1. Do Now #23:
In the paired sentences on your handout (Exercise 8-2), circle the letter of the sentence that makes better use of its verbs. Be ready to explain your choice.
What do the verbs in the correct answers have in common?

2. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active?
Use the active voice unless you have a good reason for choosing the passive.
Replace be verbs that result in dull or wordy sentences.
As a rule, choose a subject that names the person or thing doing the action.

3. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active?
The pumps were destroyed by a surge of power.
Passive
A surge of power was responsible for the destruction of the pumps.
Be Verbs
A surge of power destroyed the pumps.
Active

4. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active?
1. Use the active voice unless you have a good reason for choosing the passive.
The fly ball was caught by Hernando.
Hernando caught the fly ball.
The transformer was struck by a bolt of lightning.
A bolt of lightning struck the transformer.

5. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active?
The land was stripped of timber before the settlers realized the consequences of their actions.
The settlers stripped the land of timber before realizing…
The holiday decorations were not taken down until Valentine’s Day.

6. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active?
2. Replace be verbs that result in dull or wordy sentences.
Burying nuclear waste in Antarctica would be in violation of an international treaty.
Burying nuclear waste would violate…
When Rosa Parks was resistant to giving up her seat on the bus, she became a civil rights hero.

7. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active?
3. As a rule, choose a subject that names the person or thing doing the action.
Exposure to Dr. Martinez’s excellent teaching had the effect of inspiring me to major in education. (Weak)
Dr. Martinez’s excellent teaching inspired me to major in education (Emphatic).
The use of cocaine by pregnant women can be a major cause of severe brain damage in infants. (Weak)
Cocaine used by pregnant women can cause severe brain damage in infants.

8. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active?
The Prussians were victorious over the Saxons in 1745.
The entire operation is managed by Ahmed, the producer.
The Prussians defeated the Saxons in 1745.
Ahmed, the producer, manages the entire operation.

9. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active?
c. The video game programmers awkwardly paddled the sea kayaks. e. Protesters were shouting on the courthouse steps.
The sea kayaks were awkwardly paddled by the video game programmers
e. There were shouting protesters on the courthouse steps.

10. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active?
The Passive is acceptable if…
1. Actor is unknown, oblivious, or irrelevant
A car was broken into last night on Clawson.
2. Emphasis belongs to the receiver
The criminal was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to prison.
3. In scientific writing, emphasizing the receiver lends an air of objectivity.
Participants in the study were asked to respond to a test.

11. Aim: How do you make your verbs more active?
Carefully selected
verbs
Writing
Energize