1. Grammar Notes: Brushstroke #5 (Active Voice)

2. Active Versus Passive Verbs
Try this experiment. Close your eyes and visualize this sentence:
The gravel road was on the left side of the barn.
Now visualize the following sentence:
The gravel road curled around the left side of the barn.
Can you see the difference? The verb was creates a still photograph. The verb curled creates a motion picture.
©2011 by Harry Noden from Image Grammar: Teaching Grammar as Part of the Writing Process, Second Edition. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Brush Strokes

3. Verbs are cameras that deliver images to your imagination
Verbs are cameras that deliver images to your imagination. Being verbs can weaken images by freezing the action, while action verbs create motion pictures. Therefore, in the majority of sentences, authors prefer action verbs.
The most common being verbs include is, was, were, are, and am. Almost all other verbs are active verbs.
©2011 by Harry Noden from Image Grammar: Teaching Grammar as Part of the Writing Process, Second Edition. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Brush Strokes

4. Grammar Notes: Brushstroke #5 (Active vs. Passive Voice)
Voice indicates whether the subject is acting (active) or being acted upon (passive).
Active Voice:
Usually has a strong ACTION verb (run, dance, curl, spin, etc.)
The subject is usually ACTING
Make more concise, clearer sentences
Ex: The governor made a mistake. (5 words)
Passive Voice
Usually has some form of a “BE” verb (90%):
Am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been
Subject is ACTED UPON
Sometimes has “by so-and-so” in the sentence
Not as concise or clear
Ex: A mistake was made by the governor . (7 words)

5. Label the next part of your notes “Practice.”
Turn to page 767 in the WriteSource textbook. Number If any sentence of part of a sentence is in the passive voice, rewrite it in active voice. Write “active” if it’s already in active voice. That is, don’t write every sentence, just the ones that need to be corrected.
Example:
The vase was broken.
Since this sentence is in PASSIVE voice (“were”), you would need to write the sentence in ACTIVE voice on your paper:
1. PASSIVE; I broke the vase.

6. In any election, young people have the most to gain by voting.
ACTIVE
If the election isn’t won by their favored candidate, these young people have to live with the consequences the longest.
PASSIVE; If their favored candidate doesn’t win the election…
Unfortunately, voting is done by only a low percentage of people from the age group (18-24)
PASSIVE; A low percentage of people from this age group (18-24) vote.
Although many young adults seem cynical about politics, some are taking action.
They are relying on more than just advertising to become informed.
ACTIVE.
All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares.
All passives have a form of be, but not all forms of be are passive.

7. 6. Research is done to evaluate a candidate’s record.
PASSIVE; Young adults/They research a candidate’s record to evaluate them.
7. Personal connections are sought out.
PASSIVE; Young adults/they seek out personal connections.
8. A solid picture of each candidate—beyond sound bites and photo ops—is developed.
PASSIVE; Young adults/they develop a solid picture…
9. Then a decision on whom to vote for is made.
PASSIVE; Young adults/they make decisions on whom to vote for.
10. These young people are realizing the power they have to change things, and they are making a difference.
ACTIVE.