Unit 9
Lesson 2
Student’s Book page 71
GRAMMAR
GRAMMAR: The Present Simple Passive
The Present Simple Passive
● We use the Present Simple Passive when an action, idea or opinion is more important than the person or thing that does or has it (the agent). In such cases, we either don’t know, or are not interested in the identity of the agent.
-The Alhambra Palace is located in Granada, Spain.
-Walls are designed with detailed plasterwork.
● We also use the Present Simple Passive to describe a process, where, again, we either don’t know or are not interested in who carries out the process.
-Rice is grown in China.
-Bread is made at a bakery.
● We form the Present Simple Passive with
subject + am/is/are + the past participle of the verb.
Am/is/are are often contracted to ’m/’s/’re.
-The palace is situated on a hill overlooking beautiful rivers.
-The ring is designed with diamonds.
● We form the negative of the Present Simple Passive with
subject + am/is/are + not + the past participle of the verb.
Am/ is/are + not are usually contracted to ’m not/isn’t/aren’t.
-The 'Mona Lisa' isn't displayed in Rome.
● We form questions in the Present Simple Passive by changing the word order. We may also use a question word.
-Is it made of metal?
-Where is rice grown?
● When it is important to mention the person or thing that did the action, we use by.
-It is visited by tourists from all over the world.