Mastering English Grammar: Passive Voice, Reported Speech, and More
Passive Voice
Passive Voice Examples:
- Active: buys – Passive: is bought
- Active: ate – Passive: was eaten
- Active: is cleaning – Passive: is being cleaned
- Active: were visiting – Passive: was being visited
- Active: have never recycled – Passive: has never been recycled
- Active: had done – Passive: had been done
- Active: will forget – Passive: will be forgotten
Example Sentence:
I will send you the information by mail.
Passive Transformations:
- The information will be sent to you by mail.
- You will be sent the information by mail.
Example Sentence:
People believe that the economy will be better in two years.
Passive Transformations:
- It is believed that the economy will be better in two years.
- The economy is believed to be better in two years.
Reported Speech
Reported Speech Transformations:
- work – worked
- worked – had worked
- will work – would work
- can – could
- may – might
- have been working – had been working
- is working – was working
- were working – had been working
Example Imperative:
Sit down and open your books!
Reported Speech: The teacher told them to sit down and open their books.
Example Imperative:
Listen to me and don’t talk to your classmates!
Reported Speech: The teacher asked the students to listen to her and not to talk to their classmates.
Example Questions:
“Do students study German in your secondary school?”
Reported Speech: Peter asked Mary if the students studied German in her secondary school.
“Did you watch the TV program about Spanish people around the world last night?”
Reported Speech: He asked me if I had seen the TV program about Spanish people around the world the night before.
“Have you ever been to Australia?”
Reported Speech: John asked them if they had ever been to Australia.
“Are you going to meet your friends next weekend?”
Reported Speech: Linda asked Lucy if she was going to meet her friends the following weekend.
“Will your colleagues do your work when you are on holiday?”
Reported Speech: John asked Robert if his colleagues would do his work when he was on holiday.
“Can you send me your e-mail address tomorrow morning?”
Reported Speech: The manager asked the client if he could send him his e-mail address the next day in the morning.
“Had the film started when you arrived at the cinema last night?”
Reported Speech: Tom asked us if the film had started when we arrived at the cinema.
“What does your boss tell you when you are late for work?”
Reported Speech: Tom asked me what my boss told me when I was late for work.
“Where did you find the keys you had lost last week?”
Reported Speech: Mary asked Ann where she had found the keys she had lost the previous week.
“When has your American aunt arrived? And how did she travel?”
Reported Speech: Johnny asked Linda when her American aunt had arrived and how she had traveled.
Linking Words
Linking Word Examples:
Although it was a long task, I finished it on time.
In spite of the fact that he was wearing a smart suit, he couldn’t enter the party.
It was such an expensive hotel that they decided to stay only one night.
Linda was so excited after the surprise party that she broke into tears.
They studied for many hours so as to pass all their exams.
The receptionist phoned the customers in order to offer a trip to the lake.
The scuba diving lessons will be canceled because of the awful weather.
I will wear my red shirt even if you don’t like the idea.
Acetaminophen is dangerous to kids only if the dosage is too high.
You can stay here as long as you keep quiet.
Provided/Providing that the bills are paid, tenants will not be evicted.
My leg’s broken. I can’t stand up unless you help me.
Conditional Sentences
Conditional Sentence Examples:
Mary hasn’t got a bike, so she doesn’t go riding with us.
Conditional: If Mary had a bike, she would go riding with us.
My lungs are deteriorating. I must stop smoking.
Conditional: If I don’t stop smoking, my lungs will deteriorate.
I lost my keys, so I couldn’t enter my house.
Conditional: If I hadn’t lost my keys, I would have been able to enter my house.
Writing Skills
Personal Essay Structure
Introduction, appearance/clothes, character, conclusion.
Email Writing Tips
- Dear [Name],
- Thank you very much for your email. It’s nice to hear from you. How are you doing? It’s been such a long time since we last saw each other.
- Topic: Do you remember the last time…? I was thinking it would be great if we could… I’m thrilled to tell you that I have…
- I hope to see you soon. Please drop me a line as soon as you can. Once again, thank you. Give my regards to… Please let me know your thoughts about… I’m looking forward to seeing you again.
- All the best, Best wishes, Lots of love.