Past continuous passive
过去进行时的被动语态
一,过去进行时的被动语态的概念
表示过去某个时刻正在进行或者发生的被动性的动作。过去进行时的被动高不成低不就的构成: was/were being done.
Trees were being planted by them at this time yesterday.
二,过去进行时态的被动语态的基本结构
1 肯定式: was/were+ being+done
Computer was being majored by him during his college.
Another bridge was being built over the Yangtze River then.
2 否定式:was/were +not+being+done
Women were suffering excessive injuries, and men were not being challenged enough.
3 一般疑问句was/were提前
Was a new library being put up in their school just then?
4 特殊疑问句: 特殊疑问词+was/were/being done
What was being done to the machine?
三,过去进行时态的被动语态的用法
1 过去进行时态的被动语态同它的主动语态一样,表示过去正在进行的被动动作。
He was being interviewed by our head master when we came in .
This film was being shown at this time yesterday.
2 过去进行时态的被动语态一般不与表示一段时间的状语或表示次数的状语连用, 这时却要用完成时态的被动语态。
The watch was being repaired twice. ×
The watch has been repaired twice. √
1 We ____________________(train) at this time last year.
2 Many new houses ______________(build) in this city these days.
3 The people`s Republic of China ____________(found) on October 1.1949.
4 The tiger_______________(feed) some nice meat at this time yesterday.
5 The feast ____________________(prepare) when it began to snow outside.
6 He said many activities ___________________ for the celebration of the company`s 60th anniversary.
7 ________ the TV set ____________ at this time yesterday?
8 The man ______________________ by the police at that time.
were being trained
are being built
was founded
was being fed
was being prepared
were being planned
Was being fixed
was being questioned
直击高考
Look at the sentences and answer the questions.
Sentence (a) is from the reading passage.
1 Past continuous passive is used in sentence (a) and past simple passive is used in sentence (b). In sentence (a) the action was being done while in sentence (b) the action was already finished.
2 Sentence (a) emphasises process and sentence (b) emphasises result.
1 What is the difference between sentences (a) and (b)?
2 Which sentence emphasises process and which emphasises result?
Rewrite the passage using the past continuous passive.
Walking home a few days ago, I saw that reconstruction work was being done on the old market. It would be turned into a modern shopping mall. The old gate was being torn down. The wooden stands were being removed. Rubbish was being cleared away from the floor. While all this was going on, photos were being taken by a journalist. The resulting story in the local newspaper divided the people of the town: some were in favour of the new shopping mall, and some were against it.
Walking home a few days ago, I saw that people were doing reconstruction work on the old market. It would be turned into modern shopping mall. Some people were tearing down the old gate. Some were removing the wooden stands. Some were clearing away rubbish from the floor. While all this going on, a journalist was taking photos. The resulting story in the local newspaper divided the people of the town: some were in favor of the new shopping mall, and some were against it.
Look at the two groups of pictures and describe the changes in the news industry using the past continuous passive where appropriate.
Yesterday, I watched a documentary about the news industry in the past. I saw that an interview was being done face to face. But now, interviews can be done online. News was being edited with a pen while it can now be edited on a computer. News was being printed on paper while it can now be released on the Internet. Newspapers were being delivered to readers’ doors, whereas news can now be read online.
Into a new era
Read the passage and answer the questions. Pay attention to the expressions in bold.
1 What is the passage about?
2 Can you explain the meaning of the expressions in bold in your own words?
More than 40 years ago, China began to implement the reform and opening-up policy, starting out on a journey that would pave the way for China to become a fully-modernised socialist country. The policy has had a great influence on Chinese society. It has allowed China to accomplish in just four decades what took Western industrialised countries more than 200 years to achieve, breaking new ground in the history of human achievement. This ongoing journey is allowing China to share the fruits of its success and develop further alongside other countries. What`s more, the Belt and Road initiative will mean a new dawn for trade and investment between countries , leading into a new era of prosperity.
1 China has entered into a new era since the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy and will continue to move forward.
Complete the speech with the correct form of the expressions in Activity 5.
Dear friend:
Thank you for coming together to
celebrate that first anniversary of
Tech-Hub Business Park. It`s great to
companies that have made the park
their professional home. What started
as an idea by local entrepreneurs
1_____________ for this town to become known as a centre of technology and formed a solid basis for future business development.
Like everyone else in this town, we are proud that the Tech-Hub companies continue 2___________________ in technology. Such innovation will, without doubt, 3__________________ of technological discovery. What`s more, it seems that Tech-Hub 4__________________ on local schools, with more students than ever applying to study Computer Science at university. Tech-Hub remains thankful to the community and promises 5__________________ of our success with the town.
Thank you!
paved the way
breaking new ground
lead into a new era
has a great influence
to share the fruits
1 To find out what changes Shenzhen has undergone after the introduction of the reform and opening-up policy.
2 To understand how people feel about the way life has changed in Shenzhen this century.
3 To show what the first special economic zone looks like now.
4 To figure out how life is different for the older and younger generations in Shenzhen.
Listen to the interview and choose its purpose.
Changes in Shenzhen
20 世纪60 年代的深圳罗湖福田
2018 年的深圳罗湖福田
1983 年的深南大道岗厦区域
2018 年的深南大道福田中心区区域
more than 40 years
software engineer
surrounded by fields
busy streets and no traffic jams
fishing and farming
an international city
over 12 million people
was just like any other
New things
easier
opportunities and challenges
realise their dreams
Listen again and complete the interview record.
Complete the boxes with the expressions from the interview.
Comparing and contrasting
At that time…
There’s been a huge change!
Compared with the past, …
In the past, …
But now…
Describing a place
… has undergone rapid development…
… was only a small town…
It has developed into… with…
… is a very special place.
It’s full of…
… is a place where…
Work in pairs. Describe the changes in your home town using the expressions in this section.
Step into a new era…