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| Grammar | Syntax/Writing | Punctuation | Vocabulary | Pronunciation | ESL Station | |
Using Past Progressive and Past Passive Verbs
In this report about an earthquake in Honduras, you will see many forms of the verb BE in the past tense: BE as a linking verb and BE as a helping verb (auxiliary verb).
In a verb phrase, BE is a helping verb and shows past time while the main verb shows either progressive aspect (+ing) or passive aspect (+ed) only. These two participles are nonfinite forms. Examples are listed in the table below next to the sentence structure for each example.
Subject + Linking Verb + Adjective The earthquake was strong.
The people were afraid.Subject + Verb
Subject + Verb + ModifierMost people were sleeping.
People were sleeping soundly.Subject + Verb + Object Many were helping their neighbors. Subject + Passive Verb
The earthquake injured hundreds. The object of the active verb becomes the subject of the passive verb.Hundreds were injured.
Working with Verb Phrases: The verbs in this activity will be Past Progressive (was/were + -ing) or Past Passive (was/were + -ed).
Read each paragraph and fill in the blanks with the correct verb phrase. You will need the past form of the verb BE and the present or past participle of the MAIN VERB to show progressive or passive aspect. Use the verbs listed for each paragraph. Hit the Tab key to check answers and listen at the end of each paragraph.
1. damage locate affect
On July 13, 1999, there was a very bad earthquake in Honduras. The magnitude of the quake was 6.5 on the Richter scale. Both Honduras and Guatemala seriously as the quake struck the Caribbean coast. The epicenter point where an earthquake begins south of San Pedro Sula, the economic center in the north of Honduras. The north, northwest and center of the country seriously .
2. help close knock over build
A UN field operations team local authorities evaluate the damage. The hospital in El Progreso because there were fissures cracks in the building. Some electricity posts were also . Unfortunately, in Honduras, no public buildings to withstand the strong tremors of earthquakes.
3. record report monitor occur work evacuate donate displace
Heavy rains in the northern and central parts of the country. The rains continued for quite some time, causing more damage. Flooding in the town of Puerto Cortes. The UN team the situation in several areas where landslides . The team was in contact with the US Army Engineers Corp and Japanese geologists who also to prevent injuries from landslides the collapse of a hillside . A number of people , but there were no suitable buildings to house them. Tents to house the many victims who by the quake.
