TOEFL PREPARATION MODUL from BARRON : Problems wih Passive

A passive changes the emphasis of a sentence. Usually in a passive, the event or result is more important than the person who causes it to happen.

For example, born, known as, and left are participles. They are com,monly used with BE in passive sentences. Why? Because the person born, the person known, and the person or thing left are the important parts of the sentences.

12. Pasive – Word Order

Remember that in a passive sentence the actor is unknown or not important. The subject is not the actor.

Passive sentences are also common in certain styles of scientific writing.

S + BE + participle

Ex: State university is located at the corner of College and Third

Avoid using a participle without a form of the verb BE.

Example :

                INCORRECT      : My wedding ring made of yellow and white gold.

CORRECT           : My wedding ring is made of yellow and white gold.

(It is the ring, not the person who made the ring, that is important.)

INCORRECT      : If your brother invited, he would come.

CORRECT           : If your brother were invited, he would come.

(It is your brother, not the person who invited him, that is important.)

                INCORRECT      : Mr. Wilson known as Willie to his friends.

CORRECT           : Mr. Wilson is known as Willie to his friends.

(It is Wilson, not his friends, that is important.)

INCORRECT      : References not used in the examination room.

CORRECT           : References are not used in the examination room.

(It is references, not the persons using them, that are important.)

INCORRECT      : Laura born in Iowa.

CORRECT           : Laura was born in Iowa.

(It is Laura, not her mother who bore her, that is important.)

Exercise :

                Part A: Choose the correct answer.

In the stringed instruments, the tones ... by playing a bow across a set of strings that may

be made of wire or gut.

a.       they produce

b.       producing

c.       are produced

d.       that are producing

Part B: Choose the incorrect word or phrase and correct it.

Work (a) is (b) often measure (c) in units called (d) foot pounds.

13. Belief and Knowledge- Anticipatory It

Remember that an anticipatory it clause expresses belief or knowledge. Anticipatory means before. Some it clauses that go before main clauses are listed below:

It is believed

It is hypothesized

It is known

It is said

It is thought

It is true

It is written.

Anticipatory it + that + S + V

Ex: It i believed that all mammals experience dreams

Avoid using an -ingform, a noun, or an infinitive instead of a subject and verb after an anticipatory itclause.

Example :

INCORRECT      : It is hypothesized that the subjects in the control group not to score as well.

CORRECT           : It is hypothesized that the subjects in the control group will not score as well.

INCORRECT      :It is generally known that she leaving at the end of the year.

CORRECT           : It is generally known that she is at the end of the year.

INCORRECT      : It is said that a buried treasure near here.

CORRECT           : It is said that a buried treasure was hidden near here.

INCORRECT      : It is believed that a horseshoe bringing good luck.

CORRECT           : It is believed that a horseshoe brings good luck.

INCORRECT      : It is thought that our ancestors building this city.

CORRECT           : It is thought that our ancestors built this city.

Exercise :

                Part A: Choose the correct answer.

... Giant Ape Man, our biggest and probably one of our first human ancestors, was just

about the size of a male gorilla.

a.       It is believed that

b.       That it is

c.       That is believed

d.       That believing

Part B: Choose the incorrect word or phrase and correct it.

That it is believed (a) that most of the earthquakes (b) in the world occur near(c) the youngest (d) mountain ranges-the Himalayas, the Andes, and the Sierra Nevadas.