1 If possible, rewrite these newspaper headlines as passive sentences, as in 1. Begin each sentence with It has been ... that... If this is not possible, write x after the headline. (A)
It has been discovered that aspirin can help fight cancer.
AGREEMENT THAT UN WILL SEND IN TROOPS
AID WORKERS TELL OF MASSACRE
EARTH SHRINKING BY TEN METRES EACH YEAR"
CLAIM SCIENTISTS
EARTHQUAKE CALCULATED TO HAVE COST $3 BILLION
YOUNG PEOPLE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR GOVERNMENT GRANTS
REPORTS OF REBEL TROOPS ENTERING CAPITAL
2 Tony has taken his old car in for an inspection. The news is not good. Read what he was told and report it using a passive + to-infinitive, as in 1. (B)
1. We’ve found that the tyres are unsafe.
The tyres have been found to be unsafe.
2. We've discovered that the brakes are badly worn.
3. We consider that the petrol tank is dangerous.
4. We think that the electrical system is a fire hazard.
5. We expect the repairs to be very expensive indeed.
3 Write a past simple passive sentence beginning with There... from the notes, as in 1. If no passive sentence with There... is possible, write a sentence with It... that.... (C)
1 30,000 people at the concert / report TViere were reported to be 30,000 people at trie concert.
2 half a million refugees in the camps / estimate
3 gas was poisonous / assume
4 the President would make a statement later / expect
5 fault in the equipment / show
6 Beijing was not yet ready to hold the Olympic Games / feel
7 over 100 winners in the competition / say
8 she had resigned from the government / understand
9 connection between the disease and eating fish / show
Keys:
1
2 It has been agreed that the UN will send in troops.
3 X
4 It has been claimed (by scientists) that the Earth is shrinking by ten metres each year.
5 It has been calculated that the earthquake (has/ will have) cost $3 billion.
6 X
7 It has been reported that rebel troops are/ were entering the capital.
2
2 The brakes have been discovered to be badly worn.
3 The petrol tank is considered to be dangerous.
4 The electrical system is thought to be a fire hazard.
5 The repairs are expected to be very expensive indeed.
3
2 There were estimated to be half a million refugees in the camps.
3 It was assumed that the gas was poisonous.
4 It was expected that the President would make a statement later. (There was expected to be a statement from the President later.' is also possible.)
5 There was shown to be a fault in the equipment.
6 It was felt that Beijing was not yet ready to hold the Olympic Games.
7 There were said to be over 100winners in the competition.
8 It was understood that she had resigned from the government.
9 There was shown to be a connection between the disease and eating fish.