Process using passive

How to change a tyre

Getting a flat tyre is inconvenient, whether it happens in town or in a remote location. It’s important to know how to change a tyre, especially if there is no garage nearby to help out.

This is what must be done. First, the wheelnuts must be loosened. This should be done before the car is raised, using the jack. Next, the car is jacked up. Then the nuts are removed. After that the wheel is removed and the spare tyre is put on. Then the nuts are tightened and the car is lowered. The nuts are tightened one last time for safety. Finally the tools are tidied away. You are now ready to drive on.

As you can see, changing a tyre is a very simple and straightforward process, but you must follow the above steps in the correct order, particularly the first step of loosening the wheelnuts before you raise the vehicle.

158 words.

Reflection on process writing

When the task is to describe a process using the passive voice/mood, we must use the present passive.

This is formed by using is or are with the past participle, e.g.

Orange juice is stored in a fridge.

The oranges are transported in trucks to the factory.

If we fail to use the passive when we are specifically asked to do so, we are dropped a quarter band, which can mean the difference between passing & failing.

Process essay using passive form

Olive Oil

How olive oil is made

Producing olive oil is a fairly long and difficult process but if you follow these steps you should end up with good quality oil.

First, between September and December, the olives are harvested by hand or with sticks and rakes. Then they are collected on nets beneath the trees. After that, leaves and small stones are removed and the olives are run through a washer to remove any impurities before crushing. Then, within 24-36 hours of picking, the olives are crushed by granite millstones. The olive paste obtained is layered on mats which are put under pressure from a screw or hydraulic press. The liquid produced is collected and put through a centrifugal separator to separate the water and impurities from the oil. Finally, after centrifugation, the oil is obtained.

Superior olive oil is amber in colour and opaque. The less acidic the oil, the better the quality.

153 words.

Narrative essay

A long weekend break

Last weekend was a long one to celebrate the UAE National Day. My wife and I decided to drive from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and stay there for a four-night mini-break.

We left Abu Dhabi on Wednesday afternoon and drove to Dubai. The journey took about one and a quarter hours. We checked into the Holiday Inn Express which is near to Safa Park. This is an attractive and popular recreation area, and quite crowded at weekends. On Wednesday evening we walked to the Metropolitan Hotel and enjoyed a Thai seafood meal. On Thursday morning we jogged in Safa Park and in the afternoon drove out to watch the first day’s play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens. On Thursday evening we took our first ride on the new Dubai Metro, from Business Bay to Union Square. On Friday and Saturday we exercised in the park in the morning and in the afternoon went to watch the international teams competing in the Sevens. The final international match was Saturday evening and it was very exciting for us because England narrowly defeated Samoa to win the tournament for the third time.

On Sunday we celebrated by having lunch on the Boardwalk at the Dubai Sailing Club, overlooking the Creek. We then drove back to Abu Dhabi. As usual it had been a most enjoyable break.

220 words.

Process essay

Process: orange juice

Orange juice is a very healthy drink, full of vitamin C. The process of producing orange juice for sale in supermarkets is quite long and complicated. Here is how it is done.

First, the fruit is unloaded from lorries. Then the oranges are graded, washed and sized. After that, the juice is extracted and the residual material is sent for use as animal feed. The next step is very important. The juice is evaporated at a high temperature over a short time, producing concentrate. The concentrate is then stored in refrigerated units. Then the juice is canned and shipped overseas to its destination. In the country where it will be sold, water is added to the concentrate. Finally, the orange juice is bottled and sent to supermarkets, where it is sold to the consumer.

As you can see, producing orange juice for sale in shops is a long and complicated process but the final product is worth it.

160 words.

Niah Caves

A Journey from Brunei to Sarawak

Thirty years ago, Hedley, with his wife Mary and daughter Katie, visited the

Niah Caves in Sarawak, East Malaysia. They travelled by car ,

ferry , and boat .

They set off from Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei and

drove to the border with Sarawak. They crossed two large rivers by

ferry, stopped in Miri for lunch and then continued to Niah,

a small river township. Then they hired a small boat and sailed

upriver to a government rest house, where they spent the night.

They ate with the small group of scientists who lived in the rest

house and shared the cold drinks they had brought with them in

a cool box. It was a remote spot, deep in the jungle. They slept in

bunk beds with no airconditioning. It was a novel experience.

The next morning, they walked along a jungle path for half an hour

until they reached the Niah caves. Inside the caves, which were

very high, they saw men who climbed up tall bamboo

poles. The men wore lights on their hats because it was so dark.

At the top of the poles they scraped off birds’ nests from the roof

of the caves. The nests were collected by their mates on the cave floor

and packed into sacks. These nests were later sold and made

into bird’s nest soup, a Chinese delicacy.


That afternoon, they said goodbye to their new-found friends

in the rest house and set off on the long drive home. It was quite

an adventure and one they would never forget.


266 words


visit travel set off drive cross stop continue hire sail spend eat

be sleep be walk reach see climb wear scrape collect pack

sell make say set off

simple past

past passive