Madhyamik Grammar( ABTA Test Papers-2015-16)

•  Help your friend in distress. ( Change into passive voice )=Your friend in distress should be helped.
• Bipasa said to her mother,' How did I look in my childhood?"( Change into indirect narration)= Bipasa was curious to know from her mother how she(Bipasa) looked in her childhood.
• I was an uneasy observer of the scene.( Use the verb form)= I observed the scene uneasily.
• Soumick was sorry for his offence.(Turn into complex)= Soumick was sorry that he had committed the offence.
•  Nisha arrives timely.(Phrasal verb)= Nisha turns up timely.
• He was born in a rich family. (Phrasal verb)= He came of a rich family.
• My  brother will appear in the IAS Examination. ( Phrasal verb)= My brother will sit for the IAS examination.
• The strike was withdrawn. ( Phrasal verb )= The strike was called off.
• The teacher said,' Keep quiet, my boy.'(Narration change)= The teacher asked the boy to keep quiet.
• He speaks too fast to be understood. ( Use so-----that)= He speaks so fast that nobody can understand him.
• As soon as he got the English question paper, he started writing the answers. ( Simple) =Immediately after getting the English question paper he started writing the answers.
• I am to make a telephone call. ( Passive voice)= A telephone call has to be made by me.
• He will continue his study.( Phrasal verb)= He will carry on with his study.
• The sport demands both speed and strength.(Phrasal verb)= The sport calls for speed and strength.
• He said,' What a beautiful sight!'( Narration change)= He exclaimed in joy and said that it was a very beautiful sight.
• Health is more valuable than wealth. (Positive degree)= Wealth is not as valuable as health.
• He bought the pen yesterday. It was a useful one. ( Join with a relative clause)= The pen which he bought yesterday was a useful one.
• White represents purity.( Phrasal verb)= White stands for purity.
• The bomb exploded in a market. (Phrasal verb)= The bomb went off in a market.
• The meeting continued for two hours. ( Phrasal verb)= The meeting went on for two hours.

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You will find many repetitions. Don't get bored. Patience is very important.

                   English Proverbs----2

•  A burden of one's own will never be felt.
• A clean fast is better than a dirty breakfast. ( Always )
• A close mouth catches no flies. ( Keep your opinion to yourself to avoid criticism)
• A cracked bell can never sound loud/ sweet. 
• A fool can ask more   questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in seven years.
• A foul morn may turn to  fair day. ( It means morning does not always show the day.)
• A good dog deserves a good bone. ( Merit should be recognised and rewarded.)
• A good face is a letter of recommendation .
• A good Jack makes a good Jill. ( Choose your friend judiciously)
• A good fortune is a great slavery. 
• A great ship asks deep waters. ( The braves always love to face new challenges in life.)
• A good name is sooner lost than own.( One false step may ruin your reputation.)
• A guilty conscience needs no accuser. ( Because he himself knows that he is guilty.)
•  A heavy purse makes light heart.( Very often he may become a miser)
• A hedge between keeps the friendship green. ( Friends should not be xeroxed copies of each other.)
• A hungry belly has no ears.( Does not listen to reasoning)
• A hungry man is an angry man. ( Obviously)
• A Jack of all trades is a master of none.
• A lazy sheep thinks its wool heavy.
• A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth. ( Because  nobody trusts a liar.)
• A lie begets a lie.
• A man can die but once. ( Be brave and do your duty and enjoy your life to the full.)
• A man is known by the company he keeps. ( Choose your friends cautiously.)
• A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds.
• A penny saved is a penny earned. ( Spend judiciously)
• A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder. ( Because he has committed no sin)
• A rolling stone gathers no moss.
• A small leak will sink a great ship. ( Don't neglect minor faults either.)
• A stitch in time saves nine. ( Timely action is always recommended.)
• A tree is known by its fruit.

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Hope you find these proverbs helpful even in your regular conversations with your friends.

