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Describing a process is not as difficult as it may seem.
Some things which make describing a process particularly ‘stress free’ are:
But you need to be careful about a few things, as I will outline below.
Look at the model for more suggestions of linking words:
You can also link with relative pronouns e.g. where it is burned, to which oxygen is added.
Always remember the OVERALL statement – find something to comment on that sums up the process e.g. it’s a complex process involving a number of stages, or it’s divided into two main stages.
Click here for an updated version of this lesson: How To Describe a Process in 5 Easy Steps
Look at the passive verbs that I’ve adapted from the model answer:
What do you notice about Passive verb constructions?
There are 3 parts and you have to make 3 decisions.
Coal is mined.
[Thing] + be + 3rd form.
What happens if there are many things?
Gases are piped.
Gases are plural, so ‘is’ changes to ‘are’.
The process happens over and over again, on a regular basis. So it’s a habit. Choose the Present Tense of ‘be’ – either ‘is’ or ‘are’.
Look at the verbs we used in the sentences above:
mined, pumped, hauled, carried, burned, pumped removed, used, piped, converted
These verbs just need ‘ed’ at the end.
taken out, given off
These are irregular verbs, so you need to learn them.
Some teachers teach Passives as adjectives. How?
Think about how adjectives work e.g. ‘cold’
Now thing about an adjective ending in ‘ed’.
This is exactly how the Passive works (in fact, all adjectives ending in ‘ed’ are passive verbs, because you’re tired BY something).
You can see how this works with the passive here:
So you just need to change the ‘be’ verb according to number and tense, and the 3rd form always stays the same.
Click here to learn how to describe a natural process or CYCLE.
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