ANNE Singapore noodles with prawns. It’s a very famous dish. You can buy it at street stalls everywhere. I hope you like it.
SARAH I’m sure we will. So, what do we do first?
ANNE First we have to peel the prawns.
SARAH Okay. I’ll do that. Now what?
ANNE Now we’ll fry the prawns. The oil must be very hot. It doesn’t take very long. While I’m doing that, you can chop the leeks. Chop them very fine. She fries the prawns, while SARAH chops the leeks.
SARAH Like this?
ANNE Yes. Sort of… LATER… She has taken the prawns out of the wok…
SARAH Now what?
ANNE Next we add the spices, and some ginger, and the leeks.
SARAH Okay, and now?
ANNE Now the leeks are soft, we put in some bean sprouts, and then the prawns, and the noodles.
SARAH All in together? Is that all?
ANNE Almost. Lastly we add some of this special sauce. I didn’t think I’d be able to find this here. Your market’s very good. That’s it. We’re almost ready. I hope your family’s hungry.
For the thing we start with we say first. First, we have to peel the prawns.
ANNE First we have to peel the prawns.
You can then ask What do we do now?
What’s next?
Now what?
SARAH Now what?
You can reply Next, we’ll fry the prawns.
or Now we’ll fry the prawns.
ANNE Now we’ll fry the prawns.
For doing things at the same time as something else we say while. While I’m doing that, you can chop the leeks.
ANNE While I’m doing that, you can chop the leeks.
Another way of asking what’s next is: Okay, and now?
SARAH Okay, and now?
If you think the task is finished you can ask: Is that all you need to do?
or Is that all?
SARAH Is that all?
For the final or last thing we say finally or lastly: Finally we add some of this special sauce.
or Lastly we add some of this special sauce.
ANNE Lastly we add some of this special sauce.
2. PASSIVE VOICE
We use the passive voice when the thing that causes the action is not important.
The active voice is:
We add some of this special sauce.
The passive voice is: Some special sauce is added.
Notice that the subject changes.
In the example in the active voice the subject is we and the object is special sauce : We add some of this special sauce.
In the passive voice the person or thing doing the action is not important, so the object becomes the subject. Some special sauce is added.
The passive voice just says what happens to the subject and not what the subject does. Some special sauce is added.
We do this by using a passive verb such as is added.
Here is another example. We add the spices. (active) The spices are added. (passive)
Notice that the active verb add changes to a form of the verb to be and
the kind of past tense called a past participle. The spices are added.
Here is another example. We show films in a cinema. (active) A cinema is where films are shown. (passive)
We can use the active or the passive in questions. How do you pronounce this word? (active) How is this word pronounced? (passive)
3. RECIPES
passive voice
active voice
First, one teaspoon of coffee is put in the shaker.
He puts a teaspoon of coffee in the shaker.
passive voice
active voice
One teaspoon of sugar is then added.
He then adds a teaspoon of sugar.
passive voice
active voice
Next, a little hot water is added.
Next he adds a little hot water.
passive voice
active voice
A scoop of ice-cream is then added
The he adds a scoop of ice-cream.
passive voice
active voice
Milk is poured in.
He pours in milk.
passive voice
active voice
The lid is put on...
He puts on the lid...
passive voice
active voice
and the contents are shaken
...and shakes the contents.
Watch Living English and get to know the characters of our drama 'Sisters and Brothers' as you learn and revise your basic English skills.
