Shift in Verb Mood and Voice

Shift in Verb Mood and Voice

Shifts in Voice

Inconsistent: The Carolina Ballet Theatre was created in 1972, and its founder designed it to be a permanent dance company.

The first sentence is passive while the second sentence is active.

Better:

The Carolina Ballet Theatre was created in 1972, and it was designed by its founder to be a permanent dance company.

Both are now passive.

Better:

The founder created the Carolina Ballet Theatre in 1972, and she designed it to be a permanent dance company.

Both sentences are active.

Shifts in Verb Mood

Inconsistent: Go to the website, and you will read more about the company.

Go- imperative

will read - indicative

Better:

Go to the website, and read more about the company. 

Go

read

are both imperative mood.

For numbers 1 and 2, read the sentences. Which revision best corrects the shift in verb mood?

Multiple Choice

1 Find out how to get tickets, and it is a good idea to buy them right away.

• A Find out how to get tickets, and buy them right away

• You will need to find out how to get tickets, and make sure to buy them right away.

• C Did you find out how to get tickets, and it is a good idea to buy them right away?

• Find out how to get tickets, and is it a good idea to buy them right away?

Multiple Choice

2 Melissa Podcasy is a wonderful dancer, and enjoy watching her perform.

• A Melissa Podcasy is a wonderful dancer, and will you enjoy watching her perform?

• Melissa Podcasy is a wonderful dancer, and you will enjoy watching her perform.

• C Is Melissa Podcasy a wonderful dancer, and might you enjoy watching her perform?

• D Melissa Podcasy would be a wonderful dancer, and enjoy watching her perform.

For numbers 3 and 4, read the sentences. Which revision best corrects the shift in verb voice?

Multiple Choice

3 Podcasy performed with the ballet, and tours were arranged for her by Columbia Artists.

• A Podcasy has performed, and tours have been arranged for her.

• B Podcasy performed with the ballet, and tours have been arranged for her by Columbia Artists.

• C Podcasy performed with the ballet, and Columbia Artists arranged tours for her.

• D Podcasy was performed with the ballet, and tours happened.

Multiple Choice

4 Performances have been arranged by dancer Timour Bourtasenkov, and he has starred in many roles.

• A Performances have been arranged, and dancer Timour Bourtasenkov has starred in many roles.

• B Performances, arranged by dancer Timour Bourtasenkov, and he has starred in many roles.

• C Performances were arranged by dancer Timour Bourtasenkov, and he starred in many roles.

• D. Dancer Timour Bourtasenkov has arranged performances, and he has starred in many roles.

Rewrite each sentence in textbox to correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice or mood.

• The Carolina Ballet Theatre employs ten dancers, and each dancer would be uniquely talented.

• Watch them perform, and you will learn more about ballet

• Students in the community are reached out to by the dance company, so ballet influences their lives in a positive way.

• The dance company is supported by generous donors, and it has performed in many other countries.