Active and Passive Voice Exercise

Find the verbs in the following sentences and state whether they are in the active voice or the passive voice.

1. The tiger killed the deer.

2. The boy is learning his lessons.

3. This house was built by my grandfather.

4. Alice has been waiting for a long time.

5. Mother was making a cake.

6. The postman was bitten by the dog.

7. The thief was caught.

8. The accused were sent to jail.

9. The loud noise frightened the baby.

10. The dog chased the cat.

11. The letter was posted yesterday.

12. The oldman takes snuff.

13. The cat drank all the milk.

14. That boy of yours has broken my window again.

15. These shoes of mine pinch me terribly.

Answers

1. verb – killed (simple past); voice – active

2. verb – is learning (present continuous); voice – active

3. verb – was built (simple past); voice – passive

4. verb – has been waiting (present perfect continuous); voice – active

5. verb – was making (past continuous); voice – active

6. verb – was bitten (simple past); voice – passive

7. verb – was caught (simple past); voice – passive

8. verb – were sent (simple past); voice – passive

9. verb – frightened (simple past); voice – active

10. verb -chased (simple past); voice – active

11. verb – was posted (simple past); voice – passive

12. verb – takes (simple present); voice – active

13. verb – drank (simple past); voice – active

14. verb – has broken (present perfect); voice – active

15. verb – pinch (simple present); voice – active

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Synthesis of sentences

Synthesis means the combination of a number of simple sentences into one new sentence – simple, compound or complex.

The following are the chief ways of combining two or more simple sentences into one large simple sentence.

By using a participle

He sprang up to his feet. He ran away.
springing up to his feet, he ran away.

She was tired of trying. She decided to quit.
Tired (or, being tired) of trying, she decided to quit.

By using a noun or a phrase in apposition

This is my mother. Her name is Susie.
This is my mother Susie.

By using a preposition with a noun or gerund

Her husband died. She heard the news. She fainted.
On hearing the news of her husband’s death she fainted.

He has failed many times. He still hopes to succeed.
In spite of many failures, he still hopes to succeed.

By using the absolute construction

The watch was expensive. He could not buy it.
The watch being expensive, he could not buy it.

The cot was too small. He could not sleep on it.
The cot being too small, he could not sleep on it.

By using an infinitive

He wanted to pass the examination. He studied hard.
He studied hard to pass the examination.

I have some duties. I must perform them.
I have some duties to perform.

By using an adverb or adverbial phrase

The sun set. The travelers had not reached their destination.
The travelers had not reached their destination by sunset.

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Common errors in the use of tenses

Incorrect: It is raining for two days.
Correct: It has been raining for two days.
Incorrect: The baby is sleeping for three hours now.
Correct: The baby has been sleeping for three hours now.

Here the error lies in using the present continuous instead of the present perfect continuous. We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action which started in the past, has gone on till the present and is still continuing.

Incorrect: I have seen him yesterday.
Correct: I saw him yesterday.
Incorrect: He has returned from London last week.
Correct: He returned from London last week.

Here the error lies in using the present perfect tense instead of the simple past tense. The present perfect is a present tense. It can’t be used with adverbs of past time.

Incorrect: See that you will not do any damage.
Correct: See that you do not do any damage.

It is wrong to use the future tense in the subordinate clause when the verb in the main clause is in the imperative mood.

Incorrect: I will call you when the dinner will be ready.
Correct: I will call you when the dinner is ready.
Incorrect: He will help if you will ask him.
Correct: He will help if you ask him.

When the verb in the main clause is in the future tense, the verb in the subordinate clause should be in the present and not in the future.

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Repetition of the article

Read the sentence given below:

I have a black and white cow.

This sentence means that I have a cow which is partly white and partly black. But If I say ‘I have a black and a white cow’, I have two cows – one black and the other white.

Hence when two or more adjectives qualify the same noun, the article is used only before the first adjective; but when the reference is to different nouns, expressed or understood, the article is used before each adjective.

Compare:

The secretary and treasurer has gone on leave.
The secretary and the treasurer have gone on leave.

Here the first sentence clearly indicates that the nouns secretary and treasurer refer to the same person. The repetition of the article in the second sentence indicates that the nouns refer to two different persons.

Now examine the following sentences:

Winston Churchill was a great orator and statesman. (Here the reference is to one person – Churchill.)
There were on the jury among others a great orator and a great statesman. (Here the reference is to two different persons.)

