20. IELTS Task 1 : "Using the passive in a process essay"

There are many ways to use the passive voice in the English language. Firstly, let’s take a look at the different forms of the passive, then we can look at its uses. There are 14 different ways to use the passive in English. Here they are for everyone’s benefit:

1. Present simple:The union is runby 7 executive officers.

2. Present continuous:The union is being runby 7 executive officers.

3. Past simple:The union was runby 7 executive officers.

4. Past continuous:The union was being runby 7 executive officers.

5. Present perfect:The union had been runby 7 executive officers.

7. going to:The union is going to be runby 7 executive officers.

8. will:The union will be runby 7 executive officers.

9. infinitive:The union is to be runby 7 executive officers.

10. –ingform: The union insists on the union being runby 7 executive officers.

11. used to: The university used to be runby 7 executive officers.

12. Modals:The university should be runby 7 executive officers.

13. need to/have to:The university needs to/has to be runby 7 executive officers.

14. need + -ing:The university needs runningby 7 executive officers.

In a task 1 IELTS process essay it is going to be difficult to use all of these different passives, so we need to choose carefully. The main passive we will use in a process essay is the present simple. We could also use it in the past simple, with ‘will’, with ‘used to’, with a modal, with ‘need to’or ‘have to’, and with ‘need + -ing”.

What about the uses of the passive? Well, it has three main uses. Let’s take a look.

1. When the object is more important than the subject.

“All applications are processed on the spot.”

In this case it is simply not important, or it is obvious, that the library staff process the applications.

2. In formal writing

“You are advised to return the application within 3 business days.”

In this case the passive is used to keep a distant, formal relationship.

3. When we describe a process

“The apples are picked before being peeled and cored for canning.”

This is part of the process of canning apples before selling them in a shop. Note here that we do NOT usually use the passive to describe a natural process. The passive is used to describe a man-made process.

CORRECT: Plants take upcarbon dioxide from the air as part of photosynthesis.

INCORRECT: Carbon dioxide is taken upby plants from the air as part of photosynthesis.

As IELTS students, we are only interested in the passive right now because it can help us score highly in a task 1 process essay. The passive should be used liberally (a lot) in a process essay and can be combined with relative clauses and sequence connectors to score very highly. We will look at relative clauses and sequence markers next time.

Let’s look at an example for making banana chips.

The flowchart shows how banana chips ARE MADE. First, the bananas ARE PEELED by a special machine and then they ARE SOAKED in water. Next, the clean bananas ARE PUT into a chipping machine where they NEED TO BE SLICED into thin chips. After this they need WILL BE RINSED....

This is only the first 4 steps of the process but I’m sure you get the idea....