Your goal
Describe a process and explain how a wider view changes a decision.
Read the story
At a busy neighbourhood café, customers collected their lunches at a counter and returned their trays near the door. Recently, the queue had become longer, and Pavel, who served the food, felt that customers were moving too slowly. He suggested putting a large notice above the counter. His colleague Inez was less certain. From her position beside the washing area, she had noticed that clean trays often arrived late. Before buying a notice, she asked Pavel to follow one tray through its whole journey.
They began before opening time. Clean trays were stacked beside the entrance, collected by customers, and carried towards the counter. After lunch, used trays were placed on a narrow trolley near the door. Cups and plates were removed behind a screen, and the trays were washed at the back. Finally, someone carried the dry trays through a side passage to the entrance. Each separate task seemed straightforward, but the complete route crossed several small spaces that different workers shared.
At noon, Inez watched the trolley while Pavel watched the counter. The trolley filled quickly, but a delivery blocked the side passage. The person washing trays could not bring them forward easily. Meanwhile, customers arriving at the entrance waited for trays before joining the food queue. Several people asked Pavel what to do, which interrupted his serving. From the counter, the delay looked like a customer problem. From the washing area, it looked like a problem with the route.
The team drew the route on the back of an old menu. They marked where objects waited and where people needed to pass. Although a notice might explain the queue, it would not move a delivery box. They decided to keep the side passage clear and move the return trolley closer to the washing area. They also agreed that one worker would check the tray stack before the busiest period. Everyone had to know who was responsible for that check.
During the next three lunches, they counted how often the tray stack became empty. It happened less often, and Pavel received fewer questions while serving. The team did not claim that every delay had disappeared; people still needed time to choose food. However, they now had a better explanation of one particular problem. Pavel kept the drawing beside the staff timetable. When another difficulty appeared, he wanted to ask where the whole journey began before deciding who seemed to be causing the trouble.
A conversation to practise
Pavel: Where are the used trays placed?
Inez: They are placed on that trolley.
Pavel: Then why is the clean stack empty?
Inez: Let us check the passage before we decide.
Understand the story
- What did Pavel first suggest buying?
- What blocked the side passage?
- What did the team count after the changes?
Practise the language
- Complete with is or are: The trays ___ washed at the back.
- Rewrite in the present simple passive: Workers check the passage. Begin: The passage …
- Complete with the past participle of take: Used cups are ___ away.
Vocabulary & explanations
English
Your goal
Describe a process and explain how a wider view changes a decision.
Useful vocabulary
- queue
- a line of people waitingThe queue ends beside the window.
- tray
- a flat object used to carry food or dishesPut your cup on the tray.
- stack
- a pile of objects placed on one anotherA stack of clean plates stood near the sink.
- passage
- a narrow way between placesKeep the passage clear for deliveries.
- delivery
- goods brought to a placeThe morning delivery included paper bags.
- interrupt
- stop an activity for a short timeA question interrupted her counting.
- route
- the way taken from one place to anotherWe changed the route through the kitchen.
- process
- a series of actions leading to a resultThe drawing explains the cleaning process.
The present simple passive
Use am, is, or are + past participle when the process matters more than the person doing it: Trays are washed. Use is with a singular subject: The trolley is moved. Add by + person only when the person matters.
- Clean trays are stacked near the entrance.
- The passage is checked before lunch.
- Cups are removed behind the screen.
Make it yours
Describe a familiar process in 100–120 words. Use three passive sentences, identify one possible delay, and suggest a responsibility with have to.
Check and remember
Recall the tray route in four steps. Use whereas to contrast the two workers’ views.
Français
Votre objectif
Décrire un processus et expliquer comment une vue d’ensemble change une décision.
Vocabulaire utile
- queue
- file d’attenteThe queue ends beside the window.
- tray
- plateauPut your cup on the tray.
- stack
- pileA stack of clean plates stood near the sink.
- passage
- passageKeep the passage clear for deliveries.
- delivery
- livraisonThe morning delivery included paper bags.
- interrupt
- interrompreA question interrupted her counting.
- route
- itinéraireWe changed the route through the kitchen.
- process
- processusThe drawing explains the cleaning process.