Note that we may either say-

The first and the second chapter OR The first and second chapters

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Omission of the articles

Before uncountable nouns

We do not use articles before uncountable and abstract nouns used in a general sense.

Honey is sweet. (NOT The honey is sweet.)
Sugar is bad for your teeth.
Wisdom is better than riches.
Virtue is its own reward.

Note that uncountable nouns take the article the when used in a particular sense.

Would you pass the sugar? (= the sugar on the table)

Before plural countable nouns

We do not use articles before plural countable nouns used in a general sense.

Children usually rush about.
Computers are useful machines.

Note that plural nouns take the article the when they are used in a particular sense.

Where are the children? (Which children? Our children)

Before proper nouns

We do not use articles before the names of countries, people, continents, cities, rivers and lakes.

India is a democratic country. (NOT The India …)
Paris is the capital of France. (NOT The Paris …)

Before the names of meals

We do not use articles before the names of meals.

Mother is cooking lunch.
Dinner is ready.

We use a when there is an adjective before breakfast, lunch, dinner etc. We use the when we are talking about a particular meal.

I had a late dinner yesterday.
The lunch we had at the restaurant was very good.

Before languages

We do not use articles before the names of languages.

Can you speak English? (NOT Can you speak the English?)
They speak French at home.

Before school, college, university, church, bed, hospital, prison etc.

His dad is still in hospital.
We learned English at school.
He is at university.

The is used before these words when the reference is to the building or object rather than to the normal activity that goes on there.

I met her at the church. (Here the reference is to the building and not to the activity that is going on there.)
I went to the hospital to see my friend.

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What are articles?

The words a or an and the are called articles. Articles come before nouns.

There are two articles – a/an and the

The article a or an is called the indefinite article because it doesn’t state which person or thing we are talking about.

For example, a doctor means any doctor.
A child means any child.

The article the is called the definite article because it points out a particular person or thing.

Compare:

You must consult the doctor. (Which doctor? It could be your family doctor.)
You must consult a doctor. (Which doctor? It could be any doctor. Here the speaker does not have a particular doctor in mind.)

The indefinite article (a/an) is used before singular countable nouns. It cannot be used before plural nouns.

We can say an apple or a tree, but not an apples or a trees.

The definite article (the) can be used before singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

We can say, the book, the books, the rice or the milk.

A or an

The choice between a and an is determined by sound and not spelling. A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound. Examples are: a boy, a tree, a ball, a flower, a horse, a hole, a European and a university.

An is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. Examples are: an elephant, an egg, an orange, an umbrella, an hour, an heir etc.

Note that some native speakers use an before words beginning with h if the first syllable is not stressed.

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The phrase and the clause

When we make a sentence, we name a person or thing and say something about that person or thing. Every sentence has two parts –

The part which names the person or thing we are speaking about is called the subject of the sentence. The part which says something about the subject is called the predicate.

The subject of a sentence usually comes first, but occasionally it is put after the predicate.

Sweet are the uses of adversity. (Subject – the uses of adversity, predicate – are sweet)

In imperative sentences, the subject is usually left out.

Sit down. (Here the subject you is not mentioned but it is understood.)

The Phrase and the Clause

Consider the group of words ‘on the roof’. It makes sense, but not complete sense. Such a group of words which makes sense, but not complete sense is called a phrase.

In the following sentences, the groups of words in italics are phrases.

The sun rises in the east.
The old man sat in a corner.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Show me how to do it.

Now consider the groups of words in italics in the following sentences.

She has a necklace of gold.
She has a necklace which is made of gold.

We know that the group of words ‘a necklace of gold’ is a phrase. But the group of words ‘which is made of gold’ is not a phrase. It has a subject (which) and a predicate (is made of gold).

Such a group of words which forms part of a larger sentence, and contains a subject and a predicate is called a clause. In the following sentences, the groups of words in italics are clauses.

We cannot start while it is raining.
I think that you are wrong.
John, who is a writer, is known all over the world.

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Verb – Moods

The simplest use of a verb is to make a statement or to ask a question.

I got up early in the morning.
Who wrote that story?

A verb may also be used to express a command.

Shut up!

Or a verb may be used to express a mere supposition.

If I were you, I would not do it.

These different modes or manners in which a verb may be used are called moods. There are three moods in English: indicative, imperative, subjunctive.

Indicative mood

The indicative mood is used to make a statement of fact.

She is a teacher.
They are our friends.
My parents live abroad.
The baby is sleeping.
He is sick.

The indicative mood is also used to ask a question.

