Exercises
I.Laura is writing to a friend. This is part of her letter.
Someone broke into out house at the weekend. The burglar took some jewellery. But luckily he didn’t do any damage. A very nice young police officer interviewed me. Detectives found some fingerprints, and the police computer identified the burglar. Police have arrested a man and are questioning him. But they haven’t found the jewellery.
Now complete the passive sentences in this conversation. Use a phrase with by only if it adds information.
Laura: Our house was broken into at the weekend.
Melanie: Oh no!
Laura: Some jewellery ________________________________________.
But luckily no damage __________________________________.
Melanie: Did the police come and see you?
Laura: Yes, they did. I __________________________________________.
Melanie: I don’t suppose they know who did it.
Laura: Well, amazingly they do. Some ___________________________________,
and the _________________________________________________________.
A man _______________________ and _________________________________.
Melanie: Wonderful.
Laura: There’s only one problem. The _____________________________________.
II.Active or passive sentence? Write a paragraph from the notes about the first motor car. Some sentences are active and some are passive. Use a phrase with by only if it adds information.
A Belgian called Etienne Lenoir/ make/ the first motor car
The first motor car was made by a Belgian called Etienne Lenoir.
1 but/Lenoir/not produce many cars for sale
But Lenoir_____________________________________________________________
2 a German called Karl Benz / start / commercial production
Commercial ___________________________________________________________
3 people/now/see/Benz/as the father of the motor car
Benz__________________________________________________________________
III.Empty subjects. Reply to what people say. Use the subject in brackets.
Daniel: The bus fares have been increased. (they)
Vicky: What you mean they’ve increased the bus fares again?
1 Melanie: Bicycle should be used for short journeys (people)
Davis: Yes, I agree. ______________________________________________________.
2 Emma: A new source of energy has been discovered (someone)
Daniel: What? Did you say that _____________________________________________
3 Rachel: This building is going to be knocked down (they)
Vicky: Well, no one told me that ____________________________________________
4 David: Eggs shouldn’t be kept in a freezer.( you)
Tom: Really? I didn’t know ________________________________________________.
5 Vicky: Why isn’t litter put in the bin?(people)
Emma: Exactly. Why don’t ________________________________________________.