Unit 1 Lesson 3

Verb voice: Active and Passive

Verb

• A word that shows action or state of being

• Examples: run, walk, go, do, eat, sleep

  • don't forget the tricky ones! Are, was, is, can

Verb voice refers to the relationship between the subject of the sentence and the verb.

In active voice, the subject is the do-er of the action.

• Ex.  Katie read the library book.

Examples of Active Voice

• The dog licked his paw.

• I did my homework.

• The snow melted off the roof.

In passive voice, the subject is the receiver of the action.

• Ex. The library book was read by Katie.

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Examples of Passive Voice

• The dogs were fed by Trina.

• Reports are written by journalists.

• Grandma was run over by a reindeer.

Tips

• The passive voice is often more wordy than the active voice

• In the passive voice, the subject is often part of a prepositional phrase (especially using "by")

• Passive voice often uses helping or linking verbs ("to be" verbs)

Multiple Choice

Determine whether the following sentence is written in the active or passive voice:

The basket was assembled by the worker.

• active

• passive

Multiple Choice

Determine whether the following sentence is written in the active or passive voice:

Our kitchen walls were painted by John and Steve.

• active

• passive

Multiple Choice

Determine whether the following sentence is written in the active or passive voice:

The teacher wrote the test.

• active

• passive

Multiple Choice

Determine whether the following sentence is written in the active or passive voice:

John ran a mile on Tuesday.

• active

• passive

Multiple Choice

Determine whether the following sentence is written in the active or passive voice:

We are going to watch a movie tonight.

• active

• passive

Multiple Choice

Determine whether the following sentence is written in the active or passive voice:

The students are taught by the professor.

• active

• passive

Multiple Choice

Determine whether the following sentence is written in the active or passive voice:

Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.

• active

• passive

Multiple Choice

Identify this verb mood:

She might feed the dog if she could find the food.

• Interrogative

• Conditional

• Indicative

Multiple Choice

Identify this verb mood:

Feed the dog!

• Interrogative

• Imperative

• Indicative

Multiple Choice

Identify this verb mood:

She fed the dog before she went to work.

• Interrogative

• Imperative

• Indicative

Multiple Choice

Identify this verb mood:

Did she feed the dog or the cat?

• Interrogative

• Imperative

• Indicative

Multiple Choice

Identify this verb mood:

I wish she would feed the dog.

• Subjunctive

• Imperative

• Interrogative

Shift in Voice

• Anytime a sentence has more than one verb and the voice of the verbs is not the same, there is a shift in voice. Shifting from active to passive voice, or vice versa, in a sentence should be avoided when possible.

• When the children turned on the TV, a buzzing sound was heard.

  • This sentence starts in the active voice, then changes to passive.

• Both Passive: When the TV was turned on by the children, a buzzing sound was heard.

• Both Active: When the children turned on the TV, they heard a buzzing sound

Shift in Mood

• A shift in the verb mood occurs when more than one mood is used in one sentence. Unnecessary shifts in mood should be avoided.

• Example: Call me when you get home, and then you should start your homework.

  • (This starts in the imperative mood, and shifts to the indicative mood.)

• To correct an unnecessary shift in mood, reword the sentence so that both verbs are in the same mood.

• Example: Call me when you get home, and then start your homework.

  • (In this example, both verbs are changed to the imperative mood.)

Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains a SHIFT in mood?

• Read the directions, and do you have any questions?

• Read the directions, and tell me if you have any questions.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains a SHIFT in mood?

• Go to the store and get milk and then bring me the change.

• Go to the store and get milk and then can you bring me the change?

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