday Past simple The photos were taken yesterday
They took
They will take the photos soon Future simple The photos will be taken soon
They are taking the photos now Present continuous The photos are being taken now
They were taking the photos at 10:30 Past continuous The photos were being taken at 10:30
They are going to take the photos tomorrow Be going to The photos are going to be taken tomorrow
the photos recently Present perfect The photos have been taken recently
They have taken
the photos by 2016. Past perfect The photos had been taken by 2016.
They had taken
can take can be taken
They the photos in a studio Modals The photos in a studio
should take should be taken
 FORM
NEGATIVE NEGATIVE
ACTIVE VOICE VERB TENSE PASSIVE VOICE
Subj. Not + Verb Object -------- Subject Not + Verb ---------
the photos every day Present simple The photos aren’t taken every day
They don’t take
the photos yesterday Past simple The photos weren’t taken yesterday
They didn’t take
They won’t take the photos soon Future simple The photos won’t be taken soon
They aren’t taking the photos now Present continuous The photos aren’t being taken now
They weren’t taking the photos at 10:30 Past continuous The photos weren’t being taken at 10:30
They aren’t going to take the photos tomorrow Be going to The photos aren’t going to be taken tomorrow
the photos recently Present perfect The photos haven’t been taken recently
They haven’t taken
the photos by 2016. Past perfect The photos hadn’t been taken by 2016.
They hadn’t taken
can’t take can’t be taken
They the photos in a studio Modals The photos in a studio
shouldn’t take shouldn’t be taken
 FORM
INTERROGATIVE INTERROGATIVE
ACTIVE VOICE VERB TENSE PASSIVE VOICE
Aux. Subj. Verb Object -------- Aux. Subj. Verb ---------
Do the photos every day? Present simple Are the photos taken every day?
they take
Did the photos yesterday? Past simple Were the photos taken yesterday?
they take
Will they take the photos soon? Future simple Will the photos be taken soon?
Are they taking the photos now? Present continuous Are the photos being taken now?
Were they taking the photos at 10:30? Past continuous Were the photos being taken at 10:30?
Are they going to take the photos tomorrow? Be going to Are the photos going to be taken tomorrow?
Have the photos recently? Present perfect Have the photos been taken recently?
they taken
Had the photos by 2016? Past perfect Had the photos been taken by 2016?
they taken
Can take Can be taken
they the photos in a studio? Modals the photos in a studio?
Should take Should be taken
 USES
1. We use the passive voice to focus on the person or object that receives an action rather than a generalised agent
(i.e. you, one, we, people, everybody etc.) performing the action.

 The Venus de Milo can be seen at the Louvre. (You can see the Venus de Milo at the Louvre.)
 Smart phones are used for many different things. (We/People use smart phones for many different things.)

2. We use the passive voice when we do not know who is performing the action or if the identity of the agent is not
important. In this case the agent is omitted in the passive sentence:

 Tom's bike has been stolen. (unknown agent)

 I was advised to apply for a visa in advance. (unimportant agent)

3. We use the passive voice when the identity of the agent is obvious. In this case the agent is usually omitted in
the passive sentence:

 The murderer has been arrested. (The police have arrested the murderer.)
 Children are taught math and science in school. (Teachers teach children in school.)
EXERCISE 1

Change these passive sentences into active sentences.

1. He is taken to school by his mum.

………………………………………………………………………………….
2. They are being bullied.
………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Have you been interviewed for many jobs?
………………………………………………………………………………….
4. We were told not to touch anything.
………………………………………………………………………………….
5. Our computers were being attacked by hackers.
………………………………………………………………………………….
6. His mother had been brought up in India.
………………………………………………………………………………….
7. Arrangements will be made to move them to other locations.
………………………………………………………………………………….
8. All the merchandise should be shipped tomorrow.
………………………………………………………………………………….
EXERCISE 2

Complete the sentences (Active or Passive Voice). You must either use Simple Present or Simple
Past.
1. The Statue of Liberty ………………………… (give) to the United States by France.
2. It ………………………… (be) a present on the 100th anniversary of the United States.
3. The Statue of Liberty ………………………… (design) by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi.
4. It ………………………… (complete) in France in July 1884.
5. In 350 pieces, the statue then ……………………… (ship) to New York, where it …………….……
(arrive) on 17 June 1885.
6. The pieces ………..…………… (put) together and the opening ceremony …………………………
(take) place on 28 October 1886.
7. The Statue of Liberty ………………………… (be) 46 m high (93 m including the base).
8. The statue ………………………… (represent) the goddess of liberty.
9. She ………………………… (hold) a torch in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand.
10. On the tablet you ………………………… (see / can) the date of the Declaration of Independence
(July 4, 1776).
11. Every year, the Statue of Liberty …………………… (visit) by many people from all over the world.
EXERCISE 3
Change these active sentences into passive sentences.