                              Some well- known Proverbs
 In every language there are proverbs. According to Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary a Proverb is ..'a well-known phrase or sentence that gives advice or says something that is generally true...'. I don't think we need any better definition of a Proverb. Here are some important English Proverbs for the learners. It is hoped you will be able to use these proverbs in the right context when you write or say something. Let us start learning. The meanings are self explanatory.

• A bad beginning makes a bad ending. ( So be careful with your beginning of a task.)
• A bargain is a bargain. ( Once made you have to honour it.)
• A beggar can never be bankrupt.( Obviously)
• A beggar cant be a chooser. ( This is obvious too)
• A bird in hand is better than two in the bush. ( Be satisfied with what you have.)
• A black hen lays a white egg. ( Only result matters.)
• A burnt child dreads the fire. ( He knows the pain and is always apprehensive of danger-- real or perceived. )
• A cat in gloves catches no mice.
• A civil denial is better than a rude grant.( Behaviour matters)
• A clean hand needs no washing. ( If your conscience is clear you need not be afraid of anyone or anything)
• A clear conscience laughs at false  accusations.( Why not?)
• A cock is valiant on its own dunghill. ( obviously)
• A danger foreseen is half avoided. ( Because you can take precautions.)
• A drowning man catches at a straw. ( He has no other alternative available)
•  A fair face may hide a foul heart. ( It is often the case.)
• A fault confessed is half redressed. ( Confession gives one strength of mind.)
• A fool always rushes to the fore. ( Because he can not foresee the dangers, if any.)
• A fool's tongue runs before his wit. ( Because he lacks in common sense.)
• A forced  kindness deserves no thanks. ( Don't thank the politicians!)
• A friend to all is a friend to none. ( He may be a good Samaritan, though.)
• A friend's frown is better than a foe's smile. ( Always)
• A good anvil does not fear the hammer. ( Because it is strong and ready for the blow.)
• A good beginning is half the battle won.( It is true in all cases.)
• A good deed is never lost. ( So be kind to everybody)
• A good example is the best sermon. ( When will our politician learn this basic lesson?)
• A good name is better than riches.

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                  One word substitution--8

•  Things through light cannot pass----Opaque
• Things that cannot be done away with--Indispensable
• Things that can be seen and touched---Tangible
• Things that cannot be understood---Unintelligible
• To do away with a rule--..Abrogate
• To explain a spiritual truth through a story --Parable ( The parable of the Good Samaritan)
• To spread and post troops for battle--Deploy
• Tumor which is not likely to spread and which is not malignant--Benign
• Unexpected store of good fortune/wealth--Windfall
• Using of new words--Neology
• Views which are not of one's liking-- Irritating
• Walking in sleep--Somnambulism
• Things which cannot be rectified-- Irrperable
• Works which involve too much official intervention -Red-tapism

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MADHYAMIK GRAMMAR( ABTA TEST PAPERS--2015-16)
Page-85

• She said to me,; Bravo! well done."(Narration change)= She congratulated me for doing well.
• He has won the prize, The news is true .( Join into a complex sentence )= It is true that he has own the prize.,
• Iron feels hard. (Passive voice)= Iron, when it is felt, is hard.
• She is one of the best girls in our class. (Comparative degree)= She is better than most other girls in our class.
• The strike was withdrawn. (Phrasal verb)=The strike was called off.
• He did not reject my proposal.( Phrasal verb)= He did not turn down our proposal.
• Arrive in time. (Phrasal verb)= Turn up in time.
• She finds the word in the dictionary. (Phrasal verb) She looks up the word in the dictionary.

