How Things Are Made (J9A)
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EN: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed using 'be' + past participle (V3). In this sentence, 'was invented' is the past passive voice, indicating that the invention of the telephone happened in the past.
The light bulb was invented by Edison.
EN: The phrase 'long ago' is an adverbial phrase of time used to refer to a period far back in the past. It is commonly used with the past simple tense.
Dinosaurs lived on Earth long ago.
EN: The invention of the telephone is traditionally credited to Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. This historical milestone revolutionized global communication, paving the way for the modern connected world.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'is made' is the present simple passive form.
The house is painted every year.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'made from' is used when the original raw material undergoes a chemical or physical transformation and is no longer easily recognizable in the final product (e.g., wood becoming paper). This contrasts with 'made of', which is used when the basic material remains recognizable (e.g., a table made of wood).
Cheese is made from milk.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'was designed' is the past passive form, showing that the bridge received the action of designing.
The book was written by a local author.
EN: The preposition 'by' is used in passive sentences to introduce the agent (the person or thing that performs the action).
The cake was made by my sister.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'is made' is the present simple passive form.
This book is written in simple English.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'made from' is used when the original raw material undergoes a chemical or physical change to become the final product, making it unrecognizable in its original form.
Paper is made from wood.
EN: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed using 'be' + past participle (V3). In this sentence, 'was built' is the past simple passive form.
The telephone was invented long ago.
EN: The phrase 'over a century ago' uses 'over' to mean 'more than', and 'ago' to indicate a specific point in the past relative to the present. It is commonly used with the past simple tense.
The school was founded over a decade ago.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice is used to describe facts, general truths, or regular actions where the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed using 'am/is/are' followed by the past participle (V3) of the main verb.
Many books are printed in this city.
EN: The demonstrative adjective 'these' is used before plural nouns ('toys') to point to things that are close to the speaker in distance or time.
These shirts were sewn by local workers.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'was invented' is the past passive form, indicating that the action happened in the past.
The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.
EN: The preposition 'by' is used in passive sentences to introduce the agent—the person or thing that performs the action.
This beautiful song was written by a young artist.
EN: Thomas Edison is historically credited with inventing the practical incandescent light bulb, a milestone of the Industrial Revolution that fundamentally changed modern society and work patterns.
EN: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed using 'be + past participle' (is grown). Here, 'rice' is the receiver of the action 'grow'.
Wheat is grown in many European countries.
EN: The preposition 'in' is used before large geographical areas such as countries, continents, or regions (e.g., 'in many parts of Asia').
Pandas live in certain parts of China.
EN: Rice is the primary staple food for more than half of the world's population, particularly in Asia, where its cultivation has shaped the landscape, economy, and social structures for thousands of years.
EN: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed using 'be' + past participle (V3). In this sentence, 'was created' is the past simple passive voice.
The temple was built in the 18th century.
EN: The phrase 'hundreds of' is used to express an indefinite large number, meaning several hundred. It is always followed by a plural noun (e.g., 'hundreds of years', 'hundreds of people').
Hundreds of birds fly south for the winter.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'is made' is the present simple passive form, indicating a general fact.
Paper is made from wood.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'made from' is used when the original raw material undergoes a chemical or physical transformation, changing its form completely so that it is no longer recognizable in the final product.
Cheese is made from milk.
EN: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action (this song), rather than the doer. It is formed with 'be' + past participle (written). The agent (the doer) is introduced with the preposition 'by'.
The novel was written by a famous author.
EN: The past participle 'written' is the irregular past participle form of the verb 'write' (write - wrote - written). It is used here after the auxiliary verb 'was' to form the past simple passive.
The letter was written in English.
EN: The Present Simple Passive Voice is used to describe general truths, facts, or regular occurrences where the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than who performs it. It is formed using 'am/is/are + past participle (V3)'.
Many books are printed in this city.
EN: The adverbial phrase 'every year' is used to express frequency, indicating that an action happens repeatedly on an annual basis. It is typically placed at the end of the sentence.
EN: The sentence features a defining relative clause (adjective clause) 'we use every day' that modifies the noun phrase 'Many things'. The relative pronoun 'that' or 'which' is omitted because it functions as the direct object of the verb 'use'.
The books we read in childhood shape our minds.
EN: The main verb of the sentence is in the present simple passive voice ('are made'). The passive voice is used here because the focus is on the action and the things being made, rather than who makes them.
These smartphones are designed in California.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. Here, 'is made' focuses on the process of paper production.
This book was written by a famous author.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'made from' is used to describe the raw materials that undergo a chemical or physical transformation to become the final product.
Cheese is made from milk.
EN: In English, abstract concepts like 'care' can be treated as 'ingredients' alongside physical materials (like trees and water) to add emotional depth or poetic value to a description, emphasizing the craftsmanship involved.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. Here, 'is created' and 'is heated' describe scientific processes where the agent is not specified.
Paper is made from wood.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'when' is used to introduce an adverbial clause of time, indicating that one action or state occurs at the same time as, or immediately after, another.
Water boils when it is heated to 100 degrees Celsius.
EN: The past simple passive voice is formed with 'was/were' + past participle. It is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer, and the action happened in the past.
The light bulb was invented by Edison.
EN: The phrase 'more than' is used as a modifier meaning 'over' or 'exceeding' a certain quantity or time period.
