Cuento de Navidad (Passive)

This marvellous story by Charles Dickens gives us a great opportunity to practise the Passive Voice. If you need more information about how and when to form the Passive, click here.

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When you are talking in Spanish, if you use ‘SE ….’ (Se sabe, se constuyó…) or an impersonal ‘ELLOS’ (Me han dicho, nos dirán…) then it is probably the Passive in English. Remember – you use any form of ‘TO BE’ depending on the tense or the meaning, followed by the Past Participle (3rd Column) of the verb.

Use the verb in brackets to complete the sentence in the Passive Voice. For each ghost, use the matching tense (Past, Present and Future)

1) Every year A Christmas Carol ______ ________ by hundreds of people. (read)

2) It _____  ______ by Charles Dickens in 1843 (write)

3) The story _______ ________ _________ into many different films. (make)

It is about an old mean man called Scrooge, who makes money by taking advantage of the poor. When his nephew invites him for Christmas Dinner he gets angry.  He hates Christmas, and throws out some people who ask him to donate to the poor.

4) At the beginning of the story, Scrooge wanted _____ _____ ______ alone at Christmas. (leave)

5) That night (Christmas Eve), he _____ _______ by three ghosts. (visit)

These  are the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come.

6) First, he _____ _______ by the Ghost of Christmas Past to see his childhood. (take)

He remembered his time with his sister, and his first job with a kind and friendly boss, who regarded him as a son.

7) When he was young, he used _____ ______ ________ by everyone. (love)

8) Before he treated his employees badly, he had ______ ______ well by his employer. (treat)

9) Then he ______ _______ people celebrating by the Ghost of Christmas Present. (show)

10) While Scrooge _______  _______  ________ around London, he begins to realise what he is missing. (take)

This Ghost also shows Scrooge his secretary’s house. His secretary is paid so badly by Scrooge that he has no money to buy medicine for his sick son, who will die if he is not treated. Scrooge also sees two starving children – Ignorance and Want (Need), and is warned of the dangers of these.

11) The last Ghost shows him his future – If he does not change, he ______ ______ ______ to die alone, unloved and friendless. (leave)

Nobody appears at Scrooge’s funeral. His servants start to rob him as soon as he dies. This affects Scrooge so much that it produces a deep change in him. ‘I will change!’ he swears.

12) Scrooge is _____ ______ _______ ________ by this experience for the rest of his life. He is going to represent the true spirit of Christmas: Generous, warm-hearted and charitable. (change)

 

 

Answers!

1) Every year A Christmas Carol IS READ by hundreds of people. 

2) It WAS WRITTEN by Charles Dickens in 1843 

3) The story HAS BEEN MADE into many different films. 

4) At the beginning of the story, Scrooge wanted TO BE LEFT alone at Christmas. 

5) That night (Christmas Eve), he WAS / IS VISITED by three ghosts.

6) First, he WAS TAKEN by the Ghost of Christmas Past to see his childhood.

7) When he was young, he used TO BE LOVED by everyone. 

8) Before he treated his employees badly, he had BEEN TREATED well by his employer. 

9) Then he IS SHOWN people celebrating by the Ghost of Christmas Present. 

10) While Scrooge IS BEING TAKEN around London, he begins to realise what he is missing.

11) The last Ghost shows him his future – If he does not change, he WILL BE LEFT to die alone, unloved and friendless.

12) Scrooge is GOING TO BE CHANGED by this experience for the rest of his life. He is going to represent the true spirit of Christmas: Generous, warm-hearted and charitable.