Where are you going?
What are you doing?
Are you happy?

Imperative mood

The imperative mood is used to express ideas such as a command, a request, an order, a prayer or an entreaty.

Come here.
Keep quiet.
Do better.
Have mercy on us.

Note that the imperative mood can strictly be used only in the second person, since the subject is always the person spoken to. However, in the first and the third persons a similar sense can be expressed by the use of the verb let.

Let me go.
Let’s wait.

The subject of a verb in the imperative sentence is usually omitted.

Subjunctive mood

The subjunctive mood hardly exists in modern English. It has two forms: present subjunctive and past subjunctive.

The present subjunctive has no -s in the third person singular. It is sometimes used in that-clauses after words such as suggest, recommend, ask, insist, vital, essential, important and advice.

It is important that every child get the same educational opportunities.
She insisted that she be allowed to go.

The subjunctive may also occur in traditional phrases such as the following:

God bless you!
God save the King!

The subjunctive is unusual in British English. In that-clauses British people prefer should + infinitive.

She insisted that she should be allowed to go.
It is important that every child should get the same educational opportunities.

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Tenses different forms

Now read the following sentences:

* I write.
* I am writing.
* I have written.
* I have been writing.

The verbs in all of these sentences refer to the present time, and are, therefore, said to be in the present tense.

In sentence 1, however, the verb simply talks about the action. It doesn’t state whether the action is complete or not. The verb is therefore said to be in the simple present tense.

In sentence 2, the verb shows that the action is incomplete or continuous.The verb is therefore said to be in the present continuous tense.

In sentence 3, the verb shows that the action is finished, complete or perfect at the time of speaking. The verb is therefore said to be in the present perfect tense.

In sentence 4, the verb is said to be in the present perfect continuous tense because it shows that the action which started at some point of time in the past is still continuing at the moment of speaking.

Just as the present tense has four forms, the past tense also has four forms.

* I wrote. (Simple past tense)
* I was writing. (Past continuous tense)
* I had written (Past perfect tense)
* I had been writing. (Past perfect continuous tense)

Similarly, the future tense has the following four forms:

* I will/shall write. (Simple future tense)
* I will/shall be writing. (Future continuous tense)
* I will/shall have written. (Future perfect tense)
* I will/shall have been writing. (Future perfect continuous tense)

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Tenses – introduction

Read the following sentences:

I write the letter.
I wrote the letter yesterday.
I will write another letter tomorrow.

In sentence 1, the verb write refers to present time.

In sentence 2, the verb wrote refers to past time.

In sentence 3, the verb will write refers to future time.

Thus a verb may refer:

to present time
to past time
to future time

A verb that refers to the present time is said to be in the present tense. Examples are: write, build, love, like etc.

A verb that refers to past time is said to be in the past tense.Examples are: wrote, built, loved, liked etc.

A verb that refers to future time is said to be in the future tense. Examples are: will/shall write, will/shall build, will/shall love, will/shall like etc.

Thus we have seen that there are three main tenses.

The tense of a verb shows the time of an action or event.

Sometimes a past tense may refer to the present time and a present tense may express future time.

I wish I knew the answer. (= I am sorry I don’t know the answer. Here the past tense refers to the present time.)
Let’s wait till he comes. (Here the present tense refers to future time.)

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Combine using relative pronouns

Relative pronouns are words used to combine two clauses into one. Besides combining the two clauses, the relative pronoun acts as the subject or object of the verb in the relative clause.
An example is given below.

The boy solved the puzzle. He was praised by the teacher.

We can combine these two clauses using a relative pronoun.

The boy who solved the puzzle was praised by the teacher.

Combine the following pairs of sentences using a relative pronoun.
1. The parcel reached me this morning. My brother sent it.
2. This is the house. Jack built it.
3. The boy didn’t do his homework. The teacher punished him.
4. He tells lies. He deserves to be punished.
5. I know a man. He wears a prosthetic leg.
6. Bring me the file. The file is on the table.
7. We met a girl. The girl had lost her way.
8. I saw a soldier. He had lost an arm.
9. Once upon a time there lived a giant. The giant was very powerful and cruel.
10. The dog bit the burglar. He was trying to break into the house.

Answers

1. The parcel which my brother sent reached me this morning.
2. This is the house that Jack built.
3. The teacher punished the boy who didn’t do his homework.
4. He who tells lies deserves to be punished.
5. I know a man who wears a prosthetic leg.
6. Bring me the file which is on the table.
7. We met a girl who had lost her way.
8. I saw a soldier who had lost an arm.
9. Once upon a time there lived a giant who was very powerful and cruel.
10. The dog bit the burglar who was trying to break into the house.

