English for R&Dcourse

English for R&Dcourse

Grammar

1
Theory · read before you start
The Passive Voice
We use the passive when the action itself matters more than who or what does it — very common in reports about problems, like the one in this chapter.
RULE
Form: be + past participle (the tense of be changes, the past participle never does)
The 'doer' of the action can be added with by — often left out completely when it's unknown, obvious, or unimportant
TIP
In this chapter, the habitat is the focus, not the people clearing it — that's exactly when English prefers the passive.
EXAMPLES
  • Active: 'People are clearing the forests.'→ Passive: 'The forests are being cleared.'
  • Active: 'They are reducing the koala's habitat.'→ Passive: 'The koala's habitat is being reduced.'
  • Active: 'People have done an enormous amount of damage.'→ Passive: 'An enormous amount of damage has been done.'
  • Active: 'National legislation does not protect the habitat adequately.'→ Passive: 'The habitat is not adequately protected by national legislation.'
2
Quiz · choose one option per question
Choose the correct passive form.
1.This land for housing every year.
2.Right now, the old forest for a new road.
3.Sadly, a lot of habitat already.
4.Enough koalas by these laws.
5.New environmental laws by experts every year.
6.Every tree that adds pressure on the koalas.
3
Correct the mistakes · type the correct word in the box
The highlighted word contains a mistake. Write the correct form.
1.
A lot of damage has did to the habitat.
↳
2.
Right now, the koala habitat reducing quickly.
↳
3.
These forests protect by national law, but not enough.
↳
4.
New laws was proposed last year to help koalas.
↳
5.
The trees is cut down for new roads every year.
↳
6.
This problem has been discuss by experts many times.
↳
4
Gap fill · type your answer in each gap
Complete each sentence with the correct passive form of the verb in brackets.
1.The koala's habitat (reduce) more every year.
2.Right now, new houses (build) where the forest used to be.
3.A National Koala Act (propose) by experts to help protect the species.
4.These animals (not protect) enough by current laws.
5.Every year, thousands of trees (cut down) for new roads.
6.An enormous amount of damage (do) to the natural habitat already.
5
Sentence transform · type your rewritten sentence
Rewrite each sentence in the passive voice. Do not change the meaning.
1.People are clearing eucalyptus forests all over eastern Australia.
2.Builders are reducing the koala's natural habitat right now.
3.People have done a huge amount of damage to the forests already.
4.Current legislation does not protect the remaining habitat adequately.
5.The Australian Koala Foundation is advocating for a National Koala Act.
6.Landowners cut down trees on private land every year.