Using active and passive voice What are active and passive voice? Uses of active and passive voice Active-voice verbs Passive-voice verbs Review A Review B

What are active and passive voice? Like people, verbs can be Mark sets up the shot. Jennifer held the bat. Len is troubled by his grade. Carl was captivated by the game. active or passive

What are active and passive voice? Voice is the form a verb takes to show whether the subject of the verb... performs the action or receives the action Len’s grades are troubling him. Subject Verb Subject Verb Len is troubled by his grades.

When the subject of a verb performs the action, the verb is in the active voice. What are active and passive voice? The fire destroyed the house. The subject fire performs the action of destroying. Subject Active-voice verb

Mrs. Rodriguez grows corn on her farm. What are active and passive voice? A verb in the active voice has a direct object, which tells who or what receives the action.direct object Mrs. Rodriguez grows corn on her farm. Verb Direct object The subject Mrs. Rodriguez performs the action. The direct object corn receives the action.

A direct object tells who or what receives the action of the verb. The direct object can be a noun, a pronoun, or a noun with its modifiers. We heard the cheers of the crowd. cheers What are active and passive voice? heard what? cheers Direct object Verb

What are active and passive voice? When the subject of a verb receives the action, the verb is in the passive voice. The house was destroyed by the fire. The subject house receives the action of destroying. Subject Passive- voice verb

What are active and passive voice? Passive-voice constructions include a form of be, the past participle of the verb, and sometimes other helping verbs.form of be Form of be Past participle The funds were spent on new uniforms. Form of be Past participle The funds have been spent on new uniforms. Helping verb

What are active and passive voice? Here are the forms of be that we can use to create the passive voice. Forms of be amareiswas werebebeenbeing

Corn is grown on the farm. What are active and passive voice? A verb in the passive voice does not have a direct object. Corn is grown on the farm. Subject The subject corn receives the action. The performer of the action is not given. Passive- voice verb

What are active and passive voice? Sometimes a prepositional phrase beginning with by and telling who or what performs the action follows the verb in the passive voice.prepositional phrase The mayor was elected. The prepositional phrase tells you that voters performed the action of electing. by the voters. Prepositional phrase Passive-voice verb

A prepositional phrase contains over a preposition a noun or pronoun (object of the preposition) any modifiers of the object groundthe wet, snow-coveredground What are active and passive voice?

A prepositional phrase following a passive-voice verb does not always include the performer of the action. What are active and passive voice? The mayor was elected by a landslide. This prepositional phrase does not tell you who did the electing.

What are active and passive voice? Sometimes in passive sentences the performer of the action is not indicated at all. Her sculptures have been shown in many other galleries. The performer of the action is not given. Passive-voice verb Several sculptures were sold today. The performer of the action is not given. Passive-voice verb

1.Sean was startled by the crack of thunder. For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer. 2.The kitten tumbled playfully across the floor. 3.Our old truck has been repaired many times. What are active and passive voice?

1.Sean was startled by the crack of thunder. Passive voice The subject Sean receives the action of the verb. What are active and passive voice? For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.

What are active and passive voice? 2.The kitten tumbled playfully across the floor. Active voice The subject kitten performs the action of the verb. For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.

What are active and passive voice? 3.Our old truck has been repaired many times. Passive voice The subject truck receives the action of the verb. For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.

[End of Section] Rewrite each sentence in the voice shown before the item number. (active)1.The decision has been made by Mother. (passive)2.Leo sent that postcard. (passive)3.My manager has drafted a memo. (active) 4.The poodle was treated by the veterinarian. (active) 5.The race was won by Jackie. (passive)6.A wolf made those paw prints. On Your Own What are active and passive voice?

Answers Rewrite each sentence in the voice shown before the item number. (active)1.The decision has been made by Mother. (passive)2.Leo sent that postcard. (passive)3.My manager has drafted a memo. (active) 4.The poodle was treated by the veterinarian. (active) 5.The race was won by Jackie. (passive)6.A wolf made those paw prints. A memo has been drafted by my manager. That postcard was sent by Leo. Mother has made the decision. The veterinarian treated the poodle. Jackie won the race. Those paw prints were made by a wolf.

Uses of active and passive voice Active-voice verbs emphasize the action and the performer of the action. A tornado damaged her home. Active voice Emphasis is on the tornado and the action it performs. Her home was damaged by a tornado. Passive voice Emphasis is on the home, which receives the action. Passive-voice verbs emphasize the receiver of the action.