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                     One word substitution--7

•  Poem written on someone loved and lost---Eligy
• Policy document of a political party--Manifesto ( The most famous is The Communist Manifesto prepared by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels)
• Power of reading thoughts of others--Telepathy
• Public building where weapons are made and stored--Arsenal ( Curiously 'Arsenal' is the name of a top-flight English football club)
• Riding on someone else' back--Piggyback
• A small room leading into a large room--Anteroom
• Roo with toilet facility--Lavatory
• Seat on the elephant's back --Hawdah
• Sending unwanted person from a country... Deportation
• A slow witted person---Duffer( It is a derogatory word )
• A song sung on the occasion of burial---Dirge
• Speech without preparation-- Extempore
•  Speech by an actor at the end of  play--Epilogue ( The opposite is Prologue)
• Study of birds--Ornithology( DR Salim Ali was a famous ornithologist of India)
•  Study of human body  Anatomy
•  Study of statistics of birth, death and diseases----Demography
• Sudden rush of wind--Gush
•  Thing that brings peaceful and painless death from incurable disease--Euthanasia
•  Things that cannot be touched or felt---Palpable

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 MADHYAMIK GRAMMAR : ( 2015-16) ABTA TEST PAPERS
 (Page-71)

• Mother said,' Tom, don't run in the sun.'( Narration )= Mother advised Tom not to run in  the sun.
• When he will arrive is uncertain. ( Noun form of 'arrive' )= The time of his arrival is uncertain.
• Mr Sen has abandoned  his bad habit. (Phrasal verb)= Mr Sen has given up his bad habit
•  The ship has started for Australia. (Phrasal verb)= The ship has set out for Australia.

• When we walk along the beach we come across sea shells lying on the sand washed away by waves. (Articles and prepositions)

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                        One word substitution--6

•  One who believes God in everything--Ben Theist
• Person who does not believe in any religions ---Pagan ( Paganism became a creed in course of time and caste its influence in literature and art)
• Person who enjoys sensuous pleasures- Epecure
• Persons who have long experience-- Veteran
• Persons who hate women---Mysogynist
• Person who is made to bear the blame--Scapegoat
• Person who kills political persons for money--Assassin
• Person who lives alone and avoid other persons--Recluse
• Person who loves nature--Aesthetic
• Person who makes love for amusement--Philanderer
• Person who pretends to have more knowledge--Charlaton
• Person who loves the whole world as his own country--Philanthropist
• Person without manners-- Rustiic 
• Persuasive and eloquent speech--Eloquence
• Place where birds are kept--Aviary
• Place where cows are sheltered---Bygre
• Place where Govt. records are kept..-- Archives
• Plants and vegetation-- Flora
• Animals, insects, birds...Fauna
• Poem narrating a popular story ---Ballad

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ABTA Test Papers for the MP students for the academic year-2015-6 are just out.                            Here are  some grammatical problems

•  Promises should be kept. ( Passive to active voice)= We should keep our promises.
• None but a fool can do this. ( Change into affirmative  )= Only a fool can do this.
• The orphan boy was reared by his uncle. ( Phrasal verb)= The orphan boy was looked after    by his uncle

•  Mita will recover soon.= Mita will come round soon. (Page No.22)

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We shall solve some specific grammatical questions here . We also propose to include some writings too. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask those questions. Thank you.
     

  
                One word substitution--5
    

•    One who pays too much attention to one's appearance and clothes--Dandy
• One who plays for pleasure, not as a professional- Amteure
• One who pretends illness to avoid duty-- malingerer
• One who is fond of reading books- Bookworm
• One who sacrifices his life for the country.-- Myrtar
• One who sneaks into another country -- Infiltrator ( Today this term is used in a wider sense)
• One who speaks many languages--Polyglot
• One who studies the formation of the earth- geologists
• One who talks continuously-- Laquacious
• One who thinks human nature is evil--- Cynic
•  One who abstains from alcohol-- Teetotaler
• One who travels from one place to another-- Itinerant
• One who wants to see others unhappy-- Sadist
• One who works without remuneration-- Honorary
• One whose attitude is to eat, drink and be merry-- Epiqurean
• Opposing arguments --------- Rebuttal/Rebut
• Out of date things--- Obsolscent
• Paper written in one's own hand writing---Manuscript
• Part of a church where bells are hung--Belfry
• Person indifferent to pleasure or pain----Stoic
• Person who is obsessed with one idea or thought--Monomaniac
• Person pretending to be somebody which he is not-- Imposter
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                                               How to score good marks in English 
We all know that English is the most popular international language. We can call it the Lingua Franca
of the world. Whatever career we may choose for our future there is no escape from English. for achieving success in any field of profession we must possess a fairly good command over the English Language. In our schools and colleges English is taught as another subject with a structured syllabus. You can score good marks in English if you follow certain method.
    The first step is to allot a definite period of time for this. Read a story, an essay or a poem in its entirety at a given time. Read again and again to comprehend the meaning and essence of the subject matter. Jot down the unknown words in your exercise book and consult a good dictionary to know the meaning. Be careful with your use of tenses and prepositions. Keep a good grammar book by your side. Reading the daily newspaper , magazines and story books will help you immensely. You will get a feel of the nuances of the language. You cannot learn a language without listening to the sound and pronunciation of Native speakers. So listen regularly to BBC or other such channels. Watch English films and speak in English among friends. If you have a computer and/or a smart phone it will be easier for you to learn the language. If you follow the above mentioned simple method before long you will become very confident with your English.
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                 One word substitution--4

