Laboratory Equipment, Order Issues, and Passive Voice Grammar

Posted on Feb 3, 2025 in English

Laboratory Equipment

  • Pipette
  • Beaker
  • Erlenmeyer flask
  • Desiccant
  • Dropper
  • Dropping funnel
  • Mortar
  • Stand
  • Porcelain capsule
  • Bottle washer
  • Thermometer
  • Crucible
  • Water tube
  • Burette
  • Spoon
  • Spatula
  • Bunsen burner
  • Flask
  • Test tube

Order Issue with Quimsel Products S.A.

QUIMSEL PRODUCTS S.A.
43 Road Toledo/Madrid, Madrid

Dear Sirs:

On November 3, 2011, we requested an order for 50 units of different reagents with reference number TRA-345-MU-2171. On November 5th, we received a fax stating that they had begun to process the shipment and that it would arrive within a maximum of 15 days.

As of this letter, November 21, 2011, we have not yet received the order. We have communicated by telephone on several occasions about the delay, but have not obtained any satisfactory justification.

This letter serves as a warning that if we do not receive the merchandise (or adequate justification) within 7 days of receipt of this letter, we will proceed to take appropriate action for breach of contract on your part.

Sincerely,
Cristian Benitez Iturralde
Machinery Manager, Reacel S.A.

Apology from Quimsel Products S.A.

Apology

We greatly regret any inconvenience that our company may have caused regarding the reactants you requested two weeks ago.

We are sending this short note to apologize. We realize that we have caused an inconvenience and have decided to refund all the money you invested and paid for our services, as a token of our understanding in this matter.

Please accept our sincere apologies.

We remain at your disposal.

Regards

Passive Voice in English

Passive Voice Forms

  • Present Simple: am/is/are + past participle
  • Present Continuous: am/is/are + being + past participle
  • Past Simple: was/were + past participle
  • Past Continuous: was/were + being + past participle
  • Present Perfect Simple: have/has + been + past participle
  • Past Perfect: had + been + past participle

Note: “was” is used with She and He, and “were” is used with I, You, We, and They. Example: I have been (yo he estado), she has been.

Examples of Active and Passive Sentences

Present Simple

  • My brother goes to school.
  • We don’t play tennis.
  • Do you get home?
  • Shelley tidies her room.
  • How often does Fiona visit?

Adverbs of Frequency

  • Tina sometimes walks to school.
  • Susan often studies French at school.
  • They always play football on Saturday.
  • Rory is never lazy.
  • Where do you usually sleep?

Present Passive

  • Cricket is played.
  • Volkswagen cars are made.
  • Harry Potter books are sold.
  • Coffee is grown.
  • Is the internet used in your home?
  • New computer games are released.
  • Pasta is cooked in water.
  • I am needed in the office.

Active or Passive

  • Wine is made in France.
  • New clothes are designed by people every year.
  • A lot of laptops are produced in Japan.
  • A picture is painted every day.
  • Millions of text messages are sent every minute.
  • A lot of sports magazines are published every month.

Past Passive

Circle the correct alternatives:

  • A lot of romantic films are made.
  • Golf is sold all over.
  • I am needed.
  • The dining room is decorated.
  • The island is not inhabited.

Past Passive Completion

Complete the past passive sentences using the following verbs: was shot, was murdered, was arrested, were released, were killed, was returned, was made, were married.