Uses of active and passive voice Active-voice verbs We usually prefer the active voice to the passive because the active voice is more forceful and direct. He crossed the finish line just in time. Active voice Forceful and direct The finish line was crossed just in time. Passive voice Not very forceful or direct

Uses of active and passive voice Active-voice verbs The active voice is also more concise than the passive voice. Since active-voice verbs take fewer words, they sound less awkward. I will load the truck soon. Active voice Clear and concise Passive voice Awkward sounding The truck will be loaded soon by me.

Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs In general, you should avoid using the passive voice since sentences in the passive voice can sound awkward and weak. Some trail erosion has been caused by all the flooding. My parrot will be taken care of by my neighbor next week. Awkward passive voice Weak passive voice Better (active voice) All the flooding has caused some trail erosion. My neighbor will take care of my parrot next week.

Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs The passive voice does have its place, though. Use the passive voice when you want to emphasize the receiver of the action Some remarkable fossils have been found in the area. Appropriate passive voice Emphasis is on the fossils, which receive the action. In this case, it is not important who found the fossils.

Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs Use the passive voice when you do not know the performer of the action Are the peaches being harvested on schedule? Appropriate passive voice Emphasis is on the peaches. We do not know who is doing the harvesting.

Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs Use the passive voice when you do not want to reveal the performer of the action Vicious rumors have been spread about the politician. Appropriate passive voice Emphasis is on the rumors. The writer does not want to say who has spread the rumors.

Some software programs can check your writing for verbs in the passive voice. Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs Elections for class president are held each spring. Strong campaigns were run by last year’s candidates.

Keep in mind: The program cannot tell you why you used the passive voice. If you used it for a good reason, don’t try to change it to active voice. Uses of active and passive voice Passive-voice verbs Elections for class president are held each spring. Strong campaigns were run by last year’s candidates. ran strong campaigns. ^ ^ L

1.Each morning I am awakened by the alarm. For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. If the sentence is in the passive, identify whether the passive voice is appropriate. Be prepared to explain your answer. 2.The mayor thanked Angelo for his work. 3.How many donations have been made so far this year? Uses of active and passive voice

1.Each morning I am awakened by the alarm. Passive voice The subject I receives the action of the verb. Passive voice is awkward in this sentence. The sentence would sound better with an active-voice verb: Each morning the alarm wakes me. Uses of active and passive voice For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.

Uses of active and passive voice 2.The mayor thanked Angelo for his work. Active voice The subject mayor performs the action of the verb. For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.

Uses of active and passive voice 3.How many donations have been made so far this year? Passive voice The subject donations receives the action of the verb. The passive voice is appropriate in this sentence. The emphasis is on the donations. Readers don’t know who made the donations. For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. Be prepared to explain your answer.

[End of Section] Identify each verb as active or passive voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is. ______ 1.The story was edited by Paulo. ______ 2.Some equipment has been stolen from the lab. ______ 3.Finally the two boys reached an agreement. ______ 4.The coastline had been battered badly by the hurricane. ______ 5.Kara has been collecting books by her favorite authors. On Your Own Uses of active and passive voice

Identify each sentence as active or passive voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is. ______ 1.The story was edited by Paulo. ______ 2.Some equipment has been stolen from the lab. ______ 3.Finally the two boys reached an agreement. ______ 4.The coastline had been battered badly by the hurricane. ______ 5.Kara has been collecting books by her favorite authors. Uses of active and passive voice Answers oka y active passive Rewrite: Paulo edited the story. Rewrite: The hurricane had badly battered the coastline.

Review A For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. 1.Kareem admired his classmates’ exhibits at the science fair. 2.The firefighter was praised for her hard work and dedication. 3.Several shops were damaged by the high winds. 4.Ray will buy a bag of carrots and some red onions. 5.Have all the trails really been closed?

Review A For each sentence, tell whether the verb is in the active or passive voice. 1.Kareem admired his classmates’ exhibits at the science fair. active 2.The firefighter was praised for her hard work and dedication. passive 3.Several shops were damaged by the high winds. passive 4.Ray will buy a bag of carrots and some red onions. active 5.Have all the trails really been closed? passive

Review B [End of Section] _____1.Kevin prepared carefully for the exam. _____2.Spanish and English are spoken by my aunt. _____3.The historic home was built in _____4.The children are making origami animals. _____5.Important data will be gathered by our research team. Identify each sentence as active or passive voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is.

Review B Identify each sentence as active or passive voice. Rewrite each weak passive-voice sentence in the active voice. If the passive voice is appropriate, leave the sentence as is. _____1.Kevin prepared carefully for the exam. _____2.Spanish and English are spoken by my aunt. _____3.The historic home was built in _____4.The children are making origami animals. _____5.Important data will be gathered by our research team. oka y active Rewrite: My aunt speaks Spanish and English. passive active passive Rewrite: Our research team will gather important data.

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