Do Now: In the paired sentences on your handout (Exercise 8-2), circle the letter of the sentence that makes better use of its verbs, that flows better

Do Now: Do Now:

• In the paired sentences In the paired sentences on your handout on your handout (Exercise 8-2),(Exercise 8-2), circle the letter of the circle the letter of the sentence that makes better use of its sentence that makes better use of its verbs, that flows better.verbs, that flows better. Be ready to Be ready to explain your choice. explain your choice.

• What do the verbs in the correct What do the verbs in the correct answers have in common?answers have in common?

Aim: How do you make your Aim: How do you make your verbsverbs more more active?active?

1.1. Use the Use the active voiceactive voice unless you unless you have a good reason for choosing have a good reason for choosing the passive.the passive.

2.2. ReplaceReplace be verbsbe verbs that result in dull that result in dull or wordy sentences.or wordy sentences.

3.3. As a rule, As a rule, make the subject the make the subject the actoractor--the person or thing doing the --the person or thing doing the action. action.


• The pumps The pumps were destroyed were destroyed by by a surge of a surge of power. power. – Passive—the subject is not the actorPassive—the subject is not the actor

• A surge of power A surge of power waswas responsible for the responsible for the destructiondestruction of the pumps. of the pumps.– Be VerbsBe Verbs

• A surge of power A surge of power destroyeddestroyed the pumps. the pumps. – Active Active


1. Use the 1. Use the active voiceactive voice unless you have a unless you have a good reason for choosing the passive.good reason for choosing the passive.

• The fly ball was caught by Hernando.The fly ball was caught by Hernando.• Hernando caught the fly ball.Hernando caught the fly ball.• The transformer was struck by a bolt of The transformer was struck by a bolt of

lightning. lightning. • A bolt of lightning struck the transformer. A bolt of lightning struck the transformer.

Make the Make the ACTORACTOR the SUBJECT! the SUBJECT!


• The land was stripped of timber before the The land was stripped of timber before the settlers realized the consequences of their settlers realized the consequences of their actions.actions.– The settlers stripped the land of timber before The settlers stripped the land of timber before

realizing…realizing…• The holiday decorations were not taken down The holiday decorations were not taken down

until Valentine’s Day.until Valentine’s Day.• WeWe did not take the holiday decorations down did not take the holiday decorations down

until Valentine’s Day.until Valentine’s Day.


2. 2. ReplaceReplace be verbsbe verbs that result in dull or that result in dull or wordy sentences.wordy sentences.

• Burying nuclear waste in Antarctica would Burying nuclear waste in Antarctica would be in violation of an international treaty. be in violation of an international treaty.

• Burying nuclear waste would violate…Burying nuclear waste would violate…• When Rosa Parks was resistant to giving When Rosa Parks was resistant to giving

up her seat on the bus, she became a civil up her seat on the bus, she became a civil rights hero. rights hero.

• When Rosa Parks resisted giving up…When Rosa Parks resisted giving up…


3. As a rule, 3. As a rule, choose a subject choose a subject that names the that names the person or thing doing the action. person or thing doing the action.

• Exposure to Dr. Martinez’s excellent teaching Exposure to Dr. Martinez’s excellent teaching had the effect of inspiring me to major in had the effect of inspiring me to major in education. (Weak)education. (Weak)

• Dr. Martinez’s excellent teaching inspired me to Dr. Martinez’s excellent teaching inspired me to major in education (Emphatic). major in education (Emphatic).

• The use of cocaine by pregnant women can be a The use of cocaine by pregnant women can be a major cause of severe brain damage in infants. major cause of severe brain damage in infants. (Weak) (Weak)

• Cocaine used by pregnant women can cause Cocaine used by pregnant women can cause severe brain damage in infants.severe brain damage in infants.


a.a. The Prussians were The Prussians were victorious over the victorious over the Saxons in 1745. Saxons in 1745.

b.b. The entire The entire operation is operation is managed by managed by Ahmed, the Ahmed, the producer. producer.

a.a. The Prussians The Prussians defeated the defeated the Saxons in 1745Saxons in 1745..

b.b. Ahmed, the Ahmed, the producer, manages producer, manages the entire the entire operation.operation.


c.c. The sea kayaks The sea kayaks were awkwardly were awkwardly paddled by the paddled by the video game video game programmersprogrammers. .

e. There were e. There were shouting protesters shouting protesters on the courthouse on the courthouse steps.steps.

c. The video game c. The video game programmers programmers awkwardly paddled awkwardly paddled the sea kayaks. the sea kayaks.

e. Protesters were e. Protesters were shouting on the shouting on the courthouse steps. courthouse steps.



• The The PassivePassive is acceptable if… is acceptable if…1. Actor is unknown, oblivious, or irrelevant1. Actor is unknown, oblivious, or irrelevant

– A car A car was brokenwas broken into last night on Clawson. into last night on Clawson.2. Emphasis belongs to the receiver.2. Emphasis belongs to the receiver.

– The criminal The criminal was arrested, tried, convicted, and was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentencedsentenced to prison. to prison.

3. In scientific writing, emphasizing the receiver lends an 3. In scientific writing, emphasizing the receiver lends an air of objectivity.air of objectivity.– Participants in the study Participants in the study were askedwere asked to respond to a to respond to a

test.test.


11.

2.2. 3.3.


A…Douglas A…Douglas assumedassumed……C. Also, C. Also, poor people did not ownpoor people did not own lovely lovely

homes, pianos, art, and books. homes, pianos, art, and books. D. …Douglass D. …Douglass doubteddoubted……F. Instead, the beautiful homes with F. Instead, the beautiful homes with

equally beautiful furniture and gardens equally beautiful furniture and gardens indicatedindicated considerable wealth. considerable wealth.

G. Laborers on the wharves G. Laborers on the wharves handledhandled quality merchandise and quality merchandise and purchasedpurchased it in it in the stores.the stores.


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Do Now: In the paired sentences on your handout (Exercise 8-2), circle the letter of the sentence that makes better use of its verbs, that flows better