Tell us about some recent changes that have been made to your town or city. What has been done? Why has it been done? How do you feel about it? We'll publish our favourite five entries.
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Eleonora, Italy When I was 16, I used to take with my friends the only one train that got to a town 20 km far from mine to make shopping. I remember that the departure station was small and comfortable, but now everything has changed. This station has been rebuild, a lot of trains has been added and it now seems like that of a big city.
Nuala says:
It sounds like the train station has changed a lot since you were a teenager.
You used the perfect passive quite a few times in your piece but in these two examples there's a little slip. Let's recap on how we form this structure:
passive subject + 'have' or 'has' + been + past participle.
In this sentence, there's a problem with the past participle:
This station has been rebuild.
And in this one, there's a problem with the form of 'have'
a lot of trains has been added.
Can you see how you can correct these two sentences?
In you fist sentence you have all the right components, but to make it sound more natural, you might want to re-arrange them, like this:
When I was 16, I used to take the only train that went to a town 20kms from mine, with my friends to go shopping.
Thanks for writing in!
Nuala
Montreal No changes have been happening recently. It has been the same cold weather, the roads have not been cleaned at all. The spring seems to be far away from here.
Nuala says:
Yes, even thought it's almost the beginning of April, we had dark clouds and lots of rain here in London today. So we all know how you feel, wishing that winter would finally end!
You've used some good perfect passive structures in your short piece (for example, the roads have not been cleaned).
However in your first sentence 'No changes have happened' might sound a bit more natural.
And in your final sentence there's no need for an article and you could lose the last two words too if you wanted. If you made those changes, can you see how you could re-write that sentence?
Hope some warmer weather is on its way to you soon!
Nuala
Bratislava, Slovakia Two new big shopping centers have been built. It has been done because Bratislava needs to be more international and modern. I feel it is important but not for every price - part of our beautiful park has been destroyed.
Nuala says:
Hi,
Sometimes it seems that the pirce of modernisation is very high, doesn't it?
You used the perfect passive very well throughtout your piece. Well done!
There's just one thing I'd like to point out about this expression 'but not for every price'. I know exactly what you mean but your expression isn't quite right. You could say either 'but not at any price' or 'but not at this price'.
Thanks for writing to us about Bratislava.
Nuala
Yukie Kato, Japan My town, Asakusa, has been redecorated recently, particularly some parts of the town called Denpoin dori. It looks lovely that you might even feel that you have tripped back to the Edo-era. I like the look of it!
Nuala says:
It must be lovely seeing your town looking like it did in the 17th century!
You used one example of the perfect passive here My town, Asakusa, has been redecorated recently. Well done! The grammar is correct here but the word 'redecorated' isn't quite right. We usually talk about redecorating rooms, houses or the inside of buildings but not usually the outside of them. A better word here would be 'renovated.'
In your second sentence you don't quite have all the parts of a so + adjective + that structure. And in that sentence too, 'time-travelled' probably sounds better than 'tripped' (which we tend to use as a noun – a trip – rather than as a verb). Can you see how your could re-write that sentence with a so + adjective + that structure, as well as with a different verb?
Thanks for writing in!
Nuala
Patricia, Spain I live in Stratford, Greater London. This little town has changed so much in the last few years and it's going to change even more, a complete renovation. That's because of the Olympic games that are taking place in 2012.
First of all, transport has been improved, with the new Jubilee line and the overground train connections. Plus, we're going to have an international train station, so works have been started already.
The Olympic area has been decided and works are taking place. Recently an important fire started in the area, and it was reported internationally.
Now we have more business arising in the area, and you can see everything is getting ready for the tourists to come.
And, finally, accommodation prices have been risen, of course. All these improvements have to be paid for!
Nuala says:
We're all very excited here in the office too about the Olympics coming to London soon!
You used the perfect passive well in your piece, for example, transport has been improved. But you've made a mistake that people often make when they learn a new structure – you've actually overused the perfect passive. Don't worry, it's a perfectly natural mistake and shows you're keen to practise what you've learned.
Here's an some example of where you've overcooked it (as we say):
'works have been started already' would be fine as 'work has already started'
Can you see how you could improve this one?
accommodation prices have been risen
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