1. Using Active and Passive Voice

2. Would you rather? (A) Watch Lebron play basketball? OR (B) Watch some random person sitting in the stands?

3. Verbs and Voice  Voice is the form A VERB TAKES to indicate whether the subject of the verb performs or receives the action.  There are two types of voice: active voice and passive voice.

4. Active Voice Active voice is used to show that the subject of the sentence is performing or causing the action. Example: Lebron threw the basketball before the buzzer. Lebron shot the basketball from the free throw line. Lebron scored three points.

5. Passive Voice Passive voice is used when the subject is the recipient of the action. Example: The ball was thrown by Lebron. The basket was shot by Lebron. The score was made by Lebron.

6. STEPS to IDENTIFYING active/passive voice in sentences: 1. Read each sentence carefully. 2. Identify the subject (who or what the sentence is about) of the sentence. 3. Identify the verb (the action of the subject) in the sentence. 4. Ask yourself, “Is the subject performing or receiving the action”?

7. STEPS (continued) performing  If the subject is performing the action, the sentence is written in the active voice. performs active (subject performs action=active voice) receiving  If the subject is receiving the action, the sentence is written in the passive voice. receives (subject receives action=passive voice)

8. WORK OUT… Directions: Use the steps we just covered to identify the voice the sentences are written in.  Allysa was recruited by several universities.  The smell of baking peach cobbler kept my mouth watering.  The dog was eagerly greeted by the veterinarian.  Hector’s family relocated to Germany last month.

9. Passive Active Changing Passive voice sentences to Active voice sentences… receiving Since the subject is receiving the action, NOW ask yourself, “Who or what IS performing the action”? EX: Allysa was recruited by several universities. (passive) Question: Who or what actually DID the recruiting? a. Allysa b. several c. universities

10. ANSWERS…  Allysa was recruited by several universities. (passive) (Subject) (Verb)  The smell of baking peach cobbler kept my mouth watering. (active) (Subject) (Verb)  The dog was eagerly greeted by the veterinarian. (passive) (Subject) (Verb—was greeted)  Hector’s family relocated to Germany last month. (active) (Subject) (Verb)

11. Passive Active Changing Passive voice sentences to Active voice sentences… If you said “(several) universities” did the actual recruiting then you are correct! Passive: Allysa was recruited by several universities. ________________________________________________________  From this point, you will need to make the answer to the question (who or what actually performed the action) the subject of the active voice sentence. Active: Several universities recruited Allysa.

12. QUESTIONS???

13. Why does it matter? STRONG WRITING USES ACTIVE VOICE!!!!

14. Active Voice Points: Using active voice for the majority of your sentences makes the meaning clear for readers. Sentences written in active voice are more direct; the subject is clearly identifiable! Active voice will keep your sentences from becoming too complicated or wordy.

15. Passive Voice Points: Passive voice sentences are not incorrect; they (often) are not the best way to express your thoughts. Sometimes passive voice is awkward. Also, passive voice is usually wordy, so you can tighten your writing if you replace passive sentences with active sentence.

16. Let’s Practice Directions: Label the following sentences ACTIVE or PASSIVE. 1. Louise made the chocolate cake. 2. The chocolate cake was made by Louise. 3. The package was advertised by the travel agent. 4. The travel agent advertised the package. 5. The chain was broken by my brother. 6. My brother broke the chain on my bike. 7. I hemmed the prom dress. 8. The prom dress was hemmed by me. 9. The pencil on the floor was broken by him. 10. He broke the pencil on the floor.

17. Let’s Practice 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.

18. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION!!

19. Why does it matter?  Active voice is more direct and concise.  Passive voice is usually wordier.  Active voice is like watching LeBron play.  Passive voice is like watching gum stuck on the bleachers in the stands. MOST OF THE TIME, YOU WANT TO USE ACTIVE VOICE!!!!

20. When would you WANT to use passive voice?  When intentionally trying to hide the subject of the sentence. For example, a politician might say, “The mistake was made by someone.” Hiding the subject helps him/her hide the blame.  When intentionally trying to minimize the guilt of the subject. For example, a cheating boyfriend might say, “Cheating was committed by me.”  When passive voice better emphasizes the main point of the message, such as “Children were harmed by the drunk driver.”

21. Form of Passive Voice Verbs The passive voice requires a "double verb" and will always consist of a form of the verb "to be" and the past participle (usually the "en/ed/t" form) of another verb.  Example: Active: John baked the bread. Passive: The bread was baked by John. (Was is a form of the verb “be”.)

22. Form of Passive Voice Verbs  Writers should be familiar with the forms of "to be," often called linking verbs, so that they can easily identify the passive voice in their work.  Review the forms of "to be":  am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been

23. Form of Passive Voice Verbs  Note the forms of "to be" in the examples of the verb "to kick" in various forms of the passive voice: is kicked----------------had been kicked was kicked-------------is going to be kicked is being kicked---------will be kicked has been kicked-------can be kicked was being kicked------should be kicked

24. Form of Passive Voice Verbs Examples:  Passive: The cookies were eaten by the children.  Active: The children ate the cookies.  Passive: The tunnels are dug by the gophers.  Active: The gophers dug the tunnels.

25. Weird Version of this lesson…  http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=2 5187&CategoryID=3564 http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=2 5187&CategoryID=3564