SECTION 2 HEAD HERE
1.2
73
GRAMMAR
PRESENT SIMPLE PASSIVE
3
a
Look at these sentences (a–c) and answer the
questions below.
a
Pure gold is not used in teeth.
b
It is mixed with other metals.
c
Gold wires are used in electronic equipment.
1
Underline the main action verb in each of these
sentences.
2
Do the sentences say who or what does the action
(the agent)?
GRAMMAR TIP
Use the passive when you don’t want to focus on the
agent of the action. The agent may be unnecessary or
unknown, e.g.
Pure gold is not used in teeth.
(It isn’t
necessary to talk about the dentists.);
It is mixed with
other metals.
(We do not know who mixes it.)
3
b
Look at these sentences (a–b) and answer the
questions below.
a
Gold is not damaged by the environment.
b
The environment does not damage gold.
1
Which sentence focuses our attention on gold?
2
Which sentence emphasises the environment?
3
Which word do we use in a passive sentence to
introduce the agent of the action?
3
c
You form the present simple passive with
is/
are
and the past participle of the verb. Find other
examples of passive forms in the text on page 72.
How do we make questions in the passive?
¬
Language reference and extra practice, pages 118–119
4
Complete this text with the present simple passive
of the verbs.
SPEAKING
5
Find out about industries /
well-known businesses in your
country. Turn to page 136 for some
ideas to help you prepare. Then tell
a partner.
There are a lot of big factories around the capital. Most
of them are new. A lot of electronic equipment is made
there, and then it’s sent all over the world. In the north,
they still build ships …
Oil is sometimes called black gold, because it is
extremely valuable. Oil
1
(make) by
very small plants and animals that died
on the sea bed millions of years ago.
When oil
2
(find) in the sea bed,
an oil rig
3
(move) into the
right position, and the oil
4
(take out). Over 50%
of the world’s oil is in the Arab
World. Oil
5
(use) for
fuel (e.g. in car engines) and
to make electricity. We also
make plastics with it.
About 9,000 million litres
of oil
6
(consume)
every day.
Sea bed
Oil
Oil rig
