1. The Path to Effective Writing

2. 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.

3. Active Voice  Active Voice – indicates that the subject of the verb is acting  Because the subject does or "acts upon" the verb in such sentences, the sentences are said to be in the active voice.

4. Active Voice  These examples show that the subject is doing the verb's action.  The dog jumped onto the boy.  The dog (subject) is doing the jumping (verb).  Chloe will give a book report to the class.  Chloe (subject) is doing the giving (verb).  The computer ate my paper.  The computer (subject) is doing the eating (verb).

5. Passive Voice  In a passive voice sentence, the subject and object flip-flop. The subject becomes the passive recipient of the action.  Because the subject is being "acted upon" (or is passive), such sentences are said to be in the passive voice.

6. Passive Voice  These examples show the subject being acted upon by the verb.  The boy was jumped on by the dog.  Boy (subject) was being jumped on (verb)  A book report will be given by Chloe to the class.  Report (subject) will be given (verb).  My paper was eaten by the computer.  Paper (subject) was being eaten (verb).

7. Reasons to Use the Active Voice  Most writers prefer to use active voice because it is more direct.  Compare  Active: The waiter dropped the tray of food.  Passive: The tray of food was dropped by the waiter.

8. Reasons to Use the Active Voice  The active voice is less awkward and clearly states a relationship between the subject and the action.  Compare  Passive: Your request for funding has been denied by the review committee.  Active: The review committee denied your request for funding.  The active voice sentence pattern propels the reader forward through your writing thus avoiding weak prose.

9. When to Use Passive Voice  In general, the passive voice is less direct, less forceful, and less concise than the active voice.  Use the passive voice in the following situations:  Use passive voice when you do not know or do not want to reveal the performer of an action.  Use passive voice when you want to emphasize the receiver of an action.

10. Examples  Awkward Passive: My bicycle was repainted by Skye.  Deliberate Passive: My bicycle was repainted. (The performer is not mentioned and the emphasis is on the bicycle.)

11. 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: Rustum baked the bread. Passive: The bread was baked by Rustum. (Was is a form of the verb “be”.)

12. 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

13. Avoid forms of the verb to be  All passives consist of a form of the verb to be (am, is, are, was, were, being, been) plus a past participle. Example: The boy was impressed by Ms. Jones.  A past participle is the ed form of regular verbs for irregular verbs: en, n, t) and can fill the empty slot in this sentence: “I had _______ it.”

14. 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

15. Form of Passive Voice Verbs  Often passive voice sentences will contain a "by" phrase indicting who or what performed the action.  Passive sentences can be easily transformed into active sentences when the object of the preposition "by" is moved to the subject position in the sentence.

16. How to avoid passive voice  Many English verbs have been changed into useful nouns with the use of a suffix. Announce – announcement Propose - proposal Depart – departure Meet – meeting  For active voice sentences use the verb instead of the noun form of these kinds of words.

17. 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.

18. Tell whether each verb in the following sentences is in active voice or passive voice. Find the verb. Then ask who or what is completing the action. 1. Trees were being blown over by the wind. 2. The streetlights made long, scary shadows on the sidewalk. 3. The cave was explored by Mrs. Roskowski’s class. 4. The Gettysburg Address was written by Abraham Lincoln. 5. Saba considered the book an inspiration. 6. The cake had been eaten by the time Chloe arrived. 7. Vivian’s fans cheered her on to victory. 8. The snow drifted over the fence and across the road. 9. The swelling on Mary’s arm was caused by a bee sting. 10. Sabrina and Roxanne were setting out birdseed for the birds.

19. 1. Trees were being blown over by the wind. passive 2. The streetlights made long, scary shadows on the sidewalk. active 3. The cave was explored by Mrs. Roskowski’s class. passive 4. The Gettysburg Address was written by Abraham Lincoln. passive 5. Saba considered the book an inspiration. active 6. The cake had been eaten by the time Chloe arrived. passive 7. Vivian’s fans cheered her on to victory. active 8. The snow drifted over the fence and across the road. active 9. The swelling on Mary’s arm was caused by a bee sting. passive 10. Sabrina and Roxanne were setting out birdseed for the birds. active

20. 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.

21. Directions: Change the sentences below to the passive voice. 1. Children cannot open these bottles easily. 2. The government built a road right outside her front door. 3. Mr. Larsen broke the antique vase as he walked through the store. 4. When she arrived, the changes amazed her. 5. The construction workers are making street repairs all month long.

22. In two paragraphs, describe the scene below. Use active voice only. Pay close attention to your verb usage.