EFL Tech - France a Site for Teachers of English ( as a Foreign Language) for  Engineering

# 26
 

One of my students' difficulties is their inability to  use  "to  BE" + ING and "to BE" + ED correctly.
Of course, they know the difference in theory, but when writing or speaking, they  are likely  not to pay attention or not to remember and will write things such as : "The plant is designing ( designed) to operated reliably ..." or (not so often, though) "The operator was maintained ( maintaining) the unit when ...", not to mention the very usual mistake :" These problems cannot be solve (solved) easily..."

I use the following  exercises (and many others)  to try and correct  this unfortunate  trend (though uneven results, in many cases, I must confess!). Still, repeating and repeating; doing exercises again and again is one way out of the difficulty...

When talking about a process, a task or any other operation, you can :

• A - talk about it in general terms and explain the various steps;
• B - watch an operator doing the task and explain to a third person what the operator is doing;
• C - talk about the results of the task that has been done.

Now  study these die-casting operations

PATTERN A - In order to cast a part ...
 

the operator closes the dies  - or the dies are closed ( figure1)
the operator pours molten metal -or molten metal is poured (  figure 2)
the piston pushes the metal -or the metal is pushed ( figure 3)
the metal fills the dies - or the dies are filled ( figure 4)
the operator opens the dies - or the dies are opened  ( figure 5)
the operator ejects the part - or the part is ejected ( figure 6)

What tense  is used ?

What pattern  is used when the  sentences are in the   PASSIVE ?
       BE  + ....
 

PATTERN B - If you are if the workshop watching the operations, you will see:
 
 

the operator is now closing  the dies - or, the dies are now being closed ( figure 1a) the operator is now pouring molten metal - or, molten metal is now being poured ( figure 2a) the piston is now pushing the metal  - or, the metal is now being pushed by the piston ( figure 3) the metal is  now filling the dies - or, the dies are now being filled  ( figure 4) the operator is now opening the dies - or, the dies are now being opened (picture 5a) the operator ejects the part - or the part is now being ejected (figure 6a)

fig. 1a, 2a, 5a and 6a fig.3 fig.4

What tense  is used ?

What verb pattern is used ?

• ACTIVE      BE + ....
• PASSIVE   BE + ....

the dies have been closed ( picture1b) the metal has been poured (picture 2) the metal has been pushed the dies have been filled the dies have been opened (picture 5) the part has been ejected (picture 6)

fig. 1b fig.2 fig.5 fig.6

Are thses sentences active or passive?

What verb pattern is used?

• BE (in the present perfect = has been) + ...

Now, reflect  and conclude.
 

Do not mix the two patterns BE + ING  and BE + ED (= past participle). As you can see, althought they may seem fairly similar,  they have quite different uses and meaning.
 

Exercise 1
 

Look at the following document: 

• the camera ( to scan) the scene
• the camera (to send) images to the computer
• the computer ( to analyse) the images
• the computer ( to give) orders to the robot
• the robot (to pick up) and (to reject) the faulty parts

2 - Imagine you are watching the system operating. Describe the various steps as you see them taking place;
(Will you use pattern A or pattern B or pattern C?)

3 - Tell about the result of the process.
(Will you use pattern A or pattern B or pattern C?)
 
 

Exercise 2
Here are some protective measures which can be taken to protect finished parts from corrosion and / or mechanical damage ( abrasion, scraping, etc.)
Against corrosion: painting, smearing with grease; spraying with anti-corrosion fluid.
Against mechanical damage : wrapping in treated paper; dipping into plastic, stacking with separators; storing in polysterene boxes.

A team od operators have to carry out the tasks mentioned above. They are now busy working. You are guiding visitors in the factory. Explain what the operators are doing:  (Use pattern B)

e.g.

•  Look, the man there is painting the parts so as to protect them from (= so as to avoid) corrosion.
• look, the other man over there ....  (continue)

You come back an hour later; the job is now finished. Explain what has been done  ( Ues pattern C)

e.g.

• Some of the parts have been painted;
• Some others have been   .... (continue)

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