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Common phrasal verbs

May 4, 2015 -

Here is a list of phrasal verbs with their meaning.
Ward off
To ward something off is to prevent it from happening.
Wear off
When something wears off, it disappears gradually.
Walk off
To walk something off is to get rid of it by walking.
Make off
To make off is to leave a place in a hurry.
Put off
To put off is to postpone.
Make after
To make after somebody is to chase them.
Make away
To make away is to escape.
Make out
To make out is to pretend that something is true.
Make off
To make off is to leave a place in a hurry.
Make up
To make up is to invent something.
Hold back
To hold something back is to keep it secret.
Hold up
To hold something up is to delay it.
Hold down
To hold something down is to keep it low.
Hold on
To hold on is to wait.
Keep off
To keep something off is to avoid it from going onto a particular area of land.
Get around
To get around is to travel.
Get back
To get back is to come back.
Get by
To get by is to manage to do something with great difficulty.
Get in
To get in is to enter a place
Get out
To get out is to leave a place.

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Prepositions before question words

Prepositions are dropped before common question words. This usually happens after common verbs like tell, ask, depend, sure, idea and look. This is especially common in indirect questions.

Tell me about your plans. (Here we use the preposition about before the noun ‘your plans’.)
Tell me what you intend to do. (More natural than ‘Tell me about what you intend to do’.) (Here the preposition is dropped before the question word what.)
I asked her about her relationship status.
I asked her whether she was in a relationship. (NOT I asked her about whether she was in a relationship.)
She may win the prize – it depends on her performance.
She may win the prize – it depends (on) how well she performs.
Look at this.
Look (at) what I have brought for you.

The prepositions cannot normally be left out after other verbs.

I am worried about her health.
I am worried about how she is going to cope. (NOT I am worried how she is going to cope.)

Compare:

The teacher asked me what I had done. (More natural than ‘The teacher asked me about what I had done’.)
The police questioned me about what I had seen. (NOT The police questioned me what I had seen.)
Your chances of getting a good job can vary according to whether you live in a city or in a village.

Note that we cannot put if after a preposition. We use whetherinstead.

I am worried about whether she is happy. (NOT I am worried about if she is happy.)

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Prepositions before that-clauses

Prepositions cannot normally be followed by conjunctions. Of course, this is possible in a few cases, but prepositions are normally dropped before that-clauses. This usually happens after words referring to saying, writing, thinking etc.

Compare:

I knew about his illness. (Here the preposition about is followed by a noun.)
I knew that he was ill. (NOT I knew about that he was ill.)
I heard about his problems.
I heard that he was facing some problems.
I had no idea of his state of mind.
I had no idea that he was depressed.
I was not aware of his presence in the room. (Here the preposition of is followed by the noun his presence.)
I was not aware that he was present in the room. (NOT I was not aware of that he …)

In cases where the preposition cannot be dropped before that, we add the phrase ‘the fact’.

I managed to arrive in time for the meeting in spite of the fact that the train was late.
(NOT I managed to arrive in time for the meeting in spite of that …) (NOT I managed to arrive in time in spite that …)
She paid no attention to the fact that I had the necessary qualifications. (NOT She paid no attention that I had the necessary qualifications.)
They went out despite the fact that it was raining. (NOT They went out despite that it was raining.)

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Difference between as and like

These two words are often confused. Use ‘like’ to state that someone is very similar to another. Like is a preposition and should be followed by a noun or pronoun.

She is like her mother. (= They are very similar.)

She plays the piano like her sister.

As is used to describe the function of a person or object.

He works as a bartender.

Examples are given below.

My sister is just like my mother, but I am more like my father.

Don’t use your nail as a screwdriver.

He is just like his brother. They are both crazy about soccer.

As can also be used as a conjunction. In this case, it is followed by a clause or a prepositional phrase. As a conjunction as shows similarity.

Nobody loves her as I do.

The same idea can be expressed using like.

Nobody loves her like me. (Note that here the preposition likeis followed by the object pronoun me.)

In August, as in July, the weather is very hot.

Here the conjunction as is followed by the prepositional phrase ‘in July’.

In a very informal style, like is often used as a conjunction. This is very common in American English. However, this is not considered correct.

Nobody loves her like I do.

Exercise

Complete the following sentences using as or like.

