Active and Passive Voice Verbs 08/21/12. Active and Passive Voice Verbs State Standard W1.2 Use precise language, action verbs, sensory details, appropriate

Active and Passive Voice Verbs

08/21/12


State Standard W1.2 Use precise language, action verbs, sensory details, appropriate modifiers, and the active rather than the passive voice.






The concept of active and passive voice only applies to transitive verbs.

transitive verb—a verb that requires a direct object


Voice is the form a transitive verb takes to indicate whether the subject of the verb performs or receives the action.


In other words, a verb in the active voice expresses an action done by its subject.


A verb in the passive voice expresses an action done to its subject.


Examples of Active and Passive Voice

Active Voice: The blazing fire destroyed the outside walls.

Passive Voice: The outside walls were destroyed by the blazing fire.



Active Voice: The blazing fire destroyed the outside walls.

Passive Voice: The outside walls were destroyed by the blazing fire.



Active Voice: She grows corn on her farm.

Passive Voice: Corn is grown by her on her farm.



Active Voice: She grows corn on her farm.

Passive Voice: Corn is grown by her on her farm.


The grammatical form of a passive voice verb is be + the past participle.

Forms of the Verb Be

Past Tense Present Tense Future Tense


Past Tense Present Tense Future Tensewas


Past Tense Present Tense Future Tensewaswere


Past Tense Present Tense Future Tensewas amwere


Past Tense Present Tense Future Tensewas amwere are


Past Tense Present Tense Future Tensewas amwere are

is


Past Tense Present Tense Future Tensewas am will bewere are

is


Past Participle = been


Past Participle = been

Present Participle = being


The grammatical form of a passive voice verb is be + the past participle.

In the passive voice, the performer of the action is often left out of the sentence. When it is in the sentence it is usually in a prepositional phrase that begins with by.


Structure of Active Voice:

subject / verb / direct object

The blazing fire destroyed the outside walls.

Structure of Passive Voice: subject / be + past participle / prepositional phrase that expresses the performer of the action

The outside walls were destroyed by the blazing fire.


Structure of Active Voice: subject / verb / direct object

She grows corn on her farm.

Structure of Passive Voice: subject / be + past particip. / prepositional phrase that expresses the performer of the action

Corn is grown by her on her farm.

Review of Active and Passive Voice Verbs

ExampleTransform this passive voice constructions into

an active voice construction.1.Letters were delivered by the mail carrier at 8

o’clock every day.


ExampleTransform all passive voice constructions to

active voice.1.Letters were delivered by the mail carrier at 8


The mail carrier





The mail carrier delivered





The mail carrier delivered letters





The mail carrier delivered letters at 8 o’clock every day.


Exercises

Transform all passive voice constructions to active voice.


Exercises1. The plan was announced by the principal two

days ago.2. My car was stolen by a thief!3. My dog is being bitten by fleas.4. A game will be played by the class today.5. The passive voice should be used sparingly.

Passive to Active Voice Dispatch

8/22/12

Dispatch

1. The coffee is ground daily by them.

2. My homework was eaten by my dog.

3. The bridge was damaged by rushing water.

“The Myth of Multitasking”

by Christine Rosen


Preread this article: read the title, read the first sentence of every paragraph, read all of the headings.

What is the issue?

Predict what the author’s position is on the issue.


1. Read the article with a partner.

2. Write the main idea of the article (the “gist”) in one to three sentences. Discuss it with your partner.

3. Reread this article on your own. Find three “significant quotations” from the article for your “Say, Mean, Matter” chart. Use the MLA format for in-text citation.









Say, Mean, Matter Chart

Say Mean Matter


Say Mean Matter“As neurologist Jordan Grafman told Time magazine: ‘Kids that are instant messaging while doing homework, playing games online and watching TV, I predict, aren’t going to do well in the long run’” (Rosen 3).



When a child tries to divide his/her attention among too many tasks, something like homework isn’t getting done properly, and this will cause problems later on.



When a child tries to divide his/her attention among too many tasks, something like homework isn’t getting done properly, and this will cause problems later on.

Students aren’t learning properly in school because they are too distracted. It seems like the focus has shifted from learning to doing.


Finish your “Say, Mean, Matter” chart for homework.

Tomorrow we will use this article to examine different types of evidence.

Passive to Active Voice Dispatch

8/23/12

Dispatch

Transform the following sentences from passive voice to active voice.

Dispatch

1. According to Bob Herbert, ethnic profiling is practiced by law-enforcement personnel throughout the country.

2. In 1999 the loitering law was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

3. That peak was climbed by me last summer.

Types of Evidence

8/23/12

Types of Evidence

Fact –

Types of Evidence

Fact – something that can be verified through direct observation or by checking a reliable reference source

Types of Evidence


Types of Evidence


Statistic –

Types of Evidence


Statistic – a fact in the form of a number

Types of Evidence


Statistic – a fact in the form of a number

Types of Evidence

Expert opinion –

Types of Evidence

Expert opinion – statements from people who are recognized as experts or authorities on an issue

Types of Evidence

Expert opinion – statements from people who are recognized as experts or authorities on an issue

Types of Evidence

Anecdote –

Types of Evidence

Anecdote – the telling of a specific instance or situation (a story) that illustrates or supports the writer’s claim

Types of Evidence


Scenario –

Types of Evidence


Scenario – a hypothetical situation that is followed to its logical conclusion

Types of Evidence


Scenario – a hypothetical situation that is followed to its logical conclusion

Evidence Chart

Find at least one example of the following types of evidence from the article: fact, statistic, expert opinion. Use proper MLA in-text citation format.

Evidence Chart

Type of Evidence

Evidence from the Text

Explanation

Evidence Chart (Example)

Type of Evidence


Explanation


Type of Evidence


Explanation

“’People can't multitask very well, and when people say they can, they're deluding themselves,’ said neuroscientist Earl Miller. And, he said, ‘The brain is very good at deluding itself’“ (Hamilton 2).


Type of Evidence


Explanation

Expert opinion “’People can't multitask very well, and when people say they can, they're deluding themselves,’ said neuroscientist Earl Miller. And, he said, ‘The brain is very good at deluding itself’“ (Hamilton 2).


Type of Evidence


Explanation



Type of Evidence


Explanation


This a quotation from a neuroscientist; he is an expert in the field of brain physiology.

Evidence Chart

Type of Evidence


Explanation

Passive to Active Voice Paragraph

8/24/12


Rewrite the following paragraph so that it uses active voice verbs. Do this with your two o’clock appointment.


Mary Maloney was told some shocking news by her husband. He was then killed by Mary with a frozen leg of lamb. The house was thoroughly searched by the police, but nothing suspicious was found by them. Mary and the grocer were carefully questioned by detectives. The dreadful leg of lamb was cooked by Mrs. Maloney, and the murder weapon was eaten by the hungry detectives. The identity of the murderer was not guessed by the police. In fact, Mary was never suspected as the murderer by anyone.

Types of Evidence

Continue working with your two o’clock appointment. 1) Without looking at yesterday’s notes, write a brief definition for each of the following types of evidence: fact, statistic, expert opinion, anecdote, scenario.2) Explain the difference between an issue and a position.

Documents

Active and Passive Voice Verbs 08/21/12. Active and Passive Voice Verbs State Standard W1.2 Use precise language, action verbs, sensory details, appropriate