1. Creating Super Sentences
Another Mnemonic From Mrs. D 

2. 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

3. 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?

4. 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!

5. 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.

6. 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

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

8. What is Brahms’ Lullaby?
Kudos to Aaron Neville Brahms’ Lullaby from the video, Goodnight Moon, courtesy of YouTube:

9. 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

10. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17. 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

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

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

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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

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

29. 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