TASK 2. Read the Article and Answer the Following Questions. Give LONG Answers

Grammar Handout 1 PASSIVES

TASK 2. Read the article and answer the following questions. Give LONG answers.

THE OSCARS

The Academy Awards are given out every year to recognize outstanding work of movie actors, directors, and others who are part of the movie- making industry. These awards are called the Oscars, and they are presented in Hollywood in a formal ceremony in the spring. Several people are nominated in specific categories, such as Best Movie, Best Actor, Best Music, Best Costumes. One person is chosen to receive an award. The winner’s name is placed in an envelope, and the envelope is not opened until the night of the ceremony. In the weeks before the ceremony, movie reviewers make predictions about the winners but the names are not known ahead of time.

When the awards ceremony first started in 1927, 15 awards were presented and the ceremony was attended by only 250 people. Anyone who could afford a ticket could attend the ceremony. Today, about two dozen Oscars are presented. Tickets are not sold to the general public. Invitations are only sent to people in the movie industry and to their guests. The awards are presented in a 6,000-seat auditorium, and a bigger auditorium is being built these days.

The Oscars are televised and broadcast in the U.S. as well as in hundreds of other countries. This show is seen by hundreds of millions of people. Viewers watch as their favourite movie stars arrive looking beautiful and hopeful.

When the winner’s name is announced, he or she comes to the stage to receive the award and thank everyone who helped make winning possible. The ceremony is very long. In fact, in 1997 the ceremony lasted longer than the movie that won the most awards: Titanic.

Taken and adapted from Elbaum, Sandra N., (2001). Grammar In Context 3, Heinle & Heinle.

1. How often are the Academy Awards given out? The Academy Awards / They are given out every year.

2. Where are the Academy Awards presented? The Academy Awards / They are presented in Hollywood.

3. How many awards were given in the first award ceremony in 1927? 15 awards were given in the first award ceremony in 1927.

4. Can people from general public attend the ceremony today? Why? Why not? No, they can’t because the tickets are not sold to the general public.

TASK 3. Read the following sentences and decide if they are Active or Passive. Write A (active) or P (passive).

1. ___A____ The actress received an Oscar. 2. ___A____ Many actors live in California. 3. ___P____ Predictions are made about the winners. 4. ___A____ They are giving an award now. 5. ___P____ Spielberg was presented an Oscar. 6. ___A____ The actress thanked all the people. 7. ___A____ Spielberg presented an Oscar. 8. ___P____ The movie was filmed in black and white. 9. ___A____ Walt Disney won the most Oscars ever (26). 10. ___P ____ The actress was driven to the ceremony in a white limousine.

TASK 4. Find and underline the other sentences in the passive form in the text.

TASK 5. For each pair of sentences, circle the correct choice. Explain why you have chosen that sentence.

1. a. Movie ratings are found in the newspaper. (The DOER is obvious.) b. Movie ratings are found in the newspaper by people. 2. a. Star Wars was directed. b. Star Wars was directed by George Lucas. (The name is important in the context.) 3. a. American films are made in Hollywood. (The DOER is obvious.) b. American films are made in Hollywood by movie makers.

TASK 6. Change the following sentences from active into the passive if possible.

1. Steven Spielberg directed Jurassic Park. Jurassic Park was directed by Steven Spielberg.

2. Screenwriters rewrite novels to make them into movies. Novels are rewritten by screenwriters to make them into movies.

3. Did they film the movie in Hollywood? Was the movie filmed in Hollywood?

4. They suggested parental guidance for many movies. Parental guidance was suggested for many movies.

5. Movie stars live in California. no passive form

6. Robin Williams was presenting the Oscar. The Oscar was being presented by Robin Williams.

7. When do they hold the ceremony? When is the ceremony held?

8. Steven Spielberg is making a new movie. A new movie is being made by Steven Spielberg.

9. When did this terrible event happen? no passive form

10. They make many American movies in Hollywood. Many American movies are made in Hollywood.

11. They didn’t send an invitation to Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga wasn’t sent an invitation. / An invitation wasn’t sent to Lady Gaga.

TASK 7. Fill in the blanks using the correct forms of the verbs.

Last year, I e.g. was given a set of free movie tickets for my birthday. I 1)invited (invite) one of my friends to go with me. We 2) went (go) to a new movie theatre downtown. We saw a movie and it 3) was directed (direct) by Steven Spielberg. This was my first time in an American movie theatre, and several things 4)surprised (surprise) me.

In American movie theatres, people 5) eat (eat) during the movie. Popcorn, candy and soda 6) are sold (sell) in the theatre lobby. People 7) buy (buy) food to eat during the movie. Also, coming attractions 8)are shown(show) before the movie. During the coming attractions, a lot of people 9) talk (talk) but when the movie 10)starts (start), everybody becomes quiet.

The movie theaters in America are small and narrow. I 11) was told (tell) by my American friend that the theater was big in the past but later it 12) was divided (divide) into several small theaters. Today more than five films 13) are seen / can be seen (see) at different theatres at one time. For example, while we were watching S. Spielberg’s movie, a different one 14) was being shown (show) in the next theatre.

That day was full of surprises but I enjoyed the movie very much. My friend and I 15) are planning (plan) to see another one very soon. Taken and adapted from Elbaum, Sandra N. (2001). Grammar In Context 3, Heinle & Heinle.