Casa · B1 Intermediate · Lesson 5 of 20 · Step 1

Describing Processes

The Passive Voice (Present and Past)

Form the passive voice in the present simple and past simple
Understand when and why the passive voice is used
Describe a process or procedure using the passive

Words · tap a card to see it used

Grammar

Passive voice — present simple and past simple

Form the passive with 'be + past participle'. Present simple passive: am/is/are + past participle (e.g., 'Coffee is grown in Brazil'). Past simple passive: was/were + past participle (e.g., 'The bridge was built in 1890'). Use the passive when the action is more important than who does it, when the doer is unknown, or when describing processes.

English is spoken in many countries around the world.

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889.

These shoes are made in Italy.

The email was sent yesterday afternoon.

Exercises · type, then check

1. Rewrite the underlined part using the passive voice (present or past).

1.Coffee (grow) in Colombia and Brazil.

2.The pyramids (build) thousands of years ago.

3.The packages (deliver) every morning.

4.The novel (write) by a young author in 2018.

5.All employees (give) a training session when they start.

2. Choose the correct passive form for each sentence.

1. The report ___ by the entire team last week.

2. Thousands of cars ___ in this factory every year.

3. The window ___ during the storm last night.

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Reading

How Chocolate Is Made

Chocolate production is a fascinating process that involves many steps. First, cacao beans are harvested from trees in tropical regions such as West Africa and South America. The beans are then dried in the sun for several days. After drying, they are shipped to factories, where they are roasted at high temperatures. Next, the roasted beans are crushed and the shells are removed. The remaining material, called cacao nibs, is ground into a thick paste known as chocolate liquor. Sugar and milk powder are added at this stage. Finally, the mixture is heated, cooled, and poured into moulds. The finished chocolate bars are wrapped, packaged, and distributed to shops around the world.

1. Where are cacao beans harvested?

2. What happens to the beans after they are roasted?

Speaking · say it out loud, with a partner or alone

1Describe a process you know well (e.g., how a meal is prepared, how a product is made, how something is recycled). Use the passive voice as much as possible.

2Ask your partner: 'What is something that is produced or made in your country?' Listen to their description and ask follow-up questions.

Writing

Write 6–8 sentences describing how something is made or done (e.g., how bread is baked, how a phone is recycled, how paper is produced). Use the present simple passive.

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Finished?

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