1 What do you know about Sherlock Holmes?
a What nationality is he?
British
b In which city does he live and work?
London
c What’s the name of the man he works with?
Doctor Watson
2. Read the text. Then in pairs, answer the questions.
1 Who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2When can we call someone ‘Sherlock’?
when someone makes a brilliant deduction
3Who was the first fictional detective?
Auguste Dupin
4What are the similarities between Sherlock Holmes and Maximilien Heller?
They are both brilliant private detectives; they both use science and logic to find clues and solve crimes; adventures were narrated by a doctor
3Look at the pairs of sentences 1–3 and answer questions a–c below.
1
Active: People use the word ‘Sherlock’ for someone who makes deductions.
Passive: The word ‘Sherlock’ is used (by people) for someone who makes deductions.
2
Active: Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes.
Passive: Sherlock Holmes was created by Arthur Conan Doyle.
3
Active: Over 70 actors have played Sherlock Holmes.
Passive: Sherlock Holmes has been played by over 70 actors.
a Do both sentences in each pair have the same meaning?
yes
b What is more important in active sentences – what someone does or who does it?
Who does it
c What is more important in passive sentences – what someone does or who does it?
What someone does
4. Find more examples of the passive in the text. How do we form the passive in these tenses? Study the Grammar box and check your answers.
a the Present Simple
am/is/are + past participle
b the Past Simple
was/were + past participle
c the Present Perfect
have/has been + past participle
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The passive We use the passive when the action is more important than the people who do it. We often use the word by before the person who does the action. We form the passive with the verb to be and the past participle: Some problems are not solved by yourself. (Present Simple) Why were they arrested (by the police)? (Past Simple) A man has been attacked by a swarm of bees. (Present Perfect) |
5 Complete the sentences with the correct passive forms of the verbs in brackets. Then listen to check and to answer questions 2,3 and 5.
Present simple
1 The novels are written (write) in a clear, easy-to-read style.
2 Where are the novels set (in Botswana) (the novels/set)?
Present Perfect
- How many novels have been published (17) (publish) so far?
- The series hasn’t been made (not make) into a film but it has been adapted (adapt) for television.
Past Simple
- When was the tv programme produced (2008) (the TV programme produce)?
- A second season was planned (plan) but it was never filmed ( never/film)
6. Rewrite the sentences in the passive beginning with the words given.
1 The author has never confused me. I’ve never been confused .
- Detective stories fascinate me. I’m fascinated by detective stories.
3 Someone borrowed my book without asking. My book was stolen.
4In my opinion, they don’t publish enough detective stories. In my opinion, detective stories aren’t published enough.
7. SPEAKING In pairs, ask and answer questions about the passive sentences in Exercise 6.
A Have you ever met a detective?
B No, of course not. Are you fascinated by detective stories?
Students’ own answers