•  One who collects coins---Numismatist
• Murdering an infant--- Infanticide
• Murdering of the King--Regicide
• One who compiles dictionaries- Lexicographer ( Lexicon means a dictionary)
• One who does not take definite stand-- Evasive ( Nowadays most people are evasive)
• One who eats everything--Omnivorous
• One who eats human flesh-- Cannibals. ( It is widely believed that some cannibal tribes still live in Africa)
• One who is shy and keeps within oneself-Introvert ( The opposite is an extrovert)
• One who is neither intelligent nor dull-- Mediocre
• One who comes from a foreign country -- Alien ( In modern jargon an alien is a person who comes from the outer space)
• A person who loves talking and talks incessantly- Garrulous
• A person who enjoys unlimited power over everything- Omnipotent ( Only God is omnipotent)
• A person who is present everywhere and in everything all the time- Omnipresent. ( Again it is God and only God who is omnipresent)
•  One who is very careful and particular in every respect-- Meticulous
• One who is very well versed in any subject--Connoisser
• One who lends money at high rates.. Usurer 
• One who loves all and sundry and tries to help the people--Philanthropist
• One who loves books --Biblophile
• One who enters into into prohibited places-- Trespasser

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In English language only four parts of speech -- NOUN, VERB, ADJECTIVE and ADVERB-- occupy very important positions. They are the main words or members of the word family. We have seen that GERUND and PARTICIPLES play an important role. They are actually a combination of two parts of speech. Gerund is a verbal noun and Participle is a verbal Adjective. In this category we can add the PAST PARTICIPLE form of the verb because we can use a majority of them as an adjective. Examples: 1. a BROKEN glass 2. a LOST opportunity. 3. a WOUNDED soldier 4. a FINISHED product 5. a FORGOTTEN hero. etc.
Find as many such participial adjectives and use them in your writing. We always do that without being conscious of their identity. These participial adjectives are different from the participles in the sense that these words are used in the passive voice and in all types of perfect tenses. The root is same. We get them from verbs.
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                                One word substitution-3

•  Intentional destruction of ethnic group- Genocide ( as Hitler did )
• Interval between two events-----Interlude
• Killing of another human being---Homicide
• Language difficult  to understand or comprehend--Jargon ( Today this word is used in a broader sense too ie; political jargon, mathematical jargon etc.)
• Large-scale departure of people from one country to another country/one place to another due to political or other reasons---Exodus ( Remember the Great Exodus )
• List of explanation of words-- Glossary ( generally appended at the end of a serious book )
• List of goods with their price-- Invoice ( A term used frequently in business and commerce field)
• Longing for something gone by/past memories- Nostalgia
• Loud talks or speeches--Harangue ( Politicians practise it )
• Man having the qualities of a woman-- Effeminate ( It is not regarded as a positive compliment either by a man or a woman)
•  Man of lax moral--Licentious ( You are sure to meet so many of them around you)
• Man whose wife has been unfaithful to him- Cuckold ( Being paid/repaid by the same coin?)
• Mania for setting fire- Pyromania
• Mania for stealing things--Kleptomania ( A bit different from shop-lifting )
• Mania for talking--Logo Mania ( Indian politicians excel in this art form )
• Mania for being important-- Megalomania ( Most Indian political leaders--especially our PM are Megalomaniac)
• Member of a band of robbers-- Brigand

