Blog Archives

Grammar Basics: Unit 23 – Passive, Part II (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/03/07
by

Exercises: Use the present continuous (is/are being…) or the present perfect (has/have been…) with the words in the parentheses to complete the sentences.

Example:

The tree (cut) down tomorrow.==> The tree is being cut down tomorrow.

1. Don’t sit down on the sofa. It’s being cleaned right now.
2. We’re being invited to a wedding on Saturday, so keep your schedule open for that day.
3. The president’s speech is being broadcast on TV tonight.
4. You’ll have to wait to do the laundry. The washing machine is being fixed.
5. Our living room is being painted, so we are spending the day at the mall.
6. Your grandmother’s wedding dress has been repaired, cleaned, and boxed up, so it’s as good as new.
7. The window has been broken! Which one of the neighborhood kids did it, do you think?
8. Twelve trees have been cut down to make space for a swimming pool.
9. Sorry I’m late. The bus has been tied up in traffic for 30 minutes.
10. The grass has already been mowed, so you can cross that off your chore list.

Google

Leave a Reply ?

Grammar Basics: Unit 23 – Passive, Part II

Posted on 2012/03/06
by

In addition to having simple present passive (“is done”) and simple past passive (“was done”), we also have the present continuous passive and the present perfect passive. As before, the passive indicates that the doer of the action is unspecified.

Present Continuous Passive: is/are being …

Examples:

Please take the stairs – the elevator is being fixed. (= someone is fixing the elevator)
Tom is being picked up after school. (= someone is picking Tom up after school)
We can’t check into our hotel room yet – it’s (it is) being cleaned right now. (= someone is cleaning the room now)

Present Perfect Passive: has/have been …

Examples:

You don’t have to take the stairs anymore – the elevator has been fixed. (= someone has fixed it)
Tom has already been picked up – he doesn’t need a ride now. (= someone has already picked up Tom)
Let’s check into our room now – it’s (it has) been cleaned. (= someone has cleaned the room)

 

Exercises: Use the present continuous (is/are being…) or the present perfect (has/have been…) with the words in the parentheses to complete the sentences.

Example:

The tree (cut) down tomorrow.==> The tree is being cut down tomorrow.

1. Don’t sit down on the sofa. It (clean) right now.
2. We (invite) to a wedding on Saturday, so keep your schedule open for that day.
3. The president’s speech (broadcast) on TV tonight.
4. You’ll have to wait to do the laundry. The washing machine (fix).
5. Our living room (paint), so we are spending the day at the mall.
6. Your grandmother’s wedding dress (repair / clean / and box up), so it’s as good as new.
7. The window (break)! Which one of the neighborhood kids did it, do you think?
8. Twelve trees (cut) down to make space for a swimming pool.
9. Sorry I’m late. The bus (tie) up in traffic for 30 minutes.
10. The grass (already / mow), so you can cross that off your chore list.

Google

Leave a Reply ?

Grammar Basics: Unit 22 – Passive, Part I (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/03/02
by

Exercises: Complete the sentences by using the passive (either present or past) of the indicated verb.

Example:

The baby (give) a bath yesterday. ==> The baby was given a bath yesterday.

1. We had a snow day last week, so classes were canceled.
2. The librarian charged me a fine because several pages of the book were torn.
3. Can I exchange these jeans for some new ones? The zipper is broken.
4. The kitchen was cleaned during the night by some good fairies.
5. The old factory was burned down by a firebug.
6. There was an accident on the highway, and several people were taken to the hospital.
7. Jack was born on a fishing trawler.
8. Tom was woken up in the middle of the night by the baby’s crying.
9. The old lady was helped across the street by a Boy Scout.
10. That picture was taken on our honeymoon.

Google

Leave a Reply ?

Grammar Basics: Unit 22 – Passive, Part I

Posted on 2012/03/01
by

Sentences may be either active or passive. When a sentence is active, the doer of the action is specified:

John opened the door. (active – John is the one who opens the door)

 

When a sentence is passive, we are not told who is the doer of the action:

The door was opened. (passive – we don’t know who opened the door)

 

To make a passive sentence, we use an appropriate form of the verb “be” + past participle:

Simple Present passive: am / is / are + past participle
Simple Past passive: was / were + past participle

Examples:

The store was closed.
The bank was robbed last night.
Where were you born?
Ice cream is made from milk.
The toy is broken.

If we want to use a passive sentence and indicate the doer of the action, we can use the phrase “by…”:

The bank was robbed last night by a pair of masked gunmen.
The modern steam engine was invented by James Watt.

Exercises: Complete the sentences by using the passive (either present or past) of the indicated verb.

Example:

The baby (give) a bath yesterday. ==> The baby was given a bath yesterday.

1. We had a snow day last week, so classes (cancel).
2. The librarian charged me a fine because several pages of the book (tear).
3. Can I exchange these jeans for some new ones? The zipper (break).
4. The kitchen (clean) during the night by some good fairies.
5. The old factory (burn) down by a firebug.
6. There was an accident on the highway, and several people (take) to the hospital.
7. Jack (born) on a fishing trawler.
8. Tom (wake) up in the middle of the night by the baby’s crying.
9. The old lady (help) across the street by a Boy Scout.
10. That picture (take) on our honeymoon.

Google

Leave a Reply ?

Grammar Basics: Unit 2 – The Verb “Be” – Questions (Solution)

Posted on 2011/12/23
by

Exercises: Write questions, using the proper form of the verb “be.”

1. Is the homework difficult?
2. Is John sick?
3. Is the baby hungry?
4. Are you cold?
5. Am I sleepy?
6. Is she a doctor?
7. Are we late?
8. Are they married?
9. Where are my keys?
10. What is the temperature?
11. Who is that man?
12. How are you?
13. Why are you sick?
14. How old is he?
15. Where is the dog?

