STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION SKILL 38: RECOGNIZE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE MEANING

LONGMAN COMPLETE COURSE FOR THE TOEFL TEST

STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION

SKILL 38: RECOGNIZE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE MEANING

When there is no object (with or without by) after a verb, you must look at the meaning of the sentence to determine if the verb should be active or passive. Sentences with an incorrect passive verb and no by + object to tell you that the verb should be passive are the most difficult passive errors to recognize on the TOEFL  test. Study the examples:

We mailed the package at the post office. The letter was mailed by us today before noon. The letter was mailed today before noon.	The first example has the active verb mailed used with the object package; the second example has the passive verb was mailed used with by us; the third sentence has the passive verb was mailed used without an object
The letter mailed* today before noon	This is the type of passive error that appears most often on the TOEFL test.

The following chart outlines the difference in meaning between active and passive verbs:

EXERCISE 38: Each of the following sentences contains at least one active verb; however, some of the verbs should be passive. Underline the verbs twice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

……………	3	Everything to organize the picnic has already done.
……………	4	The police investigated him because of his unusual actions.
……………	5	The package containing the necessary samples has just sent.
……………	6	The vacation to Europe will plan carefully before the scheduled departure date.
……………	7	The coffee turned bitter when it left on the stove for so long.
……………	8	The soccer game won in the closing minutes.
……………	9	The clothes made to rival the latest fashions of the season.
……………	10	When the roads are icy, the buses do not drive.

ANSWER KEY

1	I	(park should be was parked)
2	C
3	I	(done should be been done)
4	C
5	I	(sent should be been sent)
6	I	(will plan  should be will be planned)
7	I	(left  should be was left)
8	I	(won  should be was won)
9	I	(made should be were made)
10	I	(do not drive  should be are not driven)