The active and the passive voice 1 ACTIVE and PASSIVE VOICE

The active and the passive voice 2 SOMETHING NEW! IN EIGHTH GRADE, when we write formally, especially during essay writing assignments, we WORK HARD TO WRITE IN ACTIVE VOICE.

The active and the passive voice 3 We usually use the active voice in writing and speaking. Example: The girl Someone or something (the agent) does something (verb) to someone or something else (recipient) the ball.kicked

The active and the passive voice 4 In the passive voice, we change this around, so that the recipient has something done to it by the agent. Example: Someone or something (recipient) has something done to it (verb) by someone or something (the agent) The ballwas kickedby the girl.

The active and the passive voice 5 Here’s another example of Active Voice: Someone or something (the agent) The rain does something (verb) soaked to someone or something else (recipient) the pitch.

The active and the passive voice 6 And now, we have made it Passive Voice. Someone or something (recipient) has something done to it (verb) by someone or something (the agent) by the rain.was soakedThe pitch

The active and the passive voice 7 Look CAREFULLY at the two PASSIVE VOICE SENTENCES! by the rain.was soakedThe pitch The ballwas kickedby the girl. What do you notice about the words in the sentence (hint – green)?

The active and the passive voice 8 Politicians (and many others) often use passive voice to intentionally HIDE WHO is taking the action. President Ronald Reagan famously said, “Mistakes were made,” when referring to the Iran-Contra scandal.

The active and the passive voice 9 What he was really saying was that: “Mistakes were made BY MY STAFF.” He left OUT the BY, but construction of the sentence is still PASSIVE VOICE!

The active and the passive voice 10 Think of it this way! If you can add the phrase “BY ZOMBIES” at the end of your sentence, then your sentence is in PASSIVE VOICE.

The active and the passive voice 11 The car was hit. (passive) The car was hit BY ZOMBIES! You need to stay in ACTIVE voice and make the subject do the action! ZOMBIES HIT THE CAR!

The active and the passive voice 12 On the paper on your desk, write a PASSIVE voice sentence involving ZOMBIES! Now, rewrite the sentence as ACTIVE VOICE.

The active and the passive voice 13 In these examples, spot the use of the active voice and the passive voice. The music was played by the DJ. The sun was hidden by the clouds. Delighted fans streamed onto the pitch. Marie wrote the letter to the headteacher. Danny was praised by the headteacher. passive active

The active and the passive voice 14 In these examples, spot the use of the active voice and the passive voice. active In the novel Okay for Now, by Gary D. Schmidt, the protagonist, Doug Swieteck, is a maturing young man. In the novel Okay for Now, written by Gary D. Schmidt, the protagonist, Doug Swieteck, is a maturing young man. In Gary D. Schmidt’s novel Okay for Now, the protagonist, Doug Swieteck, is a maturing young man. passive EXAMPLES FROM YOUR OWN WRITING!

The active and the passive voice 15 REMEMBER! IN EIGHTH GRADE, when we write formally, especially during essay writing assignments, we WORK HARD TO WRITE IN ACTIVE VOICE. More to come later in our future!

On the scrap papers, put your name. Record HOW you do on each of the three activities listed below. Label them 1/2/3. GO TO THE PARTS OF SPEECH PAGE ON MS. ASARO’S WEBSITE. DO THE ACTIVE/PASSIVE VOICE INTERACTIVE EXERCISES. THREE SITES!