Google

Leave a Reply ?

Grammar Basics: Unit 2 – The Verb “Be” – Questions

Posted on 2011/12/22
by

To form questions with the verb “be,” the verb and subject are inverted (switch places in the sentence):

1st person singular:
Positive – I am
Question – am I?

2nd person singular:
Positive – you are
Question – are you?

3rd person singular:
Positive – he / she / it is
Question – is he / she / it?

1st person plural:
Positive – we are
Question – are we?

2nd person plural:
Positive – you are
Question – are you?

3rd person plural:
Positive – they are
Question – are they?

The answer to these “be” questions should be either Yes or No.

Examples:

  • Am I late?
    • Yes (you are).
    • Yes (, the show started ten minutes ago).
  • Are you hungry?
    • Yes (I am).
    • Yes (, I haven’t eaten since breakfast).
  • Is it raining?
    • No (, it’s sunny).
  • Is he crazy?
    • No (, but he sure acts like it sometimes).
  • Are we leaving now?
    • No (, we still have a half hour before the train comes in).
  • Are you ready?
    • Yes (we are).
    • Yes (, let’s take the test now).
  • Are they home?
    • No (, the lights are off).

Short negative answers may be contracted, but positive ones may not be:

  • Am I late?
    • No / No, you aren’t / No, you’re not.
  • Are you hungry?
    • No / No, I’m not.
  • Is it raining?
    • No / No, it isn’t / No, it’s not.
  • Is he crazy?
    • No / No, he isn’t / No, he’s not.
  • Are we leaving now?
    • No / No, we aren’t / No, we’re not.
  • Are you ready?
    • No / No, we aren’t / No, we’re not.
  • Are they home?
    • No / No, they aren’t / No, they’re not.

Wh-questions use the verb “be,” but cannot use Yes/No for an answer:

  • Where is / Where’s the restaurant?
    • It’s next to the bank.
  • What is / What’s the time?
    • It’s two o’clock.
  • Who is / Who’s coming to the party?
    • John and Sally are.
  • How tall is Sam?
    • He’s six feet tall.
  • Why are you crying?
    • I lost my puppy.

Exercises: Write questions, using the proper form of the verb “be.”

Solutions tomorrow.

1. the homework / difficult?

2. John / sick?

3. baby / hungry?

4. you / cold?

5. I / sleepy?

6. she / a doctor?

7. we / late?

8. they / married?

9. where / my keys?

10. what / the temperature?

11. who / that man?

12. how / you?

13. why / you / sick?

14. how / old / he?

15. where / the dog?

Google

Leave a Reply ?

Grammar Basics: Unit 1 – The Verb “Be” (Solutions)

Posted on 2011/12/21
by

Answers:

1. That TV show is old.

2. Miss Smith is a lawyer.

3. The cats are hungry.

4. I’m positive I locked the door.

5. It’s eight o’clock – we must leave now.

6. They are the biggest seller of running shoes in the country.

7. You’re early for your appointment.

8. The playground isn’t open today.

9. No thank you, I’m not thirsty.

10. They’re not Americans.

11. John’s not on the team this year.

12. You’re not quiet enough.

13. We’re not afraid of you!

14. She’s not busy right now.

15. It’s not too late to place your order for Christmas.

Google

Leave a Reply ?

Grammar Basics: Unit 1 – The Verb “Be”

Posted on 2011/12/20
by

The verb “be” is used to describe a quality or state of existence for a noun. Its form depends on “person” and count. (Contracted forms are in parentheses):

1st person singular:
Positive – I am (I’m)
Negative – I am not (I’m not)

2nd person singular:
Positive – You are (You’re)
Negative – You are not (You’re not / You aren’t)

3rd person singular:
Positive – He / She / It is (He’s, etc.)
Negative – He / She / It is not (He’s not / He isn’t, etc.)

1st person plural:
Positive – We are (We’re)
Negative – We are not (We’re not)

2nd person plural:
Positive – You are (You’re)
Negative – You are not (You’re not / You aren’t)

3rd person plural:
Positive – They are (They’re)
Negative – They are not (They’re not / They aren’t)

Examples:

I’m worried. The baby is sick.
If you’re cold, put on a sweater.
He is a doctor.
We are the number one manufacturer of erasers in the world.
They’re tired and hungry.

I’m not sure if we have enough food.
You aren’t bored, are you?
She’s not a very patient person.
We’re not late for dinner, are we?
They’re not members of the orchestra.

Note –
For tag questions, “I am not” has an irregular contraction:
I’m a clever student, aren’t I? (not amn’t I?)

===============================

For the following exercise, write complete sentences. Use the appropriate form of “be.”

Example:

(keys bag my in not) – My keys are not in my bag.

Solutions tomorrow.

1. (old show that TV)
____________________________________________________________________________

2. (a lawyer Miss Smith)
____________________________________________________________________________

3. (cats hungry the)
____________________________________________________________________________

4. (door I I locked positive the)
____________________________________________________________________________

5. (eight it leave must now o’clock we)
____________________________________________________________________________

6. (biggest country in of running seller shoes the the they)
____________________________________________________________________________

7. (appointment early for you your)
____________________________________________________________________________

8. (not open playground the today)
____________________________________________________________________________

9. (I no not thank thirsty you)
____________________________________________________________________________

10. (Americans not they)
____________________________________________________________________________

11. (this team John the not on year)
____________________________________________________________________________

12. (enough not quiet you)
____________________________________________________________________________

13. (afraid not of we you)
____________________________________________________________________________

14. (busy not now right she)
____________________________________________________________________________

15. (Christmas for it late not order place to too your)
____________________________________________________________________________

Google

Leave a Reply ?