Easy Word | Luyện IELTS



Grammar for process diagrams

A process diagram shows something that is generally true. For example, the diagram about home heating systems shows how most houses are heated in a certain country.

They were heated this way 10 years ago, they are heated this way now, and they will probably be heated this way 10 years into the future.The grammar for this kind of situation is the present simple. For example:
The water passes into the house through underground pipes. [present simple active]
Some of the hot water is sent to the bathroom taps. [present simple passive]
The thermostat keeps the water at the right temperature. [present simple active]

Although the basic structure is present simple, you can use a variety of structures to show the sequence of steps, and the relationship between steps. Remember, variety is how you get a good score!

Participial structures with before/after

Simple version: The water is heated and then goes into the pipes.
Better version: Before going into the pipes, the water is heated.
Simple version: The beans are washed. Then they are processed.
Better version: Before being processed, the beans are washed.
Simple version: The leaves lie in the sun for two days. After that they go into a fermenting barrel.
Better version: After lying in the sun for two days, the leaves go into a fermenting barrel.
Simple version: The pulp is bleached and then the pulp is sieved.
Better version: After being bleached, the pulp is sieved.

Note that the sentence can be active (like sentence 3), passive (like sentences 2 and 4), or a mixture (like sentence 1). Let's try an example.

Activity 5 .10

Change the sentences using participial structures. Use the word in brackets. The first one has been done for you.
  1. The steam passes through the leaves and then escapes through a pipe at the top. [After]
    Answer: After passing through the leaves, the steam escapes through a pipe at the top.
  2. The steam is cooled down in the cooling coil then flows into the settling tank. [Before]
    Answer

    Before flowing into the settling tank, the steam is cooled down in the cooling coil

  3. The water is used to cool down the steam. Then it is pumped out of the top of the cooling-coil tank. [After]
    Answer

    After being used to cool down the steam, the water is pumped out of the top of the cooling coil tank.

  4. The steam loses its heat in the coil and becomes water. [After]
    Answer

    After losing its heat in the coil. the steam becomes water

  5. The oil is left to separate from the water in the settling tank. After that it is bottled. [Before]
    Answer

    Before being bottled, the oil is left to separate from the water in the settling tank.

  6. The apples are polished after they are waxed. [Before]
    Answer

    Before being polished, the apples are waxed.


The perfect participle

  1. Having turned the turbines, the water travels back down to the reaction chamber.
  2. Having turned the flywheel, the steam is released through a vent.
  3. Having been roasted, the coffee beans are crushed.
  4. Having been pressed, the pulp goes into an airing chamber for 10 hours.

The perfect participle is another skilful way to show the sequence ofevents without using words like 'first', 'second', 'third' or 'next'. If you use it correctly, it will improve your IELTS band.
Notice that you can use this with active structures like sentence 1 or passive structures like sentence 3.You can also use it in mixed structures, like sentences 2 and 4.
Note: Be careful with the subject! The subject of the perfect participle phrase (e.g. 'having turned', 'having been pressed') must be the noun that comes straight after the comma (e.g.'the steam', 'the pulp'). For example, in sentence 3, the subject is 'the coffee beans', so coffee beans are roasted and coffee beans are crushed.Don't get this wrong. If you say:
Having been roasted, the workers crush the coffee beans.

it means that the workers were roasted!

The perfect participle for cause and effect

The perfect participle can also imply that there is a cause and effect. This is a more skilful technique than using words like 'because' and 'therefore'. If you use the perfect participle correctly, it will improve your IELTS band. For example:
Simple version: The water has warmed up the radiators all over the house so it is no longer hot.
Better version: Having warmed up the radiators all over the house, the water is no Longer hot.
Simple version: The potatoes are washed. This makes them damp.
Better version: Having been washed, the potatoes are damp.
Simple version: The steam passes through the cooling coil and this condenses the steam.
Better version: Having passed through the cooling coil, the steam has condensed.

Notice that you can use the perfect participle with the passive (sentence 2) or active (sentences 1 and 3).

Activity 5.11

Improve these sentences using the perfect participle. The first one has been done for you.
  1. The water absorbs the heat from the steam so it is warm.
    Answer: Having absorbed the heat from the steam, the water is warm.
  2. There is now room for more cars because the hotel converted its basement to an underground carpark.
    Answer

    Having converted the basement to an underground carpark, the hotel now has room for more cars.

  3. The leaves are brown because they have been oxidised.
    Answer

    Having been oxidised, the leaves are brown.

  4. The tea Leaves are sun dried so they still contain moisture.
    Answer

    Having been sun dried, the leaves still contain moisture.

  5. When it has delivered its parcels, the truck is empty.
    Answer

    Having delivered its parcels, the truck is empty.

  6. The water washes the potatoes so it is dirty.
    Answer

    Having washed the potatoes, the water is dirty.


Present continuous

As the hot air is escaping, ...

Note: The present continuous is often used incorrectly in IELTS task 1. People often use it instead of the present simple.
When you are describing two things that happen at the same time, you can use the present continuous for part of the sentence. Use the present continuous for the activity that lasts longer. For example, in sentence 1 below, the water passes around the house for a long time. For some of that time it is cool: 'pass around' lasts longer than 'cool down'. In sentence 2, 'gas released through vent' starts before 'intake valve opens'.

Simple version: The water passes around the house. It cools down.
Better version: The water gradually cools down as it is passing around the house.
Simple version: The spent gas is released through the vent. This is where the intake valve opens to let in fresh air.
Better version: As the spent gas is being released through the vent, the intake valve opens to let in fresh air.

Activity 5.12

Combine the two sentencesinto one, using the present continuous tense for one of the verbs. Use the word in brackets. The first one has been done for you.
  1. The dough passes through the oven. It is sprayed with oil. [As]
    Answer: As the dough is passing through the oven, it is sprayed with oil.
  2. The van returns to the store. It collects returned items. [While]
    Answer

    As the van is returning to the store, it collects returned items.

  3. The super-hot steam pushes the piston. Meanwhile, the cooled steam is released through a valve at the top. [As]
    Answer

    As the super-hot steam is pushing the piston, the cooled steam is released through a valve at the top.

  4. The fruit is sprayed with wax and polished. This happens while the fruit rolls along the conveyor belt. [When]
    Answer

    The fruit is sprayed with wax and polished as it rolls along the conveyor belt.

  5. The biscuits harden. This is when they are stamped with a picture. [While]
    Answer

    The cookies are stamped with a picture as they are hardening.

  6. The leaves dry in the sun. They oxidise. [As]
    Answer

    As the leaves are drying in the sun, they oxidise.


- Qualifying language - Punctuation

Bình luận


Các task khác trong bài học