Murdering of a husband by a wife-- Matricide

• Old age when a person behaves like a fool-- Dotage
• One who believes that everything is predetermined- Fatalist
• One who believes that pleasure is the only good-- Hedonist
•  One who betrays one-- Traitor

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We have discussed about Gerund and Participle. These two words are formed from verbs as root words. A gerund is used as a noun and a participle. There is another type of participle in English language. It is called THE PAST PARTICIPLE. We use this verb form in the Perfect Tenses and we can not write the Passive form without using the Past Participle Form of a verb.
Another important use of this form is that we can use it as an ADJECTIVE in many cases.
Examples: Don't sit on the broken chair. This is an imported mobile phone. They served us boiled eggs with dried fruits. I have found my lost watch.

We should remember one important thing about these terms. A Gerund has no gender, number or person. Similarly participial adjectives have no degrees.
                                                                     Happy learning

                              One word substitution--2

•  Cure for all disease---Panacea
• Custom of having many wives---Poligamy
• Custom of having only one wife.. Monogamy
• Custom of having many husbands-- Poliandry
• Dealing in counterfeit things--Forgery
• Disease which spreads by contact-- Contagious
• Equal in rank----Peer
• Fault that may be forgiven--Venial
• Favouring own kith and kin-- Nepotism
• First speech-- Maiden speech/ Maiden century etc.
• Funny imitation of a song/poem--Parody
•  Giving up throne by the king---Abdication
• Going back and forth--- Shuttle ( as in the case of shuttle train/ shuttle bus
•  Food items agreeing with one's taste--- Palatable
• Govt. by a single person/ dictator-- Autocracy
• Cracy of the demos ( Rule by the people) -----Democracy
• Group of three novels----Trilogy
• Incapable of being wounded-- Invulnerable ( opposite= vulnerable )
• In charge of museum/cricket pitch--Curator
• Indifference to pleasure or pain-- Stoicism
• Intentional destruction of a racial/ethnic group-- Gemocide
• Killing of another human being---Homicide
• Interval between two events--Interlude
• Language difficult to understand or comprehend--Jargon ( this word is now used in a broader sense)
• Large-scale departure of people from one country/place to another for political or other reasons-- Exodus ( Remember the Biblical Exodus?)
• List of explanations of words appended at the end of a serious book-- Glossary
• List of goods with their price---Invoice
• Longing for something gone by(bygone)---Nostalgia
• Loop of rope is called--Noose
• Loud talk or speech-- Harangue ( Indian political leaders have patented this word !!)
• Man having the qualities of a woman--Effiminate
• Man of lax moral--Licentious
• Man whose wife has been unfaithful to him--Cuckold ( The opposite happens all the time, doesn't it?)

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In English language Gerund, Participle and Past participle play a very important role. We form a

Gerund and a present Participle by adding ''ing'' at the end of a verb. A Gerund, a Participle and the continuous form of a verb has the same look and pronunciation but the uses are different. A Gerund is used as a noun and does the work of a noun. A present participle does the work of an adjective. Look at the following sentences:
1. The girl is dancing. (verb- present continuous tense)
2.Dancing is my passion. ( gerund)
3. I have bought a dancing doll for my sister. ( participle)
Just think about these sentences. You will definitely understand the differences.
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                                                                         TOPIARY