Le passif au présent simple
Utilisez am, is ou are + participe passé lorsque le processus compte davantage que la personne : Trays are washed. Avec un sujet singulier, utilisez is : The trolley is moved. Ajoutez by + personne seulement si cette précision est utile.
- Clean trays are stacked near the entrance.
- The passage is checked before lunch.
- Cups are removed behind the screen.
À vous de jouer
Décrivez un processus familier en 100 à 120 mots. Utilisez trois phrases passives, indiquez un retard possible et une responsabilité avec have to.
Vérifier et retenir
Rappelez le trajet du plateau en quatre étapes. Utilisez whereas pour opposer les points de vue des deux employés.
Español
Tu objetivo
Describir un proceso y explicar cómo una perspectiva amplia cambia una decisión.
Vocabulario útil
- queue
- cola de personasThe queue ends beside the window.
- tray
- bandejaPut your cup on the tray.
- stack
- pilaA stack of clean plates stood near the sink.
- passage
- pasilloKeep the passage clear for deliveries.
- delivery
- entrega de mercancíasThe morning delivery included paper bags.
- interrupt
- interrumpirA question interrupted her counting.
- route
- rutaWe changed the route through the kitchen.
- process
- procesoThe drawing explains the cleaning process.
La voz pasiva en presente simple
Usa am, is o are + participio cuando el proceso importa más que quien lo realiza: Trays are washed. Con sujeto singular, usa is: The trolley is moved. Añade by + persona solo cuando sea relevante.
- Clean trays are stacked near the entrance.
- The passage is checked before lunch.
- Cups are removed behind the screen.
Hazlo tuyo
Describe un proceso conocido en 100–120 palabras. Usa tres frases pasivas, identifica una posible demora y una responsabilidad con have to.
Comprobar y recordar
Recuerda la ruta de la bandeja en cuatro pasos. Usa whereas para contrastar las perspectivas de los dos trabajadores.
العربية
هدفك
صف عملية واشرح كيف تغير النظرة الأوسع قرارا.
مفردات مفيدة
- queue
- صف من الناس ينتظرونThe queue ends beside the window.
- tray
- صينية لحمل الطعام أو الأوانيPut your cup on the tray.
- stack
- كومة من أشياء فوق بعضهاA stack of clean plates stood near the sink.
- passage
- ممر ضيق بين الأماكنKeep the passage clear for deliveries.
- delivery
- بضائع يتم إيصالها إلى مكانThe morning delivery included paper bags.
- interrupt
- يقاطع نشاطا لفترة قصيرةA question interrupted her counting.
- route
- الطريق المتبع بين مكانينWe changed the route through the kitchen.
- process
- سلسلة خطوات تؤدي إلى نتيجةThe drawing explains the cleaning process.
المبني للمجهول في المضارع البسيط
نستخدم am أو is أو are مع التصريف الثالث عندما تكون العملية أهم من فاعلها: Trays are washed. نستخدم is مع المفرد: The trolley is moved. نضيف by واسم الشخص فقط عندما تكون هويته مهمة.
- Clean trays are stacked near the entrance.
- The passage is checked before lunch.
- Cups are removed behind the screen.
دورك الآن
صف عملية مألوفة في 100 إلى 120 كلمة. استخدم ثلاث جمل مبنية للمجهول وحدد تأخيرا محتملا ومسؤولية باستخدام have to.
راجع وتذكّر
تذكر مسار الصينية في أربع خطوات. استخدم whereas للمقارنة بين وجهتي نظر العاملين.
Check your answers
Story answers
- He suggested buying a large notice for the counter.
- A delivery blocked the side passage.
- They counted how often the tray stack became empty.
Language answers
- are — Trays is plural, so the passive uses are.
- The passage is checked. — Move the object to subject position and use is + checked.
- taken — The passive needs taken, the past participle of take.
Français
- Trays est pluriel : le passif utilise are.
- Placez le complément en position de sujet et utilisez is + checked.
- Le passif exige taken, participe passé de take.
Español
- Trays es plural, por eso la pasiva usa are.
- Coloca el objeto como sujeto y usa is + checked.
- La pasiva requiere taken, participio de take.
العربية
- كلمة trays جمع، لذا نستخدم are في المبني للمجهول.
- اجعل المفعول به فاعلا نحويا واستخدم is مع checked.
- يتطلب المبني للمجهول taken وهو التصريف الثالث للفعل take.