What Is Called, What Was Closed: Simple Passive

Words from the text: be called, be closed, be planned, be canceled, damage, volcano, airport, flight, ash, airspace, passenger, aircraft

A We use is/are + past participle to talk about facts now. We do not say who does the action.

The airport company is called SAC.

Sectors C1 and B3 are closed now.

A flight is planned for next week.

Volcanic ash is called a danger for pilots.

Простой пассив настоящего времени: is/are + причастие (3-я форма глагола). Исполнитель действия не называется, важен сам факт.

B We use was/were + past participle to talk about facts in the past.

Both flights were canceled on September 26.

The airport was closed after the ash cloud came closer.

Two aircraft engines were damaged by ash.

The flight to Brussels was planned for September 26.

Простой пассив прошедшего времени: was/were + причастие. Was — с единственным числом, were — со множественным.

C We use active when we know who does the action. We use passive when this is not important.

Active: SAC canceled the flight.

Passive: The flight was canceled.

Active: The volcano damages aircraft engines.

Passive: Aircraft engines are damaged by ash.

В активном залоге важен исполнитель (SAC, airline). В пассиве важнее сам факт — кто сделал, не всегда нужно говорить.