                            
                                         One word substitution  

•   A dramatic performance---------------Masque
• A man of odd habits---------------------Eccentric
• A man who dances to the tune of his wife----Henpecked
• A nation engaged in war---------------Belligerent ( this term can be applied to a person too 0
• A person behind time-----Antiquated ( we can apply this term to other things or opinion too )
• A person who wants to throw his establishment---Anarchist ( It is a political term. The British termed many of our freedom fighters as anarchists.)
• A place of good weather--Sanatorium ( Nowadays the term refers to a place where mental patients are treated )
• A place for washing dishes adjoining kitchen--Scullery
• A religious song----------Hymn/ Mantra
• A remarkable talent-----Prodigy
• A short but amusing story---Anecdote
• A verse letter------------------Epistle
• Act of killing one's wife---Uxoricide  ( Dont do it)
• An animal story with a moral-----Fable
• An unknown person -------Anonymous
• Animals living both on land and water----Amphibian
• Appointed by two parties to settle a dispute--Arbiter ( The Honourable Court can also appoint an arbiter if the two disputing parties agree)
• Art of cutting trees and bushes into ornamental shapes--Topiary
• At the same time-----Contemporary ( This can apply to persons also )
• Award given after death---Posthumous

These one word substitutions are very helpful in writing a good composition. Some more will be added in the next lesson.

                                                                     Happy Deepavali

                             Joining of sentences---2

•  The boy lost the book. He said this to us.= The boy said to us that he had lost the book.
• I met an old friend after a long time. He could not recognise me at once. = My old friend could not recognise me at once because I met him after a long time./ After a long time I met an old friend who could not recognise me at once.
• The sun gives us heat and light. The sun is one of the stars in the universe.= The sun which gives us heat and light is one of the stars in the universe./ The sun which is one of the stars in the universe , gives us heat and light.
• He works very hard. His object is to maintain his family.= He works very hard to maintain his family.(Simple)/ He works very hard because he has to maintain his family.( Complex )
• This is the boy. His father saw you yesterday. =This is the boy whose father saw you yesterday.
• This is the place. Here poet Rabindranath was born. = This is the place where poet Rabindranath was born. ( Complex )/ This is the birthplace of poet Rabindranath. ( Simple )
• Columbus died in 1506. He discovered America.= Columbus who discovered America, died in 1506.
•  Have you seen the car? The car was following us.= Have you seen the car which was following us? ( Complex )/ Have you seen the car following us? ( Simple)
• The players' kits have been stolen. I know the players. =I know the players whose kits have been stolen.
• You met a gentleman last week. He is my cousin.=The gentleman whom you met last week is my cousin.
• The sun came out. Everything looked cheerful.=When the sun came out everything looked cheerful.
• You must ask the Headmaster's permission. You want to go out early.= If you want to go out early you must ask the Headmaster's permission.
• Cork is lighter than water. It floats on water.= As cork is lighter than water it floats on water.
• It is very cold now. It is the month of January.= As it is the month of January it is very cold now..
• I hear a scream. It is frightening.= I hear a frightening scream. ( Simple )
• My sister has lost her watch. It is a costly watch.= My sister has lost her costly watch. (Simple)
• I walk for heath everyday. I walk in the morning.= Every morning I walk for health. ( simple )
• My friend promises to come on a visit. He will come on Saturday.= My friend promises to come on a visit on Saturday.
• A body was found last week. The police is trying to identify the body.= The police is trying to identify the body which they found last week.
• I went to see the doctor. The doctor told me to rest for a few days.= I went to meet the doctor who told me to rest for a few days.
• She told me her address.   I wrote the address on a piece of paper.=I wrote the address which she gave me on a piece of paper.
• The man answered the phone. He told me that you were out.= The man who ansewred the phone told me that you were out.

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                                                  CHANGE THE VOICE

• Please post the letter.= You are requested to post the letter.
• Shut the door.= let the door be shut.
• I received a phone call.= A phone call was received by me.
• We call the tiger our national animal.= The tiger is called our national animal.
• Someone wrote this letter in the nineteenth century.= This letter was in the nineteenth century by someone.
• They gave each of the participants a handsome prize.= each of the participants was given a handsome prize by them.
• Let the door be shut.= Shut the door.
• Honey tastes sweet.= Honey is sweet when it is tasted.
• Respect your parents.= Your parents should be respected.
• We expect him to come any moment.= he is expected to come any moment.
• The chair is broken.= Someone has broken the chair. ( Passive to active )
• I have lost my new mobile phone.= My new mobile phone is lost.