VOICE: NOT A TENSE AT ALL

Voice refers to whether or not the subject is actually performing the action described by the verb. There are two types of voice: 1) ACTIVE VOICE: the subject is performing the action described by the verb 2) PASSIVE VOICE: the subject is NOT performing the action but is, instead, being acted upon. EXAMPLES: ACTIVE: Mr. Alig constructed the new buffet table. PASSIVE: The new buffet table was constructed by Mr. Alig. ***Notice how the D.O. in the active voice sentence becomes the subject in the passive voice sentence.

Compose a sentence about what the woman is doing. It should contain a verb in the active voice.

Now compose a sentence about what is going on, but make the pie the subject. The verb should be in the passive voice.

Compose a sentence describing what’s going on with a verb in the active voice.

Now describe what’s going on from the perspective of the nail. This should contain a verb in the passive voice.

Active or Passive? That book was written by H.G. Wells. THINK: verb = was written THINK: subject = who or what was written? (book) ASK: Did the book do the writing? NO! = Passive voice

Mr. Alig ate an entire section of the dessert buffet at Golden Corral. THINK: verb phrase = ate THINK: subject = Who or what ate? (Mr. Alig) ASK: Did Mr. Alig really do the eating? YES! = Active Voice The students studied for their tests. THINK: verb phrase = studied THINK: subject = Who or what studied? (students) ASK: Did the students really do the studying? YES! = Active Voice A test will be given by Mr. Alig tomorrow. THINK: verb phrase = will be given THINK: subject = Who or what will be given? (test) ASK: Did the test really do the giving? NO! = Passive Voice

EASY WAY TO SPOT PASSIVE VOICE KNOW THAT THE VERB PHRASE WILL ALWAYS BE MADE OF ANY OF THE 12 TENSES OF “BE” FOLLOWED BY A PAST PARTICIPLE. 1) SIMPLE PRESENT = AM, IS, ARE 2) SIMPLE PAST = WAS, WERE 3) SIMPLE FUTURE = WILL BE 4) PRESENT PERFECT = HAVE/HAS BEEN 5) PAST PERFECT = HAD BEEN 6) FUTURE PERFECT = WILL HAVE BEEN

7) PRESENT PROGRESSIVE = AM/IS/ARE BEING 8) PAST PROGRESSIVE = WAS/WERE BEING 9) FUTURE PROGRESSIVE = WILL BE BEING 10) PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE = HAVE/HAS BEEN BEING 11) PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE = HAD BEEN BEING 12) FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE = WILL HAVE BEEN BEING *************************************************************** TO FORM THE PASSIVE VOICE, PUT “BE” INTO ONE OF THE 12 TENSES LISTED AND THEN ADD A PAST PARTICIPLE TO THE RIGHT.

Examples was eaten is being studied had been played will have been being known (yuck!) is done will have been seen

EXAMPLES Put “swim” into the present tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the present tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “swim” behind it. ANS. = am/is/are swum

EXAMPLES Put “run” into the past tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the past tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “run” behind it. ANS. = was/were run

EXAMPLES Put “play” into the present perfect tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the present perfect tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “play” behind it. ANS. = have/has been played

EXAMPLES Put “FREEZE” into the future progressive tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the future progressive tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “freeze” behind it. ANS. = will be being frozen YUCK!

EXAMPLES Put “walk” into the past progressive tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the past progressive tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “walk” behind it. ANS. = was/were being walked

EXAMPLES Put “think” into the past perfect progressive tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the past perfect progressive tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “think” behind it. ANS. = had been being thought

EXAMPLES Put “eat” into the future tense, passive voice. 1) Start with the future tense of “be.” 2) Put the past participle of “eat” behind it. ANS. = will be eaten