Creating Super Sentences Another Mnemonic From Mrs. D 

OUTCOME: Learn to create SUPER sentences by using “active voice.” Objectives: Students will learn to . . . Identify passive “be verbs” Change passive sentences into active sentences Explain why active sentences are superior to passive sentences

A long time ago . . . At a writers’ conference . . . The best question . . . If you could give us just one tip that would make us better writers, what tip would you offer?

Passive (Passive Voice) Two kinds of sentences Passive (Passive Voice) Active (Active Voice) Basically BORING Relies on passive verbs How many? 23 Interesting, CAPTIVATES Relies on active verbs How many? Thousands!

A memory trick If only you could remember those 23 passive verbs, you could . . . Find the boring sentences. Get rid of the passive verbs. Replace them with active verbs.

Search and Destroy Mission! Be Verbs Be, is, am Are, were, was Being, been, may, can, do, does Did, had, have Has, shall, should, Must, might, could, will, AND would

Achieving Active Voice Brahms Lullaby By Memorizing Be Verbs to the Tune of Brahms Lullaby

What is Brahms’ Lullaby? Kudos to Aaron Neville . . . Brahms’ Lullaby from the video, Goodnight Moon, courtesy of YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otIr5Bg9_y0

Be Verbs Be, is, am Are, were, was Being, been, may, can, do, does Did, had, have Has, shall, should, Must, might, could, will, AND would

Be Verbs Be, is, am Are, were, was Being, been, may, can, do, does Did, had, have Has, shall, should, Must, might, could, will, AND would

Be Verbs Be, is, _____, Are, _______, was Being, been, _______, can, ____, does Did, had, have Has, shall, __________, Must, might, could, ______, AND would

Be Verbs Be, is, _____, Are, _______, was Being, been, _______, can, ____, does Did, ______, have Has, shall, __________, Must, _______, could, ______, AND would

Be Verbs Be, _____, _____, Are, _______, _______, Being, _______, _______, can, ____, does Did, ______, ________ Has, _______, __________, Must, _______, could, ______, AND _______

Be Verbs Be, _____, _____, Are, _______, _______, Being, _______, _______, can, ____, _____ Did, ______, ________ Has, _______, __________, Must, _______, _______ ______, AND _______

Be Verbs Be, _____, _____, _____, _______, _______, Being, _______, _______, _____, ____, _____ ______, ______, ________ Has, _______, __________, _____, _______, _______ ______, AND _______

Be Verbs _____, _____, _____, _____, _______, _______, _____, _______, _______, _____, ____, _____ ______, ______, ________ _____, _______, __________, _____, _______, _______ ______, AND _______

Let’s review: Be Verbs Lullaby Be, is, am Are, were, was Being, been, may, can, do, does Did, had, have Has, shall, should, Must, might, could, will, AND would

Be Verbs _____, _____, _____, _____, _______, _______, _____, _______, _______, _____, ____, _____ ______, ______, ________ _____, _______, __________, _____, _______, _______ ______, AND _______

Every time you write, you are faced with a choice . . . Passive Verbs Active Verbs

It’s like the difference between . . . Clark Kent Superman Passive Verbs Active Verbs

Creating Super Sentences Find the passive verb and destroy it. Find the subject and the second noun. Rewrite the sentence by switching the order of the noun parts.

That play was composed by Thornton Wilder. Try making this SUPER! That play was composed by Thornton Wilder. Find the “be verb” and destroy it (cross it out). That play WAS composed by Thornton Wilder. Find the subject and the second noun part: Rewrite the sentence by switching the noun parts: Thornton Wilder composed that play.

Think, “Search and Destroy!” I am puzzled by your question. Find the “be verb” and destroy it (cross it out): I AM puzzled by your question. Find the subject and the second noun part: Switch the word order and tweak the verb: Your question puzzles me.

Search and Destroy #3 The puppy is frightened by loud noises. Find the “be verb” and destroy it (cross it out): The puppy IS frightened by loud noises. Find the subject and the second noun part: Switch the word order and tweak the verb: Loud noises frighten the puppy.

Plays are performed by actors. Search and Destroy #4 Plays are performed by actors. Find the “be verb” and destroy it (cross it out): Plays ARE performed by actors. Find the subject and the second noun part: Switch the word order and tweak the verb: Actors perform plays.

Search and Destroy #5 This painting was purchased by Ms. Jones. Find the “be verb” and destroy it (cross it out): This painting WAS purchased by Ms. Jones. Find the subject and the second noun part: Switch the word order: Ms. Jones purchased this painting.

Prove that you “got it!” Directions: 1) If the sentence is already active, write “A.” 2) If the sentence is passive, write “P.” 3) Change passive sentences to active: Find the passive verb and destroy it. Find the subject and the second noun. Rewrite the sentence by switching the order of the noun parts.

If that was too easy, try this . . . _____, _____, _____, _____, _______, _______, _____, _______, _______, _____, ____, _____ ______, ______, ________ _____, _______, __________, _____, _______, _______ ______, AND _______ Brahms Lullaby

Be Verbs Be, is, am Are, were, was Being, been, may, can, do, does Did, had, have Has, shall, should, Must, might, could, will, AND would