He lived in London for more than a decade.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used here ('were built') to focus on the object of the action (cars) rather than the agent who built them.
The bridge was designed by a famous engineer.
EN: The infinitive of purpose ('to help') explains the reason for the action, followed by a bare infinitive ('travel') which is permitted after the verb 'help'.
She saved money to help her parents buy a house.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'are used' emphasizes the function of the robots.
English is spoken all over the world.
EN: The infinitive 'to make' is used here as an infinitive of purpose, explaining 'why' the robots are used.
He saved money to buy a new computer.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than who performs it. In this sentence, 'is tested' and 'is sold' are both in the present simple passive.
The new product is launched worldwide today.
EN: The conjunction 'before' introduces an adverbial clause of time. In time clauses referring to the future or general truths, the simple present tense (here, 'is sold') is used instead of the future tense.
Please turn off the lights before you leave.
EN: The Passive Voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'is provided' emphasizes that the water is being supplied, while the agent (who provides it) is omitted because it is obvious or unimportant.
Electricity is generated by wind turbines.
EN: The preposition 'through' is used to indicate the medium, means, or instrument by which something is achieved or moves from one end to another.
Information is sent through the internet.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. In this sentence, 'is shaped' (present passive) shows that our world is the recipient of the shaping action.
The technology is developed by a team of experts.
EN: The preposition 'by' is commonly used in passive sentences to introduce the agent (the person or thing that performs the action). Here, 'amazing human ideas' is the agent performing the shaping.
This beautiful song was written by a young artist.
EN: Passive Voice in Questions: The passive voice is used to focus on the action or the object receiving the action (paper) rather than who performs it. In a question, the auxiliary verb 'be' (is) is placed before the subject, followed by the past participle (made).
How is bread made?
EN: Wh- Questions with 'How': 'How' is an interrogative adverb used to ask about the process, method, or manner in which something is done.
How is this machine operated?
EN: In English-speaking classrooms and educational dialogues, addressing a student or peer by their first name (e.g., 'Emma') at the end of a question is a common way to personalize the interaction, show friendliness, and directly engage the listener.
EN: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed using 'be + past participle' (is made).
The house was built in 1990.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'made from' is used when the original raw material undergoes a chemical or physical transformation, changing its form so that it is no longer easily recognizable in the final product.
Cheese is made from milk.
EN: The sentence uses the Past Simple Passive Voice in a question format ('Was' + subject + past participle 'built'). The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action (the bridge), rather than who performed the action.
Was the letter written yesterday?
EN: The phrase 'a long time ago' is a common temporal adverbial phrase used with the past simple tense to indicate that an event occurred in the distant past.
They moved to New York a long time ago.
EN: The passive voice in the past tense is formed using 'was/were' followed by the past participle of the main verb. It is used when the action itself or the receiver of the action is more important than the doer.
The house was built in 1990.
EN: The word 'ago' is a temporal adverb used after a measurement of time (e.g., fifty years) to show how far back in the past something happened from the present moment.
EN: Passive Voice in Yes/No Questions: To form a question in the passive voice, the auxiliary verb 'be' (am/is/are/was/were) is placed before the subject, followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Is this book written by a famous author?
EN: Preposition 'from' with 'made': 'Made from' is used when the original raw material undergoes a chemical or physical transformation, changing its form completely so that it is no longer easily recognizable (e.g., cocoa beans into chocolate).
Paper is made from wood.
EN: The passive voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. Here, 'is made' indicates that the subject 'it' (chocolate) undergoes the process of creation.
This book is written in simple English.
EN: The prepositional phrase 'made from' is used when the original raw material undergoes a chemical or physical transformation, changing its form completely so that it is no longer easily recognizable in the final product.
Paper is made from wood.
EN: Passive Voice in Past Simple Tense: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action (these shirts), rather than the doer. It is formed with 'was/were' + past participle (sewn). The agent (local workers) is introduced with the preposition 'by'.
The letters were written by the manager.
EN: Irregular Past Participle 'sewn': The verb 'sew' is irregular. Its past tense is 'sewed', but its past participle is 'sewn' (or sometimes 'sewed'). In passive constructions, the past participle form is required.
This quilt was sewn by my grandmother.
EN: The passive voice in the past tense is formed using 'was/were' followed by the past participle of the main verb. It is used when the action itself or the receiver of the action is more important than the doer, or when the doer is unknown.
The library was built in 1990.
EN: 'Last month' is a past time expression used as an adverbial modifier to specify when an action occurred. It does not require a preposition like 'in' or 'on' before it.
EN: Present Simple Passive Voice: Used to describe actions where the focus is on the action itself or the receiver of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed using 'am/is/are' + past participle (V3).
Many cars are made in this factory.
EN: Prepositional Phrase of Place: 'in this city' acts as an adverbial phrase of place, indicating where the action of printing occurs. 'In' is used for large, enclosed areas like cities or countries.
EN: The passive voice is used to focus on the person or thing affected by an action, rather than the one performing it. It is formed using 'be' + past participle (V3). In this sentence, 'are created' is the present simple passive voice.
Many beautiful songs are written by this musician.
EN: The preposition 'by' is used in passive sentences to introduce the agent—the person or thing that performs the action.
The cake was made by my sister.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
Manufactured or produced using a particular raw material, where the original material undergoes a chemical or physical transformation.
One hundred years in the past.
Far back in the past; many years prior.