1. On Friday, …………………. on Thursday, we had two meetings.

2. My brother works …………………. a motor mechanic.

3. He was a non-smoker, ………………….. were most of his friends.

4. I don’t smoke or drink, …………………. Peter.

5. Please don’t use that plate ……………… an ashtray.

Answers

1. as; 2. as; 3. as; 4. like; 5. as

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Prepositions: some problems areas

A preposition is word used to describe the relationship between other words in a sentence.

Prepositions are almost always combined with other words. In grammars, these structures are called prepositional phrases.

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by an article or another determiner and an adjective or two, followed by a pronoun or noun. Here the adjective modifies the noun or pronoun which acts as the object of the preposition.

A prepositional phrase acts as an adjective or an adverb.

Ending a sentence with a preposition

You may have heard that ending a sentence with a preposition is a serious breach of grammatical rules. Well, not really. Of course, you are not supposed to end every one of your sentences with a preposition, but sometimes ending a sentence with a preposition is better than moving it to another location in the sentence.

Consider the two examples given below.

1) The professor asked the students to indicate the reference book they are quoting from. (This sentence ends in a preposition.)

2) The professor asked the students to indicate from whichreference book they are quoting.

As you can see, sentence 2 isn’t much better than sentence 1 although it doesn’t end in a preposition.

The prepositions in, at and on can all indicate position. Here is a list of common word combinations with these prepositions.

In the bed / in the bedroom / in the car / in the class / in the library / in school

At class / at home / at the library / at the office / at school / work

On the bed / on the ceiling / on the floor / on the horse/ on the plane / on the train

As you can see, with some of these locations, different prepositions are possible.

No prepositions are used with the following expressions:downtown, downstairs, outside, inside, upstairs, uptown etc.

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Compare to and compare

To show likeness, compare is usually used with to.

Life is often compared to a dream.

She likes to compare herself to her mother.

My mother always compared me to my brother.

To show differences, compare is usually used with ‘with’.

We can’t compare dogs with cats. (There are far more differences between them than there are similarities.)

My mother was never satisfied with my academic performance. She always compared me with my brother who used to get better grades.

As a general rule, use compare with when differences are more important than similarities. Use compare to when similarities are more important. Of course, these differences are not very important.

There are several other idiomatic expressions that are often confused.

Correspond to / correspond with

To correspond to something is to match up with something.

This pin does not correspond to the receptacle it is supposed to fit into.

To correspond with somebody is to write letters back and forth.

I think you should correspond with the manager about this.

Differ from / differ with

You can differ with a person. Things can differ from totally different things.

Her mother differed with her over her decision to split with her boyfriend.

I beg to differ with you.

Our products differ from theirs because they are more intuitive.

Tablets differ from laptops in many ways. First, they do not have a physical keyword. Second,…

Exchange with / exchange for

We exchange something for something.

I would like to exchange my car for a faster one.

He exchanged dollars for euros.

I exchanged pleasantries with her.

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Idiomatic expressions with prepositions

Verbs often combine with prepositions. These combinations are called phrasal verbs. There are numerous phrasal verbs in English and they cause a great deal of difficulty for ESL students. It is nearly impossible for a non-native speaker to learn all of these idiomatic expressions. Still, you must be familiar with the most important ones.

Interestingly, sometimes the same verb takes different prepositions with different objects. The meanings of all of these expressions are usually the same.

Examples are given below.

Agree on / agree about / agree with

Agree with a person, policy or opinion

I entirely agree with your opinion.

I don’t agree with you.

Agree about a subject of discussion

We never agree about anything.

Agree on a price, a matter of discussion etc.

We couldn’t agree on a price.

Agree to a suggestion or proposal.

She didn’t agree to my proposal.

Angry about / angry with

We are angry with people and angry about things. The prepositionat is sometimes used with both people and things.

She was angry with me for reading her letters.

OR She was angry at me for reading her letters.

My parents were angry about my dismal performance. OR My parents were angry at my dismal performance.

Argue about / argue with

We argue about a matter.

After his death, his children argued about his property.

They argued about his affair. (NOT They argued with his affair.)

We can argue with a person.

I don’t want to argue with you.

He argued with his wife. (NOT He argued about his wife.)

We can also argue for or against a preposition.

They argued against increasing the legal drinking age.

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Answers

Ending a sentence with a preposition

Correspond to / correspond with

Differ from / differ with

Exchange with / exchange for

Agree on / agree about / agree with

Angry about / angry with

Argue about / argue with

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