Choosing the Best Verb: A Mini-Lesson on Active and Passive Voice

And the Winner is? Which of the following sentences do you think sounds better? Why? 1.A memorable performance in the 2007 World Series was delivered by the Boston Red Sox. OR… 2.The Boston Red Sox delivered a memorable performance in the 2007 World Series.

Today’s Lesson By the end of class today, I will know how to: Analyze verbs to determine whether constructions rely on active or passive voice. Choose the verbs most appropriate for my audience and purpose to improve sentence fluency in my writing. Draw conclusions when to use active and passive voice.

Quick Write (in your WWF) Watch the clip and write a reaction to what happened to Jason Heyward.Watch the clip and write a reaction to what happened to Jason Heyward. We will come back to this at the end of class.We will come back to this at the end of class.

Active Voice In sentences written in active voice, the subject performs the action expressed by the verb. Sentences written in active voice are generally clearer and more direct than sentences written in passive voice. Sentences written in active voice are typically more concise than sentences written in passive voice, because fewer words are required to express action in active voice than in passive voice.

Active Voice

Practice/Share a few Write one active voice sentence.

Passive Voice In sentences written in passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed in the verb (i.e. the subject is acted upon). In sentences written in passive voice, the agent performing the action may appear in a "by the..." phrase or may be omitted.

Passive Voice (agent performing action has been omitted.)

Practice/Share a few Write one passive voice sentence.

Some Things to Remember About Active and Passive Voice Sometimes the use of passive voice can create awkward sentences. The overuse of passive voice throughout an essay can cause your prose to seem flat and uninteresting. The use of passive voice often results in long, complicated sentences that can cause readers to lose interest or become confused. Passive-voice expressions will always include a form of be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been. However, the presence of a be -verb does not necessarily mean that the sentence is in passive voice. Passive-voice sentences may include a "by the..." phrase after the verb, making the agent performing the action the object of the preposition in this phrase.

Quick Write Go back to your reaction the Jason Heyward video clip, and make sure you have at least one active and one passive voice sentence. You can always tweak some of your sentences.

Active (thumbs up) or Passive (thumbs down)? Despite their uncharacteristically poor performance on Monday, the game was won by the Patriots.

Active or Passive? The best record in the NBA belongs to the Boston Celtics.

Active or Passive? Unfortunately, the Boston Bruins do not have the best record in the NHL.

Active or Passive? My boyfriend thinks the last game of the Patriots’ season will be won by the New York Giants.

Active or Passive? The Patriots are celebrating a major victory!

Let’s Practice (Day 2)  Directions: Change the sentences below to the active voice. 1.The statue is being visited by hundreds of tourists every year. 2.My books were stolen by someone yesterday. 3.These books had been left in the classroom by a careless student. 4.Coffee is raised in many parts of Hawaii by plantation workers. 5.The house had been broken into by someone while the owners were on vacation.

Let’s Practice (Day 2)  Directions: Change the sentences below to the passive voice. 1.Children cannot open these bottles easily. 2.The government built a road right outside her front door. 3.Mr. Ross broke the antique vase as he walked through the store. 4.When she arrived, the changes amazed her. 5.The construction workers are making street repairs all month long.