1. The cleaner has cleaned the office.

……………………………………………………………………………….
2. Someone will tell you what to do later.
……………………………………………………………………………….
3. Somebody should do the work as soon as possible.
……………………………………………………………………………….
4. They are building a new stadium near the station.
……………………………………………………………………………….
5. Everybody celebrates Christmas on December 25th.
……………………………………………………………………………….
6. A workman will repair the computer tomorrow.
……………………………………………………………………………….
7. At six o’clock someone was telling a story.
……………………………………………………………………………….
8. Somebody is going to take me to the airport in one hour.
……………………………………………………………………………….
EXERCISE 4

Complete the sentences in Active or Passive Voice. Use the correct tense of the verbs.
1. The entire European railway network …………………… (bring) to a new era of success very soon.
2. If the weather is nice tomorrow, we ………………………… (go) sailing.
3. My students know that I………………………… (should/speak) to in English during the whole
class.
4. They ………………………… (not/talk) to each other since they quarrelled last Monday.
5. When I arrived home, the grass ………………………… (cut).
6. In the 2050s, there ………………………… (not/be) enough food for everyone.
7. Please, be quiet. I ………………………… (tell) not to let anybody make noise.
8. If there are any questions, I .………………………… (can/reach) at the number below.
9. Rebecca ………………………… (give) her new assignment before she left for South America.
10. Unemployment ………………………… (rise) steadily over the last ten years.
EXERCISE 5

Complete the conversation using the correct tense of the verbs in active or passive voice.
Interviewer: Your new Smartphone Z ............................................ (1. sell) now. Does it bring any new features?
Steve Jobs: Yes, it does. Smartphone Z .......................................... (2. launch) last week with all the revolutionary
features which ............................................ (3. still/use) today in Smartphone Y. And two new
functionalities ................................... (4. add) now to generation Z.
Interviewer: Could you give us more details?
Steve Jobs: There is no home button in Smartphone Z. The home screen ................. (5. access) by tapping on the screen.
Interviewer: And the second functionality?
Steve jobs: Unlocking the device ................................. (6. done) with a new voice recognition system. It means that your
phone ………………..…. (7. can/recognise) your voice and it unlocks if you ………………… (8. ask) it to do so.
Interviewer: It is something like the facial recognition system in other phones.
Steve Jobs: Exactly. But the voice recognition system .......................................................... (9. design) for Smartphone Z
because your voice, unlike your face, ……………………….. (10. never/change).
Interviewer: Are you planning any other revolutionary features for the next generation of your smartphones?
Steve Jobs: Next year we want to release a phone which, apart from other functions, ................................... (11. use) as a
microwave oven.
Interviewer: Pardon?
 ANSWER KEY

Exercise 1 Exercise 2 23. A new stadium is being 36. was given

1. He is taken to school by 9. was given built near the station. 37. has been rising
his mum. 10. was 24. Christmas is celebrated
2. They are being bullied 11. was designed on December 25th. Exercise 5
3. Have you been 12. was completed 25. The computer will be 38. is being sold
interviewed for many 13. was shipped / arrived repaired tomorrow. 39. was launched
jobs? 14. were put / took 26. A story was being told at 40. are still being used
4. We were told not to touch 15. is six o´clock. 41. are being added
anything. 16. represents 27. I am going to be taken to 42. is accessed
5. Our computers were 17. holds the airport in one hour. 43. is done
being attacked by 18. can see 44. can recognise
hackers. 19. is visited Exercise 4 45. ask
6. His mother had been 28. will be brought 46. has been designed
brought up in India. Exercise 3 29. will go 47. never changes
7. Arrangements will be 20. The office has been 30. should be spoken 48. will be used
made to move them to cleaned. 31. haven´t talked
other locations. 21. You will be told what to 32. was being cut
8. All the merchandise do later. 33. won´t be
should be shipped by 22. The work should be done 34. have been told
tomorrow. as soon as possible. 35. can be reached
In groups, describe 3 different things using 3 or 4 sentences in passive voice each. After that, work with a
student of the opposite group and read your clues and ask him/her to guess what you are.

Example:
A: Listen to these clues and guess what I am:
I’m found deep underground.
I’m used for many purposes, including heating, gasoline and making plastics.
I’m almost finished now, people say I will be gone in fifty years.
What am I?
B: That’s easy. You are oil.
A: That’s right.
 WRITING

Write an article about three important traditions in your culture. Say when, where,
why and how these events are performed or celebrated. Also report what things are
done before, during and after the event. Include information about what happened
the last time you witnessed these events and how they have been modified through
time. Add your personal view on what things should and shouldn’t be done when
celebrating these events and your reasons. (150-200 words)
 COMMUNICATIVE ACTIVITY

Students walk around the classroom and find someone who is in one of the
situations in the first column. If you find him/her, write his/her name and ask
a follow-up question to get additional information. Take it in turns to ask
and answer the questions with your partner.
For example:
A: Were you born in hospital?
B: No, I wasn’t.
A: Great! So your name is Karen, right? Where were you born?
B: I was born at my grandmother’s home. She was a nurse who used to
live in the country.
A: Interesting. Now it’s your turn to ask . . .
 COMMUNICATIVE ACTIVITY
INSTRUCTIONS
Give one sheet to each student in the class. Explain the task carefully - project it
if possible.
Students have to try and find one person for each category on the sheet.
To do this, they have to form the correct question. (Demonstrate this on the
board).
For weaker groups, give them time to prepare the questions first and check the
answers.
Check any unfamiliar vocabulary or potentially difficult pronunciation Students
then get up, mill around and complete the task. They should make their short
conversations with other students as natural as possible and ask follow-up
questions.

Rules:
They must say the questions using the target language (passive questions) - They
shouldn't simply approach other students and point to the question on the sheet,
or say 'What about number three?'(!)
They should not spend all their time with one student. They should try to find a
different student for each question (